Petrinja parish celebrates 15th anniversary and patron saint

The St. John Paul II Parish in Petrinja celebrated its 15th anniversary and the feast day of its patron saint on Thursday, October 22. The central mass was held at the ‘Vlado Lisjak’ Sports Hall and was led by Bishop Ranko Vidović of Hvar.

The celebrations included a nine-day period of prayer and holy masses. During this time, a new reliquary shaped like St. John Paul II was blessed to house a relic of his blood. The event was attended by numerous believers, clergy, and local officials, including Petrinja Mayor Magdalena Komes and City Council President Marin Barić.

In his homily, Bishop Vidović spoke about the significance of St. John Paul II and his connection to the Croatian people, emphasizing the Eucharist as a source of spiritual strength. The festivities concluded with a communal meal and music near the foundations of the future parish church.