Sisak, (IKA) – On May 5, a river of young people forming a procession behind the Sisak Cross set off from the Sisak Cathedral to the area in front of the Church of St. Quirinus, where Mass was celebrated as the central event of the Croatian Catholic Youth Encounter. Nearly 25,000 young people from all parts of the Republic of Croatia, the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Croatian Catholic missions from European countries were walking along the river and poured themselves into a river of light in the spirit of the motto of the encounter, “We Walk in Light.” Beginning with this encounter, the cross held during the procession will be the cross carried during future Croatian Catholic Youth Encounters. On the young people’s way to the Church of St. Quirinus, they were enthusiastically greeted by citizens. As part of the program prior to the celebration of the Mass, there was an extensive musical-theatrical and spiritual program, in a celebratory and prayerful atmosphere. The program was enhanced by the Diocesan Youth Choir and young people from the territory of the diocese. The participants were shown a film on previous Catholic Youth Encounters in the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, after which the Youth Choir of the Diocese of Sisak sang the anthem of this encounter.
The young people were warmly welcomed by the host bishop, Msgr. Vlado Košić: “I greet all those present and the Church and civil authorities, and especially greet you, dear young people, who have come from all the dioceses of the homeland of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Catholic missions throughout Europe. Welcome to ancient Sisak, a town that receives you with an open heart, a town that embraces you and accepts you with its Christian and human love.” The bishop also expressed the desire that they would all be one on that afternoon, and thus, celebrating the truth, would testify to the world “that we as Christians are called to build a society of peace, harmony and unity. (…) May this wind, as a sign of the Holy Spirit, initiate new currents in all of us, new strength for what is beautiful and what is noble. Together we pray to the Lord for this to be a guarantee of Christian unity, that we may truly walk in the light,” urged Msgr. Košić.
The Youth Commissioner of the Diocese of Sisak, Branko Koretić, then welcomed the guests on behalf of all the young people who participated in the implementation of the encounter. The prefect of Sisak-Moslavina County, Marina Lovrić Menzel, pointed out that the thousands of young people, who had brought love and hope to Sisak and the county, were the most beautiful and noble gift to this episcopal city. The young people were also welcomed by the mayor of Sisak, Dinko Pintarić, who noted that during this encounter, a fourth river was flowing through this town of three rivers—a river of light. He warmly welcomed this river because all the rivers together form a river of life in which childhood and youth occupy a special place.
As part of the program, a sketch was performed about the lives of the paragons Marija Grgić, Marica Stanković and Anica Ercegović, who had lived in the territory of the Diocese of Sisak. The part of the program in which seminarians, theology students, the Croatian Catholic University and the Croatian Conference of the Superiors of Religious Orders participated was devoted to the promotion of vocations. Following testimony by Croatian war veterans and participants in the Homeland War, young married couples and Carmelite nuns, a sketch was presented about the lives of the paragons Petar Žagmeštar, Ivan Bonifacio Pavletić and Antun Grahovar.
On Saturday, the young people and all the pilgrims were offered extensive cultural experiences, in which they had the opportunity to become acquainted with the Municipality and Diocese of Sisak. On the streets of the town was a performance of Sisak—An Ancient Light of Youth and Faith, as well as appearances by cultural-artistic groups, vocal ensembles and an exhibition of traditional and artistic crafts. In the State Archives of Sisak, they could view an exhibition entitled “Sisak through the Lens of Old Sisak Photographers.” In the National Vlado Gotovac Library and Reading Room was an exhibition entitled “Ivan Večenaj—Sacred and Secular Motifs.” In the Municipal Striegl Gallery was an exhibition entitled “Sisak Artistic Circle—Religious Echoes.” At Matica Hrvatska (the Croatian Cultural and Publishing Society), the young people could view an exhibition entitled “Božidar Škofač—Wooden Chapels and Their Altars.” In the Welenreitter House was a photography exhibition, “The Way of the Cross of the Sisak Church,” and in the Municipal Museum of Sisak was an exhibition entitled “Fragments—Sisak from Prehistoric to Modern Times: Results of Archeological Research, 2000–2010.” In the Quirinus Gallery in the Cultural Center was an exhibition entitled “Alma Trauber and Dean Zlovolić—Mystery.”