As in previous years, the organizers were the Archdiocesan Centre for Youth Pastoral John Paul II (NCM) and the parish of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Komušina. The motto of this year’s meeting was In those days Mary arose and hurried off to the hill country of Judea (Lk 1:39).

From the early hours of the morning, pilgrims arrived on foot and by car, and were greeted by NCM volunteers.

According to a long tradition, they first gathered next to the outer altar behind the parish church where a penitential service was held, led by the parish vicar in Žepče, Rev. Stefan Markovic. After that, there was an opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation and about 10 priests were available for confession.

Exactly at 10 o'clock the pastor and guardian of the sanctuary pres. Boris Salapić invited those gathered to pray in front of the image of Our Lady of Kondžil, led by the Archbishop of Vrhbosna, Metropolitan Msgr. Tomo Vuksic. Then the Archbishop blessed those who wore the picture and a solemn procession began, which this year again involved a large number of believers from all over BiH, but also from Croatia and other European countries.

On the way, which is several kilometres long, to Kondžilo hill, the image of Our Lady was carried, the rosary was prayed and Marian songs were sung, and some pilgrims walked barefoot.

Arriving at Kondžilo, where the external altar and chapel are located, the Eucharistic celebration began, led by Msgr. Vukšić in the concelebration with about 20 priests, among whom were: Vicar General of the Vrhbosna Archdiocese Msgr. Slađan Ćosić, director of the NCM, rev. Šimo Maršić, rev. Salapić…

At the beginning, Archbishop Tomo greeted those gathered by sending a special greeting to the young people who are celebrating their day.

After the biblical readings, which were read by a girl from Žepče, the archbishop delivered a sermon which began with the words from which this year's motto was made: Mary arose and hurried off to the hill country of Judea. “It seems as they are at least twice actual. On the one hand to remind us of the ancient event when the Blessed Virgin Mary - pregnant with the Saviour of the world according to the angel’s proclamation just before this event - hurried to the hill where her cousin Elizabeth lived, to share joy with her, but also to be happy for her own pregnancy. These words have another meaning today - very appropriate and very applicable to our events today. We hurried, together with Mary, to this mountain where the worshipers of Mary, the faithful of Jesus who want to follow Mary’s call and Mary’s way of serving God and Saviour, have been gathering for so long. And when we remember this event, which we usually call the Campaign of the Virgin Mary, we ask ourselves: what can we, gather here today - apart from the memory of this happy event in ancient times - learn as a generation of Christians today ?! First of all, what has already been said in some way - to learn to rejoice with another, who is joyful and has reason to do so (...) To rejoice for the joy of another brother and sister is the culmination of human and Christian maturity”, said the Archbishop of Vrhbosna.

He went on to say that the faithful give thanks for the dignity bestowed by the dear God. “But we must be aware that at the same time we are sent - each one literally - to be a forerunner, to be a herald, to be a witness to the extent possible, in the way of John, Elizabeth’s son, and to prepare this world, the people in it, their hearts and their conscience that Christ might come into their lives as well. And we see that the choice of this motto is not only a reminder of ancient times, but at the same time very modern, very instructive and - if you will - very demanding (...) Therefore, let each of us be a reflection of the heavenly sun; let it be like a stream - water that will bless and soak this world with holiness, but from the source from which every stream exists; and may each of us shine in this world like this mountain, draw our own juices of life from Christ, just as each leaf of this mountain draws its own greenery and life from its roots”, said, among other things, Msgr. Tomo.

The prayer of the faithful was read and the gifts were brought by Catholic scouts from the parish of St. Luke from Novi Grad in Sarajevo and the Holy Trinity parish in Novi Travnik.

The liturgy was musically animated by members of the parish choir of young people of the Sacred Heart of Jesus from Brčko.

At the end of the Holy Mass, the audience was addressed by the parish priest Salapić who thanked all those who came, especially those who participated in any way in organizing and preparing the Youth Day, and especially expressed joy that after two years of the coronavirus pandemic, a large number of pilgrims gathered again.

After the Holy Mass, the faithful again in a dignified procession, during which they prayed and sang, headed to the church where Archbishop Vukšić ended the prayer part of the Youth Day.

Refreshments were organized for everyone there.

This year, a youth program was organized again. Thus, the signing of the contract for the awarded grants of the NCM was arranged first.

Then rev. Ivan Matijević, pastoral associate at the NCM, presented a book by the director of the NCM and a professor at the Sarajevo KBF, rev. Maršić, Dragi lik tvoj nek nas prati! (May your dear character, follow us everywhere!), which thematises the Youth Day of the Vrhbosna Archdiocese through history, and was followed by the “Competitive Olympic Games”.

The Youth Day of the Vrhbosna Archdiocese, the 51^st in a row, once again showed that there are those on whom the Church can rely. Young people who first firmly believe and profess their faith, and who are able and courageous to walk bravely through life.

The celebration of the Youth Day of the Vrhbosna Archdiocese in this Marian shrine began the day before, on Friday, May 27^th.

This year, young people came again organized with their parish communities. They were welcomed by employees and volunteers of the Archdiocesan Centre for Youth Pastoral John Paul II.

The celebration of Holy Mass on that occasion on the outer altar in the parish yard was led by the Archbishop of Vrhbosna in peace cardinal Vinko Puljić in concelebration with about 10 priests

The Holy Mass was followed by a special program, i.e. music, art and acting workshop through which they tried to convey the motto of the meeting. Young people were introduced to the topic by the pastoral associate in the NCM, rev. Ivan Matijević, and they were led through the workshops by animators.

Then each group presented their art on the topic of motto.

At 22:00, the Way of the Cross was organized in the open air.