European Centre in Banja Luka
The European Centre for Peace and Cooperation was opened on Sunday, 20 September 2020 within the building of the former Trappist monastery "Maria Star" in Banja Luka.
The opening ceremony was presided over by the Bishop of Banja Luka, Msgr. Franjo Komarica.
The opening ceremony was attended by the envoy of the Banja Luka Mufti Effendi Muris Spahić, Deputy Secretary General of the International Pan-European Union Vanja Gavran, Consul General of the Republic of Croatia in Banja Luka Zoran Piličić, Former Mayor of Davor Municipality Alojzije Jakirčević, Secretary General of the BiH Bishops' Conference Msgr. Ivo Tomašević, representative of the Association of Exiled Banja Luka Croats "Nazareth" from Zagreb Vinko Laštro, president of HKD Napredak - Banja Luka Branch Ružica Ševerika and many others.
In his speech, the bishop recalled the time when this monastery was founded, remembering its founder Franz Pfanner. "On this day, when we celebrate the 195th anniversary of the birth of the founder of the Trappist monastery Franz Pfanner, with this modest but significant act we officially open the Meeting House 'Marija Zvijezda' - and the European Centre for Reconciliation, Peace, Interreligious and Interethnic Cooperation. God's providence planned other precious creations with this remarkable man - for the good of many people. He came to this area - and not without many difficulties - managed to shine the light of Maria Star, which has been shining for more than a century and a half. Let us enable a new flare-up of the precious Mary Star, which is, in its valuable heritage, worthy of respect", said Bishop Komarica.
Bishop Komarica first blessed the inscription in the Trappist church entitled after the words of St. John Paul II "The way of the Church is man." The inscription reads in its entirety: On the occasion of the 195th anniversary of the birth of the Servant of God Father Franz Pfanner, founder of the Trappist monastery "Maria Star", responsible for the spiritual, cultural and civilizational development of Banja Luka and its surroundings, Banja Luka diocese, having received the task from the leadership of the Catholic Church to preserve and nurture the precious heritage of monks from many European nations and countries, open and sensitive to the current needs of its fellow citizens and contemporaries, in seeking and finding satisfactory answers to many important issues and challenges. The meeting house Mary Star and the European Center for Reconciliation, Peace, Interreligious, Interethnic Worldview and Political Dialogue and Cooperation. The work of the Center will be carried out in cooperation with the International Pan-European Union and national Pan-European Unions from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Germany and Austria. In necessariis unitas, in dubiis libertas, in omnibus caritas."
After the plaques on the front of the Trappist church were unveiled and blessed, the director of Caritas and the European Academy of the Banja Luka Diocese, Msgr. Miljenko Aničić, spoke to the gathered. "Fifteen years ago, the European Academy was established in Banja Luka within the Diocese. The idea was to create an institution, which will aim at continuing education for adults, and to be a forum for dialogue and reconciliation. A large number of meetings and lectures on various topics were held. Establishment of the House of Encounters and the European Center for reconciliation, peace, interreligious, interethnic worldview and political dialogue and cooperation will be a further major step in efforts to motivate, encourage and support this country and its people even more in their efforts for a better and more humane future together with other European nations," said Msgr. Aničić.
Vanja Gavran also addressed the audience, congratulating them on behalf of the Pan-European Union, reminding them that this union is the oldest movement for the unification of Europe, founded back in 1922. He expressed admiration for the work done by the Trappists during their many years of activity in Banja Luka and pointed out that the opening of the Center for Peace and Cooperation is a sign that the Church of Banja Luka "is not tired" of doing good and building peace. He expressed the support of the Pan-European Union to Bishop Komarica and all those involved in this project, and wished that, in the newly opened House and Center, people truly meet to build peace.
Congratulations from the President of the Pan-European Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina Osman Topčagić, the President of the Croatian Pan-European Union Academician Mislav Ježić and the President of the German Pan-European Union Bernd Posselt were also read.
"There are few places in the world where words such as peace, reconciliation, cooperation, carry the weight as they do in Bosnia and Herzegovina. There are few places where they are woven into the very DNA of life and coexistence, as in our country, but we know and understand that the whole world needs them. Not only as words, not only as ideas, no matter how noble they were, but also as values and landmarks that we live and witness with our lives", wrote Topčagić in his congratulatory message.
"The Pan-European Union, and the International PEU, and the Croatian PEU, and the PEU of Bosnia and Herzegovina, have always advocated European and Christian, as well as Abrahamic, values, peace, human rights, democracy, the rule of good law, solidarity and subsidiarity, and equally so too for interreligious dialogue, understanding and cooperation. Therefore, the task of your Center is very close to us, we wish it a lot of success from the bottom of our hearts and we will gladly try our best to support its work", wrote academician Ježić in his congratulatory message.
"The Pan-European Union of Germany is honored to be able to support this important endeavor, to unite people of different nations and religions in a common peace order based on Christian ideals," Posselt said in his congratulatory message.
Vanja Gavran
