The parish priest rev. Tomo Mlakić concelebrated.

At the beginning of the Holy Mass, cardinal Vinko referred to Jesus’ solemn entry into Jerusalem and his later crucifixion, recalling how the first Christians, waving palm branches, greeted Christ. He continued this in a sermon and noted that the Church throughout Holy Week wants “Christians to experience the mystery of redemption”. He then referred to the war in Ukraine, saying that all misunderstandings and wars start from a haughty and arrogant heart. “A haughty and arrogant heart cannot repent. Because it says: I have no sin. He forgot his sense of sin because he covered his conscience with ashes. But it will speak eventually”, said the cardinal, reminding how sincere remorse opens the gates of heaven. He then spoke about the time 30 years ago when the Kupres and Kupres plateau were looted and many were killed. He further emphasized that “today we especially pray for those who watered this land with their blood”. Aware that this is not just a phrase because the land is soaked in baptismal water and “the sweat of our ancestors and the tears that accompanied our dead”, he said that “what is died for, does not die”.

After the sermon, the Archbishop in peace blessed the altar of St. Anthony, the votive altar of Croatian defenders, the work of the sculptor from Duvno, Ilija Skočibušić. After the blessing, five candles were symbolically lit by members of five families, mothers, daughters and sons of the killed Croatian veterans from BiH and Vukovar.

At the end of the Holy Mass, rev. Tomo thanked those who made it possible for this magnificent work to glorify the parish church of Kupres and presented the Cardinal with a special gift.

Before the Holy Mass in the early morning hours, the Tomislavgrad - Šuica - Kupres Memorial Race was held. After that, wreaths were laid at the Central Memorial Zahvalnost for all the victims of the Croatian people in the Second World War and the Homeland War.

Let us remind you, the fight for Kupres was one of the first big battles in BiH. It began on April 3^rd, 1992 and lasted for seven days with the withdrawal of the Croatian Army from this city. Kupres was liberated on November 3^rd, 1994, by Operation Cincar, the first joint operation by the HVO and the BiH Army since the signing of the Washington Agreement.