uto, 10. siječnja 2023. 11:56
In the health and tourism centre Banja Vrućica near Teslić, in the Vrhbosna archdiocese, a meeting of young people organized by the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in the Holy Spirit (KKODS) of BiH and Croatia was held from January 6th to 8th under the motto "I am the Lord who gives health" ( Exodus 15:26)".
This meeting brought together more than 350 young people from parishes and prayer communities throughout Croatia and BiH, as well as from the Diocese of Subotica. The participation of young families with around 30 children under the age of two gave a special touch to the meeting.
At the beginning of the meeting, words of welcome were expressed by the dean of Usora and the parish priest in Komušina, rev. Boris Salapić and the parish priest of Teslić, rev. Pavo Šekerija in the area of whose parish is Banja Vrućica. The two of them were at the disposal for the young people for the sacrament of confession throughout the meeting, as were the other priests who were at the meeting: father Sebastijan Šujević, the director of Jesuit classical gymnasium in Osijek and the lead of Croatian KKODS; rev. Anto Ledić, parish priest of Holy Trinity parish in Novi Travnik; OFM Dario Galić, parish vicar in Drinovci and spiritual leader of the Mlado Sunce community from Široki Brijeg and rev. Davor Klečina, parish priest in Drvar and spiritual assistant of the mission Mladi za mir.
At the very beginning of the meeting, there was a surprise visit by the bishop of Banja Luka, Msgr. Franje Komarica and the auxiliary bishop of Banja Luka, Msgr. Marko Semren who, returning from Sarajevo to Banja Luka from a meeting with the new apostolic nuncio in Bosnia and Herzegovina, wanted to briefly greet the young people. Without hiding his joy, Bishop Komarica recalled his call to young people in a Zagreb parish a few years ago to "cross the Sava" and the abundance of God's grace that he saw there "overflowing to the young people in Bosnia and Herzegovina", which then really happened and the fruit of that is also meeting in Banja Vrućica. Bishop Semren also greeted, encouraging the young people not to get tired of following their inner star that will lead them to Christ.

After the celebration, on the evening of the feast of the Epiphany, the national coordinator for the youth of KKODS Croatia and co-leader of the Nanovo rođeni community, Matija Ricov, born in Botinac, gave an introductory presentation, who, inspired by the characters of the Three Wise Men from the East, encouraged the young to be true seekers of God to whom the Lord will reveal his face if they listen to the inner voice of God within themselves.
The first day of the meeting ended with a Holy Mass led by father Šujević and Eucharistic adoration.
The second day of the meeting began with a meditative prayer of Our Lady's Rosary led by the leader of the community Nanovo rođeni, Mišo Lukenda, and the deliberations emphasized Mary's role in the healing of the individual as the Health of the sick. It was contemplated about Mary's role in healing of the image of a woman, in mediating liberation from sinful habits and tendencies, mediating concrete miracles, in healing the wounds of motherhood, as well as the very need for an individual and joint relationship with Mother Mary.
Then members of Dom molitve from Slavonski Brod, Mato Gavran and Matej Sigurnjak, shared their testimony. They spoke about their dramatic experience of conversion and deliverance from the heavy consequences of sin that had entered their youthful lives. Together with the celebratory service of Dom molitve, they introduced the prayer of thanksgiving and celebration according to the "harp and cup" model.
In the afternoon part of the program, the young people could hear a speech by Josip Bilandžija, co-leader of the Nanovo rođeni prayer community, about the ministry of healing within the Catholic Church. The service of healing, which was an important evangelistic element in the first Church, has almost lost its place in the Church's practice throughout history due to several reasons, but the Lord did not allow it to disappear from the Church - primarily because of the many saints who served in this gift and brought many blessings to the Church, and nowadays the service is returning again through the charismatic movement.
Then followed the Holy Mass led by OFM Dario, who emphasized in his sermon that we cannot earn God's grace and love, but that it is a gift, but also that we should always look more towards the Giver than towards the gift.

The evening part of the program was led by OFM Ivo Pavić, parish priest in Šurkovac and a well-known charismatic. In considering the biblical text about Jesus healing the limping man near the Bethzath bath, he called the young people to have more faith in healing Jesus himself, than faith in methods and ways.
After the consideration, OFM Ivo led the prayers and adoration before the Holy Altar Sacrament, and then all the priests present individually blessed the gathered.
On the third day of the meeting, the leaders of the Dom molitve in Sarajevo and Orašje, Mihael Baškarad and Toni Župarić, who is also the national coordinator for the youth of KKODS BIH, shared their testimony of faith. The final speech was given by Matija Ricov on the topic of Charisma as a tool in evangelization, enumerating all the gifts of the Holy Spirit and charisma based on the teachings of St. Paul in the New Testament.
The meeting ended with a visit to the nearby Marian shrine of Our Lady of Kondžilo, where a Holy Mass was celebrated on the Sunday of the Baptism of the Lord in the parish church of the Assumption of BVM in Komušina. The young people were greeted and told about the history of the sanctuary by the local parish priest and administrator of the sanctuary, rev. Salapić, and then the parish priest of Novi Travnik, rev. Anto Ledić, led the Holy Mass, speaking in his homily about the importance of the sacrament of baptism, but also the baptism in the Holy Spirit. At the end of the Holy Mass, together with the young people, the priests prayed a consecration prayer in front of the miracle-working image of Our Lady of Kondžilo.
Since the meeting of young people was held during the Christmas holidays according to the Julian calendar, the organizers of the meeting gave appropriate gifts to all employees of Banja Vrućica, congratulating them on the holiday.
By the way, after the relevant church authorities in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina approved the KKODS statutes, since 2019, annual meetings of young people inspired by charismatic spirituality have been held around the New Year.