The commemoration program began with a Holy Mass celebration for the fallen and deceased veterans in the Church of the Holy Family in Kupres, led by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Vrhbosna and the Apostolic Administrator of the Military Ordinariate in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Msgr. Tomo Vukšić with the concelebration of the parish priest, Rev. Tomo Mlakić and six priests.

Introducing to the Holy Mass, Msgr. Vukšić, along with greetings to those present, thanked God and all those who in any way contributed to freedom happening, as well as those who contributed to freedom being lived responsibly and built upon every day. "We will pray to the Lord God that freedom accompanies every human creature so that they can responsibly live the freedom of God's children. We will pray that dear God, with his blessing, will make us witnesses of his hope and his freedom from every form of evil. Freedom is lived, not only in personal life, but also in social life, therefore, as prayer patterns of this Holy Mass, we took a prayer for the homeland and for the progress and freedom of the people. May God bless us Catholics, members of the Croatian nation, but also members of all other nations who are equally created in the image and likeness of God, that they too, following the rules and commandments of God's will, may be builders of peace, freedom, friendship and cooperation in this world and between people and nations", said the archbishop of Vrhbosna.

The road to holiness

In an appropriate sermon, he then mentioned the meaning of celebrating the feast of All Saints and the commemoration of all the faithful dead, and he encouraged the faithful to put aside every burden and sin that hinders them along the way with their efforts for holiness, which is before them and is their goal. He then mentioned Pope Francis' exhortation on the call to holiness in the modern world, Gaudete et exsultate, and the Holy Father's call to the well-known teaching of the Church, as well as the reminder that the Holy Spirit pours holiness into individual followers of Jesus, but also into God's people everywhere because "God wanted to sanctify and to save people, not individually, without any connection between them, but he wanted to make of them a nation that would truly recognize him and serve him faithfully". "In history, God created and saved man, but he also chose and saved a nation. This emphasizes that there is no complete identity of individual believers without belonging to a nation of believers. That is, no one is saved alone, as an isolated individual, but God attracts man and waits patiently, taking care of the complex intertwining of relationships between persons that are realized and strengthened in the human community. That's why God wanted to enter the life of a people", explained the archbishop of Vrhbosna.

To be a witness

He then pointed out that all believers are called to be Jesus' witnesses, "everyone on their own path" and "of any class".

"Everyone is called to holiness by living and witnessing with love in their vocations and regular jobs. That is, even when it is not possible for us to do great deeds, it is possible to do small deeds with great love and honesty and thus achieve holiness", said the archbishop, encouraging those present to think correctly about the faithful existence and mission on earth, which is possible "only if he understands as his own walk after the holy God for the sake of his sanctification".

"The life of every person, including a Christian believer, brings with it many joys and many sorrows. Some of them are big and others are smaller. But no happiness in human life is as great as the joy of a clear conscience, which is another name for holiness, and no sorrow is as deep as it is painful if a Christian does not want to have a clear conscience and does not strive for his spiritual growth and sanctification others", said in conclusion Msgr. Vukšić with a prayer that the Lord forgives his deceased brothers and sisters for all their weaknesses and leads them to heaven, and that he grants all people in the world "the joy and blessing of a clear conscience and the desire to be witnesses of God's love for every human being".

At the end of the Holy Mass celebration, the pastor, Rev. Mlakić congratulated the anniversary of the liberation of this plateau, and also congratulated the Special Police, who are celebrating their day.

The commemoration program continued with a parade of veterans towards the central memorial in Kupres, where wreaths were laid and candles lit.

A formal academy was then held in the Croatian Home, and in the evening, there was a performance by the klapa of the Croatian Navy Sv. Juraj.