ASSUMPTION CELEBRATED IN ILACA, DUBOSEVICA, ALJMAS

The exiled residents of eastern Slavonia on Friday visited their villages and celebrated the Assumption for the first time in six years. The Assumption was celebrated in the devastated sanctuary of Our Lady of Ilaca in Ilaca, Tovarnik municipality, eastern Slavonia. Some 500 exiled residents of Ilaca celebrated the holiday on Friday for the first time in six years. A mass was conducted by the exiled parish priest Msgr Alojzije Asic, who in his address stressed the return of hope for peace and reconciliation. The sanctuary of Our Lady of Ilaca is one of the largest sanctuaries in Slavonia. Pilgrimages to Ilaca started in the second half of the 19th century, after a well, later called 'Mary's water', was discovered in the village. In 1870 a church was built on that spot. The sanctuary and the church were looted during the occupation. The head on a statue of the Holy Mother was torn off. The nearby church of St. Jacob dating back to 1781 was looted as well. Until the beginning of the war, Tovarnik municipality was inhabited almost exclusively by Croats, some 1,400 of them. They were all expelled and about 70% of all houses were looted and burnt down. Today's residents of Ilaca are about 300 Serbs from other parts of Croatia. First returnees to Ilaca should return to their village in the next several days. Today's visit to Ilaca was organised by the U.N. Transitional Administration in Eastern Slavonia (UNTAES). The pilgrims arrived by train from Vinkovci and walked in a procession from the railway station in Ilaca to the sanctuary. They were not allowed to visit their houses. The residents of the village of Dubosevica in Baranja celebrated the Assumption in their village for the first time since 1991. A mass was conducted by Djakovo-Srijem Bishop, Msgr Djuro Gasparovic. The exiled residents of Aljmas and the followers of Our Lady of Sanctuary of Aljmas on Friday celebrated the Assumption in their village. The visit of some 800 faithful, who arrived in buses, was organised by Osijek County, Djakovo-Srijem Diocese and Aljmas Municipal Committee. Djakovo-Srijem Bishop Msgr Marin Srakic conducted a mass in front of the destroyed Aljmas church. The mass was attended by the members of UNTAES and Transitional Police Force. Before the beginning of the mass, exiled Aljmas residents placed a wooden cross in front of the destroyed church, as a symbol of suffering and resurrection. We come in peace, Bishop Srakic said, calling on all people to find peace in their hearts. The exiled lit candles for all killed and missing persons and laid flowers in front of the cross. The exiled Aljmas parish priest Ante Markic thanked all those who helped organise the celebration of the holiday in Aljmas. He also thanked Osijek Prefect Branimir Glavas for saving a statue of Our Lady of Aljmas from the destroyed church. The current residents of Aljmas are Serbs from other parts of Croatia. Stevan Babic, president of Erdut Municipal Council, which includes Aljmas, expressed satisfaction with the fact that the Assumption was celebrated in Aljmas. Babic said that he was glad that the holiday was celebrated in a dignified manner. In 1991 Aljmas had some 800 residents, and almost all were expelled. Some 150 Serbs are living in the village now. The celebration was also attended by the parliamentarians Vladimir Seks, Vice Vukojevic, Dragan Kovacevic and Krunoslav Slabinac, as well as by the host, Osijek County Prefect Branimir Glavas. The mass was also attended by Rabbi Joseph Ehrenkranz, president of the world centre for understanding between Christians and Jews from the United States, and Jakov Sedlar, Croatia's cultural attaché to New York. 151956 MET aug 97