date: 27.12.2016.
Also this year, Christmas was celebrated in joy, after faithful in the parish prepared for the birth of Jesus with early Holy Masses and Novena on Apparition Hill. This place of prayer and reconciliation, recognised as such by numerous pilgrims from all over the world, was once again the confessional of the whole world. Faithful waited patiently for confession in long lines during the morning and evening prayer programme. The evening prayer programme on Christmas Eve began at 5 pm with the prayer of Rosary. All priests from the parish, as well as many foreign priests participated in the evening Holy Mass that began at 6 pm. The main celebrant was Fr. Josip Ikić, a professor at the Franciscan Gymnasium in Visoko and Fr. Zvonko Miličić, the Principle of Franciscan Gymnasium in Visoko, gave a homily. After Holy Mass, Cenacolo community gave a live nativity scene performance in front of the church. The Christmas Vigil began at 11 pm with Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, led by Fr. Vjekoslav Milicevic and the programme concluded with the Midnight Holy Mass and Fr. Perica Ostojić, as the main celebrant.
The church and the area around the church were packed and many parishioners and faithful from other parishes were also in the Hall of John Paul II, as the whole programme was transmitted through video wall there too. Holy Masses on Christmas were celebrated in the parish church at 7, 8, 11 am and at 6 pm, and in branch churches in Miletina, Vionica and Šurmanci at 10 am. (photos)
