The Mass was led by the Archbishop of Vrhbosna, cardinal Vinko Puljić in communion with 30 priests among whom were members of the Franciscan Province of Bosna Srebrena, the Salezians from Žepče and the Jesuits from the Sarajevo Parish of Grbavica.

At the beginning, the Cardinal blessed the candles and to the present explained that the candles carried in the procession are a symbol of the light of faith that came into being in the sacrament of baptism and that we are in a time of 40 days after Christmas. He reminded that Joseph and Mary on this day presented Jesus in the temple. Then there was a solemn procession around the cathedral.

In his sermon, which he divided into two parts, the Cardinal first talked about the day of Presentation of the Lord. He explained the rules at that time that a woman after a certain 40-day period was “pure” and could show her child with her husband in the temple. He reminded that BVM was without a sin, but stressed that she followed the laws and acted like all women of that time. He said that a sacrifice had to be submitted in the temple for the children in the temple, usually a dove. He then recalled the reading at the Mass and spoke of the widow and prophet Ana, who together with old Simon, attended Jesus' presentation in the temple.

In the second part of his sermon, the Cardinal repeated that the Pope had decreed that on the day of Presentation of the Lord is a day when the Day of the consecrated life is also celebrated. “It is interesting that this day has fallen on the first Saturday when we celebrate and pray especially for the consecrated life”, he said, and encouraged the audience to become aware of their gift and identity.

“Today we are again becoming aware of who we are. I'm glad you exist, act and work in a local Church. I invite you to feel the call on this day so that you can thank God and be aware of the gift God has for you to be near Him. You are laying your vows of the obedience, purity and poverty, it is not suffering but the liberation of the heart to be free for God so that he can act through you. So be aware of this day that you are chosen and be available to God. I encourage you to even more understand your vocation to understand that you, as well as Jesus, are ‘presented’”, the cardinal said in the second part of his sermons.

He then reminded of one US president who, in meeting with Mother Teresa, realized that she is a saint and that he could not be “as he has been so far”. “That's what is being asked of you. To change the world with your behaviour and appearance, so that the light of Christ through us may enter the world. I want to us live our faith, carry light and transfer it, and that light to 'echo' in our day-to-day life”, said the Archbishop of Vrhbosna at the end of the sermon. Then the present monks and nuns prayed a prayer for the renewal of their religious promises.

In addition to monks and nuns, the Mass was attended by communities from the Vrhbosna theology Seminary, Franciscan Theology, and the Redemptoris Mater International Missions Seminary of the Archdiocese.

The Mass was animated with liturgical singing by the Franciscan Theology Choir OFM Nenad Dujić conducted by OFM Emanuel Josić.

After the Mass celebration, a gathering was held in the building of the Vrhbosna theology seminary.