Holy Mass, according to a long tradition, began after the time for holy confession, the blessing of the pilgrims and the procession with a miraculous image of Our Lady of Olovo with the prayer of the rosary.

Along with Archbishop Vukšić, the newly elected Provincial of the Franciscan Province of Bosna Srebrena, OFM Zdravko Dadić, the guardian of the Olovo shrine, OFM Ilija Božić, and a dozen priests concelebrated. Before the beginning of the Holy Mass, the gathered were greeted and welcomed by the director of the Shrine of Our Lady of Olovo, OFM Ilija.

In his address, the Provincial, OFM Zdravko, mentioned that Our Lady's Shrine in Olovo is the oldest in the Balkans. “We are here with a desire to start the month of May to say to the Mother ‘thank you’ for all the graces we have felt in this place. You can see how this sanctuary is being materially renewed, and this is a place that always renews us spiritually”, said, among other things, OFM Zdravko, emphasizing that spiritual renewal is needed in the lives of believers.

At the beginning of the Eucharist, Msgr. Vukšić blessed the water with which he then blessed those present.

After the biblical readings and the proclaimed Gospel, the Archbishop delivered a homily with the guiding thought: “Christians are witnesses of hope, and Mary is their model.” To the Virgin Mary, he said that they do so out of gratitude because she, by God’s choice and her consent, has become a humble servant of God’s will. “Mary's role as Mother is set at the beginning of God’s arrival among people, which is why she is often called the star of dawn. For just as this star heralds the end of the night and the imminent rising of the sun and the light of day, so Mary is the herald of the future Light of the world”, said the archbishop and explained that “following century old marks of devoted respecters of Mother of God and paths that guided them to this dear place, we are gathered in Olovo today”.

“Apart from expressing our personal devotion here, as humble present servants of the will of God, we also present our thanksgiving at the altar of the Lord for all the blessings we have received”, added Msgr. Vukšić explaining that the end of winter and the flourishing of nature is the answer to the question why popular piety chose May as Our Lady’s month.

In the end, he gave all hopes in Our Lady’s intercession, quoting St. John Paul II: “Mary, Mother of Hope, be with us on our journey! Teach us to proclaim the living God; help us to be witnesses of Jesus, the only Saviour; make us helpful to our neighbour, generous to those in need, doers of justice, zealous builders of a more just world; stand up for us who work in history, sure that the Father’s plan will be fulfilled.”

After the Eucharistic prayer, OFM Ilija thanked all the pilgrims who arrived, among others, from Tramošnica, Zenica, Tuzla, Vareš, Vijaka, Busovača, Sutjeska, Par Selo, Dubrava and Mostar, and the Police Administration from Olovo. He pointed out that after two pandemic years, “everything is slowly returning to normal”. He further explained the work currently underway at the shrine and added what is planned to be done in the near future.

The liturgical celebration was animated by the choir of theologians of Franciscan Theology in Sarajevo, Fra Nenad Dujić, under the direction of OFM Emanuel Josić.

Let us mention that the Eucharistic celebration, this year as well, was broadcast live by Radio Bobovac Vareš, both on its airwaves and on the Youtube channel. The Holy Mass was also broadcast live by Radio Marija BiH and Croatian Radio Herceg-Bosna.