The meeting began with a solemn Eucharistic celebration led by the canon and rector of the cathedral, Msgr. Ante Meštrović. Four priests concelebrated, including the dean of the Brčko deanery and the parish priest in Brčko rev. Damir Ivanović.

At the beginning, the members of the choirs, conductors, animators and organists/musicians, the parish priests who were present, as well as other believers were greeted by Msgr. Meštrović, who pointed out that the meetings of this type are “an incentive for more dedicated work and participation in the liturgy of the parish community, and at the same time a thank you for the sacrifice of the engaged believers”. He also conveyed the greetings of the Archbishop of Vrhbosna, Metropolitan Msgr. Tomo Vukšić, who was on a military pilgrimage to Lourdes, with Catholic members of the BiH Armed Forces.

After the proclamation of the Gospel, Msgr. Meštrović in his homily, spoke about the Constitution of the Second Vatican Council on Liturgy, which clearly emphasizes that “sacred music will be holier, the more closely it is associated with worship, whether it expresses prayer more cordially, or encourages unanimity, or enriches sacred rites with greater solemnity (SC 112)”.

“St. Augustine will say ‘holy singing transforms us into living praise expressed to God’”, said Canon Ante, noting that the meeting of choirs takes place on the feast of St. Matthew who is the only apostle not directly chosen by Jesus.

He later pointed out how beautiful it is when it is sung, it is especially beautiful when choirs and a priest sing. “Singing makes it easier for believers to say their common and personal prayers, especially when ordinary speech fails and runs out of words”, he added, noting that many church documents speak of sacred music, including the 1967 Instructio musicam sacram. He reminded that church music was also discussed at the First Synod of the Vrhbosna Archdiocese.

The Holy Mass was attended and liturgical singing was animated by members of all nine choirs led by the Cathedral Mixed Choir Josip Stadler, under the direction of rev. Marko Stanušić, regens chori of the choir of the Sarajevo Cathedral and coordinator for church-liturgical music of the Archdiocese of Vrhbosna, who has been the organizer of choir gatherings for years.

The Eucharist was followed by a concert of spiritual music during which nine choirs honoured the audience with performances of 18 polyphonic or Gregorian chants. The host of the program was Nikolina Cvitanović.

After the Choir of Theologians of the Vrhbosna Theological Seminary Stjepan Hadrović, whose conductor was rev. Ivan Rako, parish choirs with conductors performed: Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus - Sarajevo (sister Petronila Kovačević); St. Anthony - Žepče (sister Slavica Tubak); St. Michael - Vareš (sister Ružica Marijić); Sacred Heart of Jesus - Brčko (Željko Klaić); Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Uskoplje (sister Helena Bakula); St. John the Baptist - Lug-Brankovići (Jelica Filipovic); Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Dolac (Vlatka Čabro), and the concert was closed by the Cathedral Mixed Choir Josip Stadler - Sarajevo under the direction of rev. Stanušić.

Then Msgr. Meštrović handed out letters of thanks to the choir leaders, followed by a joint photo shoot in front of the cathedral and socializing at the VN Priests’ Home.