Refurbishing a Seminary Kitchen and Refectory in Sarajevo

Thanks to your generous help, we have been able to support the seminary in Sarajevo for many years now. First established back in 1890, it has lived through difficult times. Under communism, it was closed, and although it was able to reopen following political changes, with the Bosnian war from 1992 to 1995, the situation quickly became too difficult, and seminarians were forced to continue their studies abroad. Today, the seminary is once again a beacon of light for the Catholic Church in Bosnia and Herzegovina.  

With your help, we have been able to renovate the seminary, little by little, and you have already accompanied many seminarians on their path to the priesthood. Now, they are asking us for help once again, this time for the kitchen and refectory in the seminary, which are in urgent need of repair. The seminary regularly supplies about 50 people, including not only the seminarians and the academic staff, but also retired priests living in the attached care home and several elderly religious sisters. 

Working in the kitchen is difficult and stressful. The kitchen equipment and furnishings are worn and aged, and the electrical wiring is not suitable for modern kitchen appliances, resulting in technical faults and safety issues. The washing and cleaning facilities are also inadequate, making it difficult to meet modern hygiene standards. And the inadequate ventilation makes life difficult, with heat and steam filling the air. A proper refurbishment would not only make work easier and safer, but also ultimately save on energy and repair costs.  

The refectory, additionally, is showing its age. Much of the furniture is damaged, and the whole atmosphere is scarcely conducive to a convivial meal. The dean of the seminary, Ivan Rako, writes: “The whole layout of the room is not ideal for eating together. It is crucial to be able to offer the seminarians and the other residents a suitable environment where that they can eat and converse in a welcoming atmosphere. Community is an important part of life in the seminary, and it is concretely experienced, among other things, in shared mealtimes. Hence, the kitchen and refectory are not merely functional rooms, but places where the common life unfolds. We would be most grateful if you can support us in implementing this important project.” 

We have promised $23,289 for the necessary renovation work. Would you consider helping so that the kitchen and refectory can indeed become places where people feel at ease and at the heart of community life?  

444-02-19