As in previous years, the organizers of the meeting were the Archdioces’s Center for Youth Pastoral (NCM) Ivan Pavao II. and the parish of the Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary in Komušina.

From the early hours of the morning, more modestly than previous years, pilgrims arrived and approached the sacrament of confession.

Exactly at 9:30 AM, the Archbishop coadjutor of Vrhbosna and the Apostolic Administrator of the Military Ordinary in BiH, Msgr. Tomo Vukšić, together with the believers at the outside chapel prayed in front of the picture of Our Lady of Kondžilo.

Then the procession started on the hill Kondžilo, a few kilometers away. Our Lady's picture was carried by NCM Ivan Pavao II. employees during the whole procession, and a rosary was prayed and Marian songs were sung.

With the arrival on the hill, the Eucharistic celebration began, led by the Archbishop of Vrhbosna, cardinal Vinko Puljić. Among others: Msgr. Vukšić; the director of NCM John Paul II. Dr. rev. Šimo Maršić; Vicar General Dr. msgr. Slađan Ćosić and the parish priest in Komušina, the guardian of the sanctuary and the dean of the Usora deanery, venerable Boris Salapić, concelebrated.

At the beginning, the guardian of the sanctuary addressed the gathered and welcomed them, repeating that “we are celebrating the 49^th Youth Day of the Vrhbosna Archdiocese this year” and wishing that the next, jubilee 50^th Youth Day will be celebrated more solemnly and with more young people.

Cardinal Puljić, in his welcoming speech, pointed out that “we came to Our Lady today with many intentions, but two stand out: the prayer for young people that Jesus will guide them to the right path, and the prayer for an end to the coronavirus pandemic.”

In his homily, the Cardinal, recalling the miracle of Jesus from the Holy Mass readings, in which Christ raised the young man from death and returned him to his mother, uttered several encouraging thoughts.

“Let's stop at the word death. We see that the fear of death brought by the coronavirus is very strong. Numerous decisions and measures are made. I do not enter into the thoughts of experts, but I must say that I did not make more difficult decision as an archbishop, than the one to celebrate the Holy Mass without the people”, said the cardinal, emphasizing that when death comes, nothing can help, neither the bank, nor politics.

“God gave life and has the right to take it. However, Christ has the last word on death. He overcame death. Just as physical death causes the body to rot in the earth, spiritual death causes man to rot spiritually”, said the archbishop noting that today “spiritual death is widespread, even worse than a pandemic.”

“Here in the sanctuary I would like to experience as the young man Jesus raised and gave to his mother: let him do the same for all of us here, as well as for those we pray for. Rise to a life of faith, love and hope! And may he give us to the mother, Our Lady, whom we came to pray to”, encouraged the Cardinal, and then spoke of many who had lost their spiritual strength and fainted. He stated that there is no recipe for success, and that every man must look for it, and as one of the steps he mentioned the sign of the cross and prayer.

At the end of the Holy Mass, on behalf of the organizers, Josip Milanović, an NCM employee, thanked everyone.

Let us also mention that the liturgical singing was led by the youth choir Spes from the parish of St. Anthony of Padua - Žepče.

By the way, the celebration of Youth Day in this Marian shrine began on Friday, May 29^th, with a Holy Mass led by the Cardinal, and the appropriate adoration of the Holy altar sacrament in the evening led by rev. Damjan Soldo, pastoral associate at NCM. Both Holy Masses and Adoration were broadcasted live on the web-portal nedelja.ba, and you can watch them on their Youtube channel of the same name as well.

It was strange and a bit sad in Komušina and Kondžilo to watch the celebration of the Youth Day of the Vrhbosna Archdiocese, almost eerily quiet, without the noises and crowds of young people. We hope that next year, on the great jubilee, the situation will be normalized and that the organized arrival of thousands of young people who had numerous events, sports competitions, dancing, socializing and a handful of new acquaintances on their day, will be possible.