The Catechetical Day, a regular annual seminar for Catholic school teachers in the area of Vrhbosna Archdiocese, gathered 100 people from the entire Archdiocese, and they were welcomed by parish priest of Maglaj and manager of St. Leopold Mandić sanctuary, rev. Josip Jelić and rev. Dr. Tomislav Mlakić, Director of the Catechetical Office of the Bishop's Conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina and head of the Catechetical Office of the Vrhbosna Archdiocese.

Transfering values

Rev. Josip briefly presented the history of the parish and sanctuary devoted to St. Leopold Bogdan Mandić, and then the gathered were greeted by the Archbishop of Vrhbosna Vinko cardinal Puljić, who in his speech introduced an appropriate reflection on the transfer of fundamental values , which young people seek, and have  thirst for, such as the family, the meaning of life, love ... In addition, he also pointed to the difficulties and challenges they face during growing up and maturing, egoism on one side and altruism on the other, then individualism and need for the other, relativism and respect for clear norms, utilitarianism and longing for higher values.

He emphasized that young people today need a concrete testimony of the existence of the virtue and what their teachers are trying to teach them. He reminded the catechists of the importance of their mission and the duty that they need to transfer their knowledge but also they need to transfer the love for Christ and the Church. After the sermon, the participants of the meeting and the gathered believers had the opportunity to have confessions.

Aware of their calling

Cardinal Puljić headed the holy Mass in communion with the local parish priest rev. Josip, rev. Tomislav and other priests. In his sermon, he encouraged the teachers to be aware of their identity and mission. “We are not just workers. We have a mission. None of us were sent in our name, but in the name of Jesus Christ. He sends us to preach the gospels”, said Archbishop Vinko emphasizing the importance of love for the Church in whose name the teachers are going to the Lord's Garden.

According to his words, this identity is important to build in consciousness, especially at the beginning of the new school year. “If the religious studies and the catechesis do not lead to the Eucharist, then the knowledge we mediate and the work is missed ...”

said the cardinal, emphasizing the importance of living a Christian belief and action according to it. “Young people are more brought up by our attitude and belief than what we are talking about. We all have the experience to remember those who taught us not by what they were talking to us but how they were. Those who were demanding and credible remained in memory. With the attitude of feeling the love to Jesus, we need to approach those whom the Church sends us to: children, their parents, colleagues and associates”, the Archbishop said.

After the Communion prayer, followed the devotion of St. Leopold Mandić, led by rev. Jelić. During the Mass celebration, 15 canonical missions for the religion teachers were handed out and that are necessary to perform catechetical duties.

At the end of the meeting, rev. Mlakić thanked the archbishop for the trust and pastoral care, he thanked the parish priest, rev. Josip on the organization, and the priests who were available for confession and all the religion teachers for all the good they do by raising the children and the young in the faith.