Holy Mass for murdered Franciscans and parishioners celebrated in Medjugorje

date: 11.02.2016.

Holy Mass for Franciscans and parishioners murdered at the end of the World War II, was celebrated on Wednesday, February 10, on the feast of Bl. Alojzije Stepinac in Medjugorje parish church of St. James. Graves of so many victims are still unknown, but the faithful are still remembering them. Fr. Mario Ostojic along with 8 priests concelebrating, was the main celebrant of the evening Holy Mass at 6 pm. He said in the beginning: „Today we are remembering Bl. Alojzije Stepinac, Croatian cardinal who was sentenced by communists for 16 years of prison. Our Herzegovina was full of victims too, especially in the World War II. Today we are remembering those killed in this parish. There is hardly a single family who did not morn for someone during that war. Some were never able to discover graves of their loved ones, to bury them with dignity. Many do not have graves at all. Tonight we especially pray for murdered Franciscans from this parish.” Fr. Mario spoke about the Lent and about sacrifice of the murdered priests: „66 Franciscans from our parish laid their lives because they believed in the one who sees, the one who is righteous and who will reward their sacrifices. Their sacrifice brought many fruits. The Province filled with the blood of innocent martyrs, blossomed with new offspring, with lives, justice and fervour. There is nothing as bad as to watch our homes filled with ashes, lives filled with blood. It was something that brought new meaning to lives and values as we could see all we had was worthless. That is what Lent is doing, it brings us back to true values and the ashes does not represent the end. No, our life is not going to end up in nothingness. Ashes is here to remind us, to cleanse us, to make our gaze brighter, so we would be able to see the light in the end, to see Jesus and Easter”.

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