ned, 17. rujna 2023. 10:04
By laying wreaths, Holy Mass and prayer for the dead in the Memorial Centre on Uzdol, in the parish of St. John the Baptist, on the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, on September 14th, the 30th anniversary of the martyrdom of the Catholic Croats of that region was marked.
The Eucharist was led with the concelebration of about 15 priests by the dean of the Chapter of Vrhobosna and professor at the KBF in Sarajevo, Msgr. Pavo Jurišić. Those present were greeted at the beginning by the parish priest, Rev. Ivan Ivančević.
In the homily, Msgr. Jurišić pointed out the saying "how time heals all wounds" and emphasized that in Uzdol, however, "that saying does not apply because this place is an open wound that bleeds". He reminded that the 21st anniversary of the transfer of the remains of those killed from Prozor to the Memorial Centre in Uzdol, for the construction of which the then pastor rev. Miljenko Džalto, together with the faithful, is most deserving. Then he wondered how evil entered the hearts of people who came to a peaceful village and started killing. He emphasized that it is difficult to understand, but one has to live with it. "Uzdol is a place that tells us about suffering, but Uzdol is a symbol that, because of the spilled blood that soaked this land, also tells us about beauty and holiness", said Msgr. Jurišić, and then remembered the words from a sermon when he heard that "in the process of reconciliation, the initiative is not taken by the criminal, but by the victim, no matter how hard it sounds".
He further spoke about the selective approach to the victims and the dishonorable involvement of many in the process of exposing this crime. "Jesus calls us not to beg, but to bless our enemies and our unjust judges", said Msgr. Pavo and asked "that Jesus make our hearts according to his heart".
After the Holy Mass in the Memorial Centre, a memorial service was held for the murdered.
It is worth repeating how Uzdol experienced its "Great Friday" 30 years ago on September 14th. On that day, members of the Bosniak Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina committed a terrible crime in this village, killing 29 civilians and 12 HVO soldiers. Even more painful is the unfair relationship between international and domestic courts, which did not prosecute the most responsible.