According to tradition, the Sarajevo cemetery of St. Joseph was in the afternoon on the feast of All Saints, November 1^st, the prayer destination of many believers who came to visit the graves of their deceased and celebrate Holy Mass.

The Eucharist was celebrated by the archbishop of Vrhbosna, Msgr. Tomo Vukšić, and concelebrated by 20 priests, among whom were: the provincial of Bosna Srebrena, OFM Marko Zubak and cathedral priest and professor of philosophy at Sarajevo KBF, Rev. Oliver Jurišić.

The nature and example of the "community of saints"

In an appropriate sermon, Archbishop Tomo first explained that a suitable name for the feast of All Saints would be "the day of people who have realized their ideals in a Christian way" and, in this sense, pointed out that living believers "following the examples of these realized ideals are on the way to achieve it in their own life".

"The purpose of our Christian life is exactly that - eternal salvation and communion with our brothers and sisters who are already blessed in heaven", said Msgr. Vukšić further interpreting the article of faith that talks about the "community of saints". "These two words sum up all the Catholic faith of today's day. Perhaps even more correctly said - the communion of saints which is bound by a common love between themselves and all of them in relation to the Lord God. That intensity of love that binds the saints between themselves and the saints with the Lord God is the content of today's day. The love they pursued and realized in the manner of the Christian ideal binds them together in heaven. And to them, united in love, we recommend, first of all, ourselves, the followers of those ideals, to help us with their intercession and example, so that in our own lives, realizing the rule of love, we may reach the communion of the saints... and that God's mercy may be upon our brothers and sisters who have left this world, forgave all their weaknesses and bound them with the same rule of love in the communion of saints", said the archbishop of Vrhbosna and then explained the nature of the glorified and traveling Church - which differs primarily in that it is "traveling" in a state of faith and hope, and the "glorified" one already has the experience of that, and her love remains as the nature of seeing the face of God.

"Therefore, we ask them to intercede for us believers, 'who hope', with their prayers and by their examples to the Lord, may he keep us in strong faith, lasting hope, and may all our acts of love and our thoughts and plans permeate here on earth", said Msgr. Vukšić then offered a final prayer for all people, especially those who are exposed to sudden deaths, violence and hatred on different sides, pointing out the Beatitudes of Jesus as a signpost to heavenly glory.

The graves of the famous people of Sarajevo

At the end of the Holy Mass, which was animated by the singing of part of the cathedral's mixed choir Josip Stadler led by Rev. Marko Stanušić, with the musical support of the present nuns from various societies operating in Sarajevo, words of thanks to all who helped in the organization of the Eucharistic celebration and to the leader of the Eucharist, were expressed by pastor Jurišić.

Before the final blessing, Archbishop Vukšić prayed a joint prayer for all the deceased who rest in this cemetery. About 300 believers participated in the Holy Mass.

By the way, the cemetery of St. Joseph, located in the Sarajevo settlement of Ciglane, is the largest Catholic resting place of the deceased in the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina and covers an area of two hectares. On it, the earthly remains of famous people of Sarajevo await the resurrection of the dead, including: the writer Silvije Strahimir Kranjčević, the historian Antun Hangi, the painter Roman Petrović, the politician Branko Mikulić... There are also the tombs of nuns from different societies, a few Franciscans and diocesan priests. It should be mentioned that the entrance arcades to the cemetery were designed by noble Josip Vancaš. At their eastern end there is a burial chapel in which the body of Msgr. Stjepan Hadrović rests. The arcades and the bell in the tower were blessed on December 24^th, 1933 by the then archbishop of Vrhbosna, Dr. Ivan Ev. Šarić.