DISPLACED VILLAGERS CELEBRATE ST MARY MAGDALENE'S DAY AFTER SIX YEARS IN EXILE

SIX YEARS IN EXILE LUC, July 22 (Hina) - The day of St. Mary Magdalene, the patron saint of the eastern Croatian village of Luc (Baranja) was celebrated on Tuesday in the village for the first time after six years. A Mass was said by Roman Catholic Bishop of Djakovo and Sirmium, Msgr. Marin Srakic. "Many of you met each other for the first time after hard times," the Bishop said addressing both villagers who have stayed in Luc all the time and those who were expelled from it. He added that the time of the return to homes was coming, and thanked the displaced who had patiently waited for the return and everybody who helped those people in exile. He also thanked a military chaplain, a Belgian priest, Haumont Jehan, who "did much for the Catholic faithful in Baranja during his mission." After the religious service, about 120 villagers who have remained in Luc and displaced people, who arrived from Osijek to this celebration by bus, gathered in front of the Church of St. Mary Magdalene. According to Ivica Ivkovic, a representative of local authorities, before the Serb aggression there were 750 residents in Luc, among whom some eight (8) percent were Serbs. At the moment the village is mostly empty. Besides 120 Croats who have stayed, a hundred of Serbs, most of whom have come from other parts of Croatia, are living now in the village. Tuesday's celebration was held under the tight security measures taken by UNTAES military troops, and Luc's displaced residents were not allowed to tour the village and their houses. (hina) mš 221947 MET jul 97