(ANS - Podgorica) - The parish church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Podgorica is the only Catholic parish in the Montenegrin capital. In 1966 it was entrusted to the Salesians of Slovenia. On Sunday 21 February the Church was completely filled with the faithful for the opening of the Holy Door.

Archbishop Zef Gashi, SDB, of Bar presided over the solemn opening and the Eucharist. He was accompanied by the three Salesians who serve the parish, the youth centre and the small school, and also by the Franciscan priests of the town of Tuzi, the parish nearest to the capital.

The congregation was made up mainly of Malesori, Catholics of the Albanian minority, of the families of workers transferred from Croatia at the time of Yugoslavia, as well as some personalities and business representatives.

In his homily Archbishop Gashi read some passages of Misericordiae Vultus, the Bull of Induction of the Jubilee, and explained the significance of the extraordinary Jubilee and the Holy Door. "If the faithful open their heart and mind to the Divine Mercy, the Lord will come and work for their good and the good of the entire Catholic community in this area, which has an Orthodox majority and is close to the border with the Muslim community," said the Archbishop.

The small Salesian community takes part in the Jubilee of Mercy not only because its Church has the Holy Door, but also with different initiatives. The Salesians of Podgorica give spiritual and practical help to the poorest families.  They accompany the community of the faithful, not only of the capital, but also of the neighbouring villages and prepare them for the sacraments.

The youth centre is full of young people every day. The leaders give their time generously, organizing games and helping in study after school. The small Don Bosco School gives language classes and courses in computer science. It was one of the first private schools in Montenegro and plays an important educational role. It promotes the spread of the Salesian charism.

"This land which was difficult to cultivate in the past is now slowly becoming a fertile and welcoming place for the Good News. This is evident in the increase in the number of the faithful and in the liveliness of the Salesian centre. We hope that the Jubilee of Mercy will bring further fruits pleasing to God," said Fr Marko Suhoveršnik, Delegate for Missionary Animation of the Province of Slovenia.

Published 23/02/2016