Fra Marinko Vukman, guardian and rector of the Shrine and Basilica of the Miraculous Lady of Sinj, led a Mass on Wednesday, 28 October, on the feast of Saints Simon and Jude Thaddeus, at the Basilica of Saint Joseph in Karlovac.
Concelebrants included Monsignor Antun Sente Jr., rector of the National Shrine of Saint Joseph, and Father Antun Kolić, parish priest of the Holy Three Kings parish in the Banija district of Karlovac. The singing was led by the parish choir "Saint Joseph" with organ accompaniment by Monsignor Krešimir Klarić, while the basilica's altar servers assisted.
In a fitting homily, Fra Marinko spoke about Jesus's choice of apostles. "God does not always choose those whom people would notice first, but He always sees the heart of the one He calls," he said. He also addressed the faithful who gather on Wednesdays at the National Shrine of Saint Joseph, telling them: "Believe, no sincere prayer is lost."
Speaking on the power of faith, Fra Marinko emphasised: "Jesus still has the power to heal today. He does not always heal in the way we imagine. Sometimes He heals the body, and sometimes the heart, giving us the strength to carry the cross. Sometimes He does not remove the trouble, but He removes the loneliness in the trouble. Sometimes He does not change the circumstances, but He changes us from within." He also touched on hope in difficult times, the strength of the family, and small acts of kindness.
In conversation with Monsignor Sente, Fra Marinko presented the spiritual life and heritage of the Sinj shrine. He stated that "the image of the Miraculous Lady of Sinj is the greatest treasure of the Sinj shrine," and that the procession on the Feast of the Assumption is particularly magnificent, when tens of thousands of faithful follow the image of the Lady. He mentioned the Sinj seminary, where 11 seminarians are being formed, and spoke about the connection between the Franciscans and the people, the work of the Franciscan Classical Gymnasium and vocational school, and the valuable monastic museum heritage. "Within our monastery, which is a hub of culture and education, the Franciscan Classical Gymnasium also operates," he said.
Fra Marinko also recalled the defence of Sinj in 1715. "While our defenders, with cannons and their bravery, fought on the Sinj fortress, which we today call the Town, women, children and a few friars withdrew to the church there. Before the image of the Lady of Mercy, which the friars had brought from Rama in 1687, they prayed for help," he recounted.
The meeting concluded with an exchange of gifts and messages of friendship between Karlovac and Sinj, and Monsignor Sente thanked Fra Marinko for leading the Mass.
