The B-H Presidency Member Ivo Miro Jovic visited Novo Selo (the parish of Novo Selo) on Sunday, July 23, 2006-08-22, on occasion of consecrating the restored parish church of the Most Holy Heart of Jesus, which was completely destroyed during the war.

The yesterday’s holy mass of consecration of the new Most Holy Heart of Jesus church was led by Archbishop of Vrhbosanski Cardinal Vinko Puljic, where, among else, he said: “Erecting our crosses and church towers is not hatred and revenge against anyone, but a sign of forgiveness and victory of good over evil. I believe in victory of good in Novo Selo as well, where so many memories had remained. The church is a sign that the village is not dead, but it will live on”.

Building the church and the yesterday’s visit is a sign of return of the Croatian refugees from Novo Selo to their homeland. Before the war, Novo Selo, near Bosanski Brod had 1180 Croatian families, and today, only 150 families, mostly elder persons, have returned to the area of Novo Selo,

“I have come to encourage the returnees and to ask the RS authority representatives and the international donors to ensure conditions for a dignified life. There is certainly enough of will to return here”, said the Croatian member of the B-H Presidency Ivo Miro Jovic. According to the Jovic’s words, ‘it is not enough to restore houses for people, but is necessary to ensure conditions for existence’.

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