The 10th interdeanery jubilee meeting in Bosnia and Herzegovina was held on April 27th in the premises of the Petar Barbarić Archbishop’s Seminary in Travnik.
The working meeting was held under the chairmanship of the metropolitan archbishop of Vrhbosna and the apostolic administrator of the Military Ordinariate in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Msgr. Tomo Vukšić, president of the BiH Bishops’ Conference. Diocesan bishops from Banja Luka and Mostar participated, Msgr. Franjo Komarica and Msgr. Petar Palić and the auxiliary bishop of Banja Luka, Msgr. Marko Semren, OFM, Provincial of Bosna Srebrena, OFM Zdravko Dadić, as well as 22 of the 28 deans in the 29 deaneries in the Archdiocese of Vrhbosna, Banja Luka, Mostar-Duvno and Trebinje-Mrkan dioceses.
Archbishop’s address
After the prayer and introductory greetings, Msgr. Vukšić gave a report on his participation in the European Continental Synod Assembly held from February 6th to 11th in Prague. Among other things, the archbishop said that in his synod intervention he emphasized “that Christians are synodal precisely because they are with Christ, and that only on that Christological basis, all baptized ‘synods’ are in the time of salvation, in following Christ and serving their brothers and sisters, on a pilgrimage to the Risen Christ”. He expressed his joy that the participants presented different opinions and visions with a lot of conviction and respect, so in that spirit he also pointed out the need for a clearer Christological dimension and Trinitarian foundation in this synodal process.
Recalling the emphasis from the bishop’s closing note, he said that he experienced the entire continental synod assembly as a fraternal encounter and “clarification” of what is called growth in faith.
Synod way in Herzegovina
Vicar General of the dioceses of Herzegovina, Msgr. Nikola Menalo then presented the synod process in the dioceses of Mostar-Duvno and Trebinje-Mrkan, which began on October 30th, 2021, and ended with the Diocesan Synod Assembly on June 6th, 2022. He briefly described the visit of the diocesan bishop and associates to all deaneries and familiarization with the preparatory synod documents, appointment coordinators and teams, distribution of materials, collection of answers to the questionnaire formulated according to the recommendation of the Preparatory Document…
He brought a shortened presentation of the most important topics covered and pointed out that in discernment they saw the need to open up and listen to the wounds of people, to look at all people with the eyes of love, the eyes of God’s mercy.
The necessity of listening to the Spirit
During the discussion, numerous positive elements of the synod process were highlighted, as well as that this process should not be completed even at the diocesan level. There was also talk about certain doubts of believers when it comes to the synod process in certain countries. It was pointed out the need to create a synodical atmosphere and the necessity of listening to the Holy Spirit in the Church in constant search for what God expects from the members of the Christian community, especially from its priests.
Also, the participants of the session were informed that on Solidarity Sunday in BiH, on March 12th, a total of 227 316 KM was collected in the archdiocese, which will be distributed to 105 parishes in BiH with less than 200 believers (Banja Luka Diocese 32, Mostar-Duvno six, Trebinje-Mrkan five and Vrhbosna archdiocese 62).
The deans briefly reported on the initiatives they have launched or plan to launch in terms of connection between individual partner deaneries.
The educational team and the entire seminary community led by the rector, rev. Željko Marić was a hospitable host this time as well.
Let us remind you that, as part of the Interdeanery meeting, all gathered bishops and priests together with teachers and priests of neighbouring parishes, in the seminary church of St. Aloysius Gonzaga celebrated a Holy Mass attended by many worshipers of the honourable servant of God Peter Barbarić. The Eucharistic celebration was translated by Archbishop Vukšić, and the appropriate sermon was delivered by Bishop Semren.
KT
