Zagreb, (IKA) – The Head of Pastoral Ministry to the Croatian Diaspora, Dr. Tomislav Markić, sent a letter of condolence to the Archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal Josip Bozanić, on the death of Msgr. Vladimir Stanković.
“With sadness I received the news that God, the Lord of life and death, has called his servant, Prelate Vladimir Stanković, a priest of the Archdiocese of Zagreb, in the 86th year of his life and the 60th year of his priesthood, to his eternal home.
“In his prolific and versatile priestly activity, he was, among other things, the head of pastoral ministry for Croats in foreign countries for thirty years and, as such, participated in the founding of more than a hundred Croatian Catholic missions throughout the world. Often accompanying our clergy, he tirelessly visited Croatian Catholic parishes, missions and communities on all the continents. He strengthened Croatian emigrants in their legacy of faith and, thus, also fostered the preservation of national identity amidst the difficult challenges they encountered in foreign countries. Therefore, his great work in the area of pastoral ministry to the Croatian diaspora has yet to be properly investigated and assessed.
“As his fifth successor and the current Head of Pastoral Ministry to the Croatian Diaspora, on behalf of the entire Croatian diaspora and the Council of the Croatian Conference of Bishops and the Bishops’ Conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina for Pastoral Ministry to the Croatian Diaspora, I extend profound Christian compassion to Your Eminence on the loss of this worthy priest and colleague, whose zealous pastoral activity has greatly indebted us all. I learned a lot from him and, therefore, am personally moved by his death. He was always a good example, unobtrusive mentor, humble teacher and prudent advisor.
“Therefore, I pray to Almighty God to be a merciful judge and reward his zeal for the Kingdom of God, the Church and the Croatian nation, which he wholeheartedly served. It is left to us, who remain after him in the ministry to the Croatian diaspora, to continue on the path he walked and build upon the good foundations he laid,” said Dr. Markić.