Recalling the suffering of the Plehan church and monastery, which took place on July 2nd 1992., OFM Anto emphasized in his homily that the bombing of the church was sad news and encouraged those present to participate in the rebuilding of the church, monastery and parish “so that Plehan can once again shine as a religious and cultural centre as it was before the last war.”

Among the 60 or so present were the contractor of the church Stipo Lucić, whose employees are currently setting up stone slabs in the church, the contractor at the monastery Anto Jurišić and representatives of the socio-political authorities.

The celebration of the Holy Mass was animated by venerable Ivan Marić, Dean of the Derventa Deanery.

After the return of the Franciscans to Plehan, every year on July 2nd, the faithful celebrate the great tragedy for which no one has yet been held accountable, and pray that the Lord heals all the wounds suffered by the people of that area.

Before the war, there were 8 120 Catholic Croats living in the Plehan parish, and today only about 90, mostly elderly and infirm.

KT