On this occasion, st. Elijah’s church was filled to the last place, and together with the Archbishop, 12 priests concelebrated, including OFM Marko Kepić parish priest and the director of KŠC rev. Vlatko Rosić.

The Cardinal, in his homily, on the day when the Catholic Church marks St. Paul’s conversion, reminded of the basic lines of the Apostle who is the teacher of the people. He pointed out that he had to become a “pupil” first, so that he could later be “a teacher”. And it only came when he “fell to the ground” or, when he realized what humility was. Hence, the Archbishop told educators that they need to raise their children with love, because all that they learn they quickly forget, but they remember who taught them and what were they like in the process.

He asked the parents to cooperate with the teachers in the educational process. “If children thought they can do no wrong, then they will be aggressors and not people open to life ... Parents often say, ‘If I was suffering, I don’t want my child to suffer as well? It is a tough lie, because nothing worthy is without sacrifice, and therefore the children should be raised in a way that they know: what is died for, does not die”, said the Archbishop of Vrhbosna, invoking the intercession of St. Paul to all students and employees of the Zenica KŠC.

The Mass celebration was animated by singing and playing by the school choir under the guidance of prof. Davorin Bošnjaković.

After the Mass, the celebration continued in the amphitheatre of the school.

Attending guests, including directors and representatives of other Catholic school centres, were greeted by director Rosić. He pointed out that this School day is a moment when it is well to think if we are still on the right path. “While we teach young people the ideals, we must also give up on our own mistakes ... Saint Paul has shown what it means to be free – only that way we will be able to educate younger generations”, the principal pointed out, pointing to the values that are to be cultivated: love for God, brother man and homeland. Despite the uppermost hopelessness, he said that this KŠC would continue to do its job by raising young generations to build this country.

Then, on the guitar Leonarda Šuko (2nd year of Gymnasium), Drama Section of Primary School and the Gymnasium and Džena Sačak, Ars Center Zenica member, did their musical and acting performances.

At the end of the program cardinal Puljić gave thank you notes to the long-term employees of the KŠC that are retiring: the housekeeper Vlado Jonjić and the chef Reza Krišto, who led the school kitchen.

In the closing address, the Archbishop thanked to all who, with their performance, enriched all the guests. “It is very important to keep open spirit of learning and creativity. As a teacher I like to repeat: as much as knowledge is necessary, it is necessary to help the young people to preserve the ability to gain freedom”, the cardinal emphasized, and thanked to all those that give themselves to the education and training of young people, saying that the society must enable young people to grow and mature. He urged young people not to be tired of working on their personal achievement in life.

“I want these kinds of events to create the joy of living, and never forget, as hard and painfull sometimes it may be, we have to have the courage to understand that life is beautiful and life is a gift and we need to live it”, said archbishop Vinko, who got an appropriate gift from director Rosić on behalf of KŠC Zenica. The program was finished with the song Life is not grey, performed by the choir of the Primary School with the solo performance of Lorena Misilo (1st year of Gymnasium).