čet, 10. listopada 2019. 11:44
Several hundred believers from the Parish of the Heart of Mary in Foča near Derventa, on October 5th, celebrated 180th anniversary of the parish with a solemn Eucharistic celebration. The celebration was led at the outer altar in the churchyard by the local son, OFM Andreo Matanović.
Concelebrated priests were the Provincial of the Franciscan Province of St. Cyril and Methodius OFM Ilija Vrdoljak, Provincial of the Croatian Capuchin Province OFM Jure Šarčević, parish priest OFM Franjo Dalibor Stjepanović, monastery guardian from Plehan OFM Anto Tomas, dean of Derventa - venerable OFM Ivan Marić and 15 other priests.
After the Holy Mass celebration, followed people’s celebration with singing, dancing and a meal. Also, there was an auction of paintings created at the art colony held on October 2nd themed Pictures from the past, and the money from the sold 20 art works, which were also donated by Petar Vidak, Iko Bilkić, Brankica Lukačević and Filip Gavran, are intended for the renovation of the parish house and the decoration of the church.
Let us also mention that the parish before the last war, in which 69 parishioners died and disappeared, had about 4 000 Catholics, and today, 140 of them returned and are permanently living there. It is also recognizable by its spiritual vocations and has 15 priests and monks, among which is Msgr. Zdenko Križić, bishop of Senj, and also gave five nuns.