B I S H O P R I C S

C  U  R  R  E  N  T         S  I  T  U  A  T  I  O  N

 Current church buildings and parishes in Banja Luka

            The number of believers in Banja Luka and the surrounding region has changed considerably during past and more recent history. This was due to the population decline of catastrophic proportions, especially after Second World War and during the Croatian War for Independence (Homeland War) from 1992 till 1995, which was ended in tragedy and the almost total exile or exodus of the Catholic population of this region. From some parishes only fragments of the original congregation remained, mainly the elderly. Thus, in spite of a small number of returning citizens, the population still declines gradually and is threatened with extinctin.

            There are five parishes in Banja Luka today: Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Maria Stella, Petrićevac, Budžak and Presnače, but only three church buildings still exist: the Bishop’s church or cathedral, dedicated to St. Bonaventura (in Kralja Petra I Street), the parish church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (in Srpska Street), and the large Trappist Church of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Delibašino Selo (in Slatinska Street) which is a monk’s and a parish church at the same time. The Franciscan church of St. Anthony on Petrićevac (Marija Dimić Street) was destroyed in 1995, so a customized hall is used for the Liturgy. On the other (eastern) end of Banja Luka, in Presnače (Tešana Podrugovića Street) the monumental St. Theresa of Child Jesus church, which was destroyed on 1995, is being reconstructed (the roof is already completed). The Roman Catholic parish Budžak (in the street Put srpskih branilaca – Way of Serbian Defenders) still does not have a church building, and the Liturgy is still celebrated in the cellar of the parish house. Every parish has its own parish priest, but some of them have no parish vicar, to the distress of a large number of believers. Every parish has a parish house, and the friars, Franciscans and Trappist monks, beside whose monasteries are parish churches, reside in their monasteries.

Cathedral

            The first cathedral was built in gothic style from 1885 till 1887, but was severely damaged when a terrible earthquake occurred in Banja Luka in 1969, and it became necessary to demolish the building. A new one was built in 1972-1973 in modern style in the form of a tent, like the Old Testament meeting place of those who believed in God. The tent-like shape of the new cathedral would also be a reminder of the months following the tragic earthquake in Banja Luka, when many of those whose homes were destroyed were forced to live in tents. The bell tower, close to the cathedral, contains five bells and a clock, and was built in 1990. The cathedral that was recently finished and radically renewed was dedicated on December 1, 2001, on the 120th Anniversary of the establishment of the Diocese.

            Mons. dr Franjo Komarica, Banja Luka’s Bishop, was born on February 3, 1946. He was ordained a priest on June 29, 1972, and was consecrated a bishop on January 6, 1986 in Rome. He has administrated Banja Luka Diocese from July 15, 1989, taking the place of retired bishop Alfred Pichler. Currently, he is President of the Bishop’s Conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

            The Episcopal house close to the cathedral was built in 1885. It was enlarged several times, and some years ago was refitted to be the Caritas medical centre, which serves numerous very poor people, regardless of national or religious affiliation.

            The priestly nursing home, built in 1989, serves as the Episcopal residence. The ordinariate offices are inside, as well as dwellings for the Bishop and his closest coworkers, and for the elderly and sick priests. Many Diocesan offices and institutions are within this building: Iustitia et Pax, Catechetical office, the Diocesan archive, library and so on.