Forty young people from former war ravaged Bosnia and Herzegovina are coming to WYD as ambassadors of peace, thanks to the support of the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).
"Bosnia and Herzegovina is still recovering from the ravages of war that occurred during the early years of the 1990’s. The Church was not spared in this conflict and Aid to the Church in Need has been providing pastoral assistance ever since,” said National Director of Aid to the Church in Need Australia, Phillip Collignon.
From Bosnia and Herzegovina, the diocese of Mostar will have 20 representatives, while 15 will represent the archdiocese of Sarajevo and five will represent the archdiocese of Banja Luka and they will be hosted by the Australian diocese of Broken Bay.
When Bosnia and Herzegovina declared independence in 1992, after Slovenia and Croatia declared independence in 1991, open warfare broke out in April 1992.
Bosnian Serbs took control of 70 percent of the territory and began a policy of ethnic cleansing. Over 20,000 people have been killed, and many churches have been destroyed.
“There's no war now, but we'd like to help re-build the church there and to do that, you need a vibrant youth. The youth delegation travelling to WYD, to be part of this great feast of faith, has been especially chosen with the hope of returning home faith filled and inspired to continue this vital youth apostolate," Mr Collignon continued.
Catholic Archbishop of Sarajevo, Vinko Cardinal Puljic wrote to Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) reporting that the Catholic Church in Bosnia and Herzegovina is “fighting for its survival.”
“Our archdiocese of Sarajevo has lost more than half its faithful. Of the 528,000 who originally lived here just 213,000 are still living within the archdiocese,” Vinko Cardinal Puljic wrote.
Since fewer young people are able to attend WYD08 from Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Church is planning a youth day in May that will be linked to WYD to pray for the success of the journey to WYD in Sydney.
Representative of the Bosnian Bishops’ Conference, Father Dr. Simo Marsic, who will be accompanying the youth delegation with another priest from Banja Luka, expects a turnout of around 5,000 participants for the planned youth day in the diocese of Sarajevo.
While the total cost per head for travel, board and lodging is $3,200, the average adult monthly salary is $230 and pensions are on average no more than $130 in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Fr Marsic has been collecting donations in parishes and is searching for sponsors. The Croatian mission in Australia has also promised to help.
ACN have promised a grant of $11,500 to Bosnia and Herzegovina to help fund the Bosnian youth delegation.
In all the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) will be assisting over 1,000 young people from Sudan, Myanmar, Laos, PNG, East Timor, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cuba, Haiti, Russia and an indigenous youth delegation from Wadeye in the remote Northern Territory attend World Youth Day (WYD) in Sydney, 15 – 20 July 2008.
To support the Bosnia-Herzegovinian cause and other causes, you can send your donation to the Sydney office of Aid to the Church in Need simply write to: PO Box 6245 Blacktown NSW 2148; or email:
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; or call the Sydney Office of ACN on 02 9679 1929 to make a donation via credit card.
For more information, visit www.aidtochurch.org
For more information on Bosnia and Herzegovina, click here.
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