About 30 priests concelebrated with the parish priest, OFM Bono Kovačević.

The 72-year-old parishioner Joso Klajić handed over the keys of the church to the cardinal. The welcoming speech was given at the beginning of the Holy Mass by the parishioner Biljana Babić Knežević.

In the crowded church, a special decoration with the 14 ministrants was the faithful dressed in folk costumes.

The Gospel was sung by OFM Jozo Puškarić, former parish priest of Orašje, followed by a cardinal’s homily in which he explained to the faithful the meaning of the consecration of the altar as Christ’s altar and the four crosses as signs of the four evangelists. He emphasized that this consecration is dedicated to all people who he sprinkled holy water on at the beginning of the Holy Mass. Aware of the situation in which the Croatian people in BiH live, he said that they should not get confused, but should be brave, joyful, proud and persistent in their faith.

“The house is made by the people living there, and the house of God is made up of his children, and that is why we dedicate ourselves to the consecration of this church”, he said, noting that in today’s time, sanctity is being rejected in public, political and media life, he pointed out that with the dedication of the church they want as “God’s household members experience dedication and oppose that public opinion”. He further reminded of the events of the sacraments of baptism and confirmation by which Christians become anointed by God, and explained that the altar will be consecrated to become the altar of Christ.

“This house, the house of God, is a particularly privileged place where God will speak to us through the proclamation of his word, that is why this place is holy, that is why the powers of the blessed and saints are built into the altar so that we, like them, can consecrate ourselves”, the Cardinal pointed out and invited the believers not to be afraid of who they are and not to allow others “brainwash” them: “They wish we were gone. But they cannot destroy us if we love our home, our life, our culture and our faith. No law that is passed can be more important than God’s. Here in the church we learn the law of God. So let this dedication of the church consecrate us to be brave, not cowards. Let us be what we are, in our homeland”. In the end, he stated that “the people who rock the cradle have a future”.

The sermon was followed by the Litany of All Saints, which was prayed by the parishioner Adam (Aco) Župarić. The cardinal then led the consecration ceremony of the altar, in which he incorporated Stepinac’s powers and the church charter, and at the end he prayed the prayer for the beatification of the Blessed to become saint, which the parishioners usually pray at the end of each Mass.

Afterwards, OFM Bono, who has served in Orašje for three years, briefly presented the history of this young religious community and the chronology of the church, the parish house and the environment. He reminded that the parish was founded in 2006, and that the cornerstone for the church was blessed by St. John Paul II at a mass in Sarajevo on April 13, 1997. He added that the church building was built according to the designs of architect Julijan Domanovac.

As a memory, the mothers with children, dressed in traditional costumes, presented gifts to former parish priests and the cardinal.

The liturgy was animated by singing and playing by Zlatko Špoljarević from Tuzla.

The community of believers was preparing for the consecration of the church with a three-day service led by the missionary of mercy, OFM Josip Ikić. On June 8^th, he blessed the statue of St. Francis with the Crucified Jesus, the work of Ivica Vidić, in front of the church. After the Holy Mass, on June 7^th, Alen Hržica gave a concert in the churchyard.