Dubrovnik (IKA) – Exactly at midnight the area in the Gruz port of Dubrovnik has been opened to all the pilgrims coming from all over Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro and from various other parts of Europe and world, to celebrate the Eucharist with the Holy Father John Paul II. According to the announced traffic system, on June 6 until 7 pm, Dubrovnik is a pedestrian zone, while the pilgrims are transported towards the place of the celebration by the busses of the city service “Libertas” and by boats. Those who were organized by their parishes walked from the buss parking places to the port of Gruz. At about 1:30 am the youth of the Dubrovnik Diocese accompanied by the pilgrims have started the vigil.
The Bishop of Dubrovnik had invited the youth to a long spiritual preparation for the Pope’s arrival, and they accepted the invitation form the beginning of the Lent through the gatherings in their small communities in order to pray for the Church, for the vocations and for the Holy Father and to listen to and think about different spiritual lectures. They gathered in the port of Gruz to start the five-hours-long youth’s vigil entitled “You are Peter – the Rock” (Christ – Church – Pope – Youth).
At the beginning of the vigil, after the parish priest of the parish of Mary Magdalene rev. Miljenko Bubajic had welcomed the youth and explained the meaning of the vigil, the youth from a dozen of parishes of the Diocese of Dubrovnik and communities and from the Catholic Pupils’ Home sang spiritual songs, witnessed their decision for Christ, meditated about spiritual and life values, and showed a few plays and recitatives.
The youth communities from the parish of the Holy Family from Mokosica, from the Female Pupils’ Home of St. Mary Crucified, from the youth community of the parish of St. Saviour from Mokosica, the youth from the parishes of St. Mary Magdalene from Zupa Dubrovacka, St. Michael from Lapad, Assumption from Grad, Holy Cross from Gruz, St. Peter from Boninovo, Holy Family from Orebic, the youth of the neo-catechumenal way, and as guests the youth from the Diocese of Sibenik – took part in the vigil.
The speakers Ruzica Gavric, catechist, and Josko Mikus, pastoral assistant in the parish of St. Peter in Boninovo, read some chosen excerpts from the Pope’s speeches on family, woman, value of human life, youth, need of unity, value of peace among people and his invitations to forgiveness and reconciliation. Mladen Parlov, PhD. from Split addressed the youth with two speeches on the theme “You are Peter – the Rock”.