The Holy Mass celebration on that occasion was led by the retired Archbishop of Vrhbosna, Cardinal Vinko Puljić, together with the Archbishop of Vrhbosna, Msgr. Tomo Vukšić, the local Bishop, Msgr. Željko Majić, the retired Bishop of Banja Luka, Msgr. Franjo Komarica, and about 15 priests.

Numerous anniversaries

At the beginning of the Holy Mass, Msgr. Majić greeted those present, expressing gratitude to God for all the graces. "With this solemn Eucharist, when we celebrate the 200^th anniversary of the birth of the founder of this glorious abbey of Marija Zvijezda, the servant of God, Father Franz Pfanner, and the 100^th anniversary of the construction and consecration of the church, as well as the 80^th anniversary of the birth and 55^th anniversary of the priesthood of the glorious son of this parish and our diocese, the exemplary Cardinal Vinko Puljić, we wish to elevate this special church to the honour of a diocesan Marian shrine. We also wish to express our gratitude to all the Trappist fathers, from the founder Father Franz Pfanner to our guardians of the Trappist spirit, to our own brothers, Fathers Zvonko and Tomislav Topić, to all the priests, Franciscan brothers and all the pious souls who, together with the Trappist community, were spiritually built in this church. I also express my gratitude to all those who contributed to this abbey shining with new shine as the spiritual and cultural centre of the city and diocese, from the auxiliary workers, craftsmen, business owners, benefactors who supported us financially, to the leaders of the entire project, the young architects Ivana and Dario, led by the diocese's treasurer, Msgr. Ivica Božinović. I would also like to express my gratitude to our dear Bishop Franjo for his tireless work, prayers and sacrifices", said Bishop Željko.

Introducing the Holy Mass, the Cardinal emphasized that he carries this church in his heart, because "he grew up in it as a child, and also as a priest". Expressing his joy at everything that has been prepared for the celebration of these jubilees, he called on those present to be truly grateful to God for "the hardworking, good and dear people in our past, who have left us a wonderful wealth of spirit as a legacy".

Growing in faith

In his sermon, the cardinal also brought his own personality into the mix, recalling his childhood and contact with the Trappist Fathers. Emphasizing that the arrival of the Trappists and Father Franz Pfanner in Banja Luka and the founding of the Marija Zvijezda Monastery was a gift from God, he emphasized that they left "an indelible mark not only for BiH, but for the entire region. They came to found a monastery, they taught people to work, they raised them to live from work, and their motto was: 'pray and work'".

"These walls are washed with prayer. And that is why, when we enter this church, pride and respect should grow in us, we should dedicate ourselves here, grow in faith, and bear witness to our faith with perseverance, despite all crises", said the cardinal.

Listing everything the Trappist Fathers did for this region in both the educational and economic fields, he emphasized that this should be "an incentive for us to know how to love our own, to get to know them and pass them on to future generations".

Finally, he expressed his joy that Our Lady will be honoured and loved in his church. "I want to encourage you to truly grow in faith with the intercession of the Mother of God. No matter where you go, do not forget where you grew up, do not forget your nest, remember where your Mother is", concluded Cardinal Puljić.

After the communion prayer, the chancellor, Rev. Pero Ivan Grgić, read the decree of Bishop Željko on the elevation of this church to a diocesan Marian shrine.

At the end of the Holy Mass, Msgr. Božinović briefly introduced those present to the rich history of the Trappist Abbey of Marija Zvijezda, which was founded 156 years ago, as well as the figure and work of its founder, Father Franz Pfanner.

Before the solemn Te Deum, Bishop Željko presented a gift to Cardinal Puljić for his jubilees, 80 years of life and 55 years of priesthood.

The liturgical singing was animated by a joint choir from the Banja Luka parishes with musical accompaniment by Dorotea Bekić and Renata Boras, and the Holy Mass celebration brought together, in addition to local parishioners and believers from surrounding parishes, also displaced believers from the Banja Luka region, who came from neighbouring European countries. The Adorers of the Blood of Christ, the Sisters of Mercy, and the Missionaries of Charity also participated.