This year, seven parish choirs participated: St. Anthony from Žepče, the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Sarajevo, St. Anthony from Bugojno, St. Michael from Vareš, St. John the Baptist from Lug-Brankovići, St. Elijah the Prophet from Novi Šeher, and the cathedral mixed choir Josip Stadler from Sarajevo.

Contributing to the life of parish communities

Before the Eucharistic celebration began, the attendees were greeted by the coordinator of musical and liturgical events of the Vrhbosna Archdiocese, Rev. Marko Stanušić, regens chori of the Sarajevo Cathedral.

The Holy Mass followed, which was celebrated on behalf of the Archbishop of Vrhbosna, Msgr. Tomo Vukšić, by the rector of the cathedral and canon, Rev. Marko Zubak.

In his address, Rev. Zubak emphasized the importance of the gift of music and singing in the life of the Church and pointed out that music goes beyond the usual understanding of human senses. "We are here to first thank the dear God for all his gifts, including the gift of hearing and singing and for the sixth sense that we have. Although a person has more than 20 senses, we have reduced them to five, and music is both the fifth and sixth sense for us", he said, and invited those gathered to continue contributing to the life of parish communities through their service and building the Church through the beauty of liturgical music.

The rector of the cathedral continued a similar thought in his sermon, connecting the Holy Mass readings in which Jesus asks "what are you looking for", and his disciples inquire "where he dwells" - which is an expression of the desire for lasting communion. In the context of the meeting of liturgical choirs, he emphasized that by their arrival they were already responding to Christ's call to confirm their commitment to serving in parish communities.

He emphasized that the goal of the gathering was not only a musical performance or the performance of compositions, but above all an encounter with Christ. "We came to associate with the One our soul seeks, which is Christ the Lord. Therefore, we did not come only to sing, although singing is a double prayer. We came to celebrate, to give thanks, to learn from him and from each other", said, among other things, Rev. Zubak.

The liturgical singing was led by the combined choirs gathered around the cathedral mixed choir Josip Stadler, accompanied by the organist Rev. Stanušić.

 Sacred Music Concert

After the Holy Mass, according to the established tradition of the meeting, a sacred music concert was held, at which each choir performed two pieces from its repertoire. This gave the meeting its own artistic expression, demonstrating the diversity, quality and richness of liturgical music that is cultivated in the parishes of the Vrhbosna Archdiocese. The program was led by sister Mihaela Martinović.

At the end, there was a distribution of certificates of appreciation and a joint photo session in front of the cathedral. The meeting concluded with a joint meal and socializing at the Vrhbosna Theological Seminary.

Let us remind that the meetings of the liturgical choirs of the Vrhbosna Archdiocese were launched in 2003, and their beginnings date back to 1998, when the first meeting of the choirs of the Sarajevo parishes was held in Sarajevo.

They have multiple purposes: joint practice of the liturgical repertoire, introduction to new folk masses, and nurturing the rich heritage of church music through folk songs, Gregorian chant, and polyphony. At the same time, they contribute to strengthening mutual communion between choirs and their members, encourage the exchange of experiences, and strengthen awareness of the importance of liturgical music in the life of the Church. Their role in transmitting the church musical tradition to younger generations is particularly important, thus ensuring the continuity of liturgical and musical life in parish communities.

Finally, let us add that 22 meetings have been held so far, with a two-year break in 2020 and 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Over the years, a total of 41 choirs have participated, among which the Josip Stadler Cathedral Mixed Choir stands out as the only permanent participant in all meetings.