The Archbishop of Vrhbosna, Metropolitan Monsignor Tomo Vuksic, met yesterday with responsible persons from four soup kitchens in Sarajevo and on that occasion presented them with a donation for a total of 2.000 meals.
First, he visited the Merhamet Muslim Charitable Society, accompanied by the treasurer of the Vrhbosna Archdiocese, Rev. Vladimir Pranjic, and the head of the Public Relations Office, Reverend Drazen Kustura, where he met with the president of the society, Mr. Kenan Vrbanjec, and his associates.
A noble effort
On that occasion, Monsignor Vuksic informed his hosts that until the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was customary for the archbishop of Vrhbosna to organize a Christmas reception for representatives of public, political, and cultural life, but the pandemic stopped that.
”Therefore, he considered it more expedient to donate 500 meals each to the users of four soup kitchens in Sarajevo: Merhamet, Caritas, Kruh Svetog Ante, and Dobrotvor, and in this way help people who are most in need. After President Vrbanjac introduced him to the work of the institution headed by Archbishop Tomo, he gave them words of encouragement to persevere on the noble path of helping the neediest.”
”Then, in the Archbishop’s residence, he met with the directors of Caritas of the Vrhbosna Archdiocese, the Reverend Mirko Simic, and the Humanitarian-Charitable Association Kruh Svetog Ante, Fra Pero Karajica and, in addition to thanking them for their noble efforts and endeavor, he also presented them with an appropriate donation for 500 meals each, with which these two church institutions will delight the users of the soup kitchens at Christmas time,” it was announced from the Archdiocese of Vrhbosna.
It will become a traditional action
In the announcement of the Archdiocese of Vrhbosna, it is stated that on the same day, President Aleksa Cabic visited the premises of the Serbian Humanitarian Association Dobrotvor, who informed Monsignor Vuksic about the projects implemented by Dobrotvor.
”He pointed out that the biggest single benefactor of this humanitarian association so far is Pope John Paul II who, during his visit to Sarajevo, gave 50.000 dollars each to Dobrotvor, Caritas, Merhamet, and La Benevolencija. He thanked Archbishop Tomo for the visit and the donation, and Monsignor Vuksic pointed out that the Church is trying to help solve the problem of poverty, and this gift is a modest offering to help people in need on Christmas.”
”It is worth noting that, instead of organizing a Christmas reception for guests from public, political and cultural life, the Archbishop of Vrhbosna decided to donate a total of 2.000 meals to the users of the soup kitchens and thus brighten up their Christmas and New Year’s holidays. The archbishop also decided that for Christmas and Easter every year in the future, instead of organizing the usual reception, he will donate to each soup kitchen,” it is stated in a statement from the Archdiocese of Vrhbosna.
