The gathering of the believers began in the early morning, and the opening rites and prayer with the miraculous image of Our Lady of Kondžilo on the plateau near the parish church took place at 9:00 a.m., after which a procession was formed to Kondžilo Hill, a few kilometers away.

May Mary be joy

After the arrival of the procession, Holy Mass was celebrated at the outer altar of the sanctuary by a professor at the Faculty of Philosophy and Religious Sciences of the University of Zagreb, father Anto Gavrić, OP, in the concelebration of about 10 priests, among whom were the Vicar General of the Vrhbosna Archdiocese, Msgr. Slađan Ćosić and the Komušina parish priest and guardian of the shrine, rev. Boris Salapić.

OFM Anto greeted the assembled worshipers of Our Lady of Kondžilo by wishing that Mary "be a joy in our home and life".

Witnesses of God's love

At the beginning of the appropriate and mosaic sermon, Father Gavrić reflected on how he stayed in Komušina a few days before the Assumption day and, among other things, regularly read what the pilgrims wrote in the book of vows. Following this, he concluded that believers in Komušina first glorify God, and then Mary, who calls them to remain faithful to her Son.

"Coming to the sanctuary and to the covenant hill, we become witnesses of God's love, that is, God who sent his Son to the human race", said father Anto underlining that Mary also calls for openness to the Holy Spirit. "She calls us to open our lives to the Holy Spirit and truly believe that the Spirit works in the Church and today's world", he added and emphasized that "one should feed one's faith with the Word of God" and by coming to pilgrimages.

Explaining their importance today and quoting cardinal Puljić, who said that "Kondžilo is - a place and a project of hope", encouraged those present to show their love for Kondžilo so that it would continue to be built.

Soul and body

In the continuation of the sermon, and speaking about today's world, he noted that Christians oppose those who "kill the body". "As a Church and a community of believers, we cannot remain silent and not raise our voice against murders. We cannot but raise our voice for life, and against abortion and euthanasia, against everything that endangers the body. This is exactly what this feast of the Ascension of BVM enlightens us, and that is the value of life", said father Anto and thanked those who take care of human life from conception to death. Underlining that every life is a gift, he ended the sermon by singing the song Veliča duša moja Gospodina (My soul glorifies the Lord).

The liturgical celebration was animated by the choir of the Komušina diaspora from Germany.

At the end of the Holy Mass, the parish priest thanked all those who participated in organizing the celebration of the Assumption, for which this parish community had been preparing for three days, and then those present also returned to the parish church in a procession with a picture of Our Lady of Kondžilo.

Holy Mass on the eve of Assumtion of BVM

On the eve of the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on August 14^th, Holy Mass was celebrated in Komušina by the archbishop of Vrhbosna, Msgr. Tomo Vukšić. It was concelebrated by about 10 priests, including the parish priest, rev. Salapić.

In the sermon, the archbishop especially thanked all those who came to the Holy Mass despite their health problems and reminded them that during August, many in traffic jams go to their destinations for annual vacations. He emphasized that among those who gather there are worshipers of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who are trying to refresh themselves spiritually in the shrines so that they can continue their lives with even greater zeal. Pointing out that the ascension of Our Lady and man's "promotion", he underlined how blessed are all those who not only listen to the Word of God, but are obedient to it like Mary.

The liturgical celebration was animated by the choir of the parish of St. Anthony of Padua from Žepče.

At the end of the day, there was a spiritual-meditative-musical program animated by father Mato Anić. Then there was adoration in front of the Holy Altar Sacrament as well as the vigil of the pilgrims in front of the image of Our Lady of Kondžilo.