Novi Travnik

Eighty years of Rankovići parish


St. Joseph’s parish in Rankovići near Novi Travnik, in the heart of Central Bosnia, celebrated its 80th anniversary on July 15th.

PHOTO: Matea Franjić

PHOTO: Matea Franjić

A Mass celebration  in the afternoon hours, with the concelebration of six priests and the participation of the believers who filled up the church, was led by the Archbishop of Vrhbosna metropolitan Vinko card. Puljić.
The present were welcomed by the parish priest rev. Miljenko Džalto.
The Cardinal recalled in his sermon the history of this parish that was founded by Archbishop Ivan Ev. Šarić in 1937., by separating certain villages from the parishes: Bučići, Dolac and Pećine. He emphasized that this day of a celebration of the existence of the parish, is also a day of thanksgiving. "Today we need to thank God for survival in these areas. Also we must become aware of ourselves and of our responsibilities, for the parish was founded to strengthen the communion of faith, and as in the center of the family is a family table, that way in a parish is the Church altar”, said the Archbishop of Vrhbosna, and called on the believers that they in a special way give God praise for all the priests who worked in this faithful community. In the end, he encouraged the people to strengthen their faith on a daily basis and find power in it to face the challenges of the present.
The parish priest and parishioners, among whom a significant number of them were in folk costumes, gave gifts to the cardinal.
After Holy Mass, the socializing continued, in already traditional way in central Bosnia, with sounds of national melos and inevitable traditional dance.
Otherwise, as can be read on the website of Ranković, in the 80-year history of this parish, there were seven parishioners: rev. Ivan Vrček from Sarajevo (1937 - 1944), rev. Jakov Kovačević (1944-1945 with OFM Stanko Karina), rev. Jozo Matković from Dolac (1945 - October 1978), rev. Pero Anić (jr.) from Krepšić (October 1978 - August 1988), rev. Ilija Miškić (August 1988 - September 2003), rev. Jure Gavranić (September 2003 - August 2016) and the current leader of the parish rev. Miljenko Džalto.

KT; Translation: Ksenija Ninić