Krk, (IKA) – The celebration of the episcopal ordination of Friar Ivica Petanjak, O.F.M.Cap., was held on Sunday, March 22, in the Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary in Krk. The Eucharistic celebration was led by the Archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal Josip Bozanić, and concelebrated by the Apostolic Nuncio in the Republic of Croatia, Archbishop Alessandro D’Errico; the Archbishop of Sarajevo, Cardinal Vinko Puljić; the President of the Croatian Conference of Bishops and Archbishop of Zadar, Msgr. Želimir Puljić; the President of the Bishop’s Conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Bishop of Banja Luka, Msgr. Franjo Komarica; the Archbishop of Rijeka, Msgr. Ivan Devčić; the Archbishop of Split-Makarska, Msgr. Marin Barišić; the Archbishop of Corfu, Zante and Cephalonia, Msgr. Yannis Spiteris, Capuchin; approximately twenty Croatian bishops and bishops from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Serbia and Montenegro; the President of the Croatian Conference of Religious Superiors, Friar Jure Šarčević, O.F.M.Cap.; and a large number of priests from Croatia and neighboring countries. The concelebrants also included several Capuchins from European countries, including the General Vicar of the Capuchin Order and Member of the Slovenian Capuchin Province, Friar Štefan Kožuh, and the Provincial of the Venetian Capuchin Province, Friar Roberto Genuin. In addition to a multitude of the faithful from the Diocese of Krk and other dioceses, especially the parishes in which the newly appointed bishop had served, those attending included the parents and relatives of Friar Petanjak, parishioners from his native Parish of Drenje, as well as the envoy of President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović of the Republic of Croatia and Speaker of the Croatian Parliament, Josip Leko; the Croatian Ambassador to the Holy See, Filip Vučak; and other representatives of the state, county, city and municipal authorities.
All of them were welcomed by the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Krk, Msgr. Valter Župan. “You find yourselves in a cathedral and in a place that for the past millennium and a half has uninterruptedly born witness to the presence of the oldest living institution in the northern Adriatic islands, the Church, which never tires of telling everyone that the glory of God is the only guarantee of progress and freedom. It is precisely for this reason that this diocese proudly welcomes you today because this celebration heralds a future built upon a solid past,” he said. Msgr. Župan also pointed out that on that day, Bishop Petanjak would become a guarantor of this future.
This was followed by the Liturgy of the Word. The first reading was read by the youngest brother of the new bishop, Pavle Petanjak. The Rite of Episcopal Ordination began with the singing of the Gregorian chant O dođi, Stvorče, Duše svet (Come, Creator Spirit). Then the presbyters accompanied the bishop-elect before the Principal Consecrator, Cardinal Josip Bozanić, and the Co-Consecrators, Nuncio D’Errico and Msgr. Župan. This was followed by the reading of the Papal Bull appointing Dr. Ivica Petanjak, Member of the Croatian Capuchin Province of St. Leopold Bogdan Mandić, heretofore the Provincial Definitor and Guardian of the Monastery of St. James in the city of Osijek, Diocese of Krk. The Papal Bull was displayed to the faithful and then was read aloud in Latin by Archbishop D’Errico. A Croatian translation was also presented to the faithful.
During the homily, Cardinal Josip Bozanić recalled that seventeen years ago, on March 15, the Third Sunday of Lent, Msgr. Valter Župan had been ordained bishop in the Krk Cathedral. The Cardinal encouraged Bishop Petanjak, saying: “May the Lord direct your paths, that they may yield His fruits. And you, Bishop Ivica, the Lord Jesus has called you from the Croatian Capuchin Province of St. Leopold Bogdan Mandić, to which you have belonged until now. He sends you and unites you with the most sacred bond with the faithful of the northern Adriatic islands: Rab and Pag, Lošinj, Ilovik, Susak, Unije and Srakane, Cres and Krk. The clergy and the faithful gladly receive you as a teacher and pastor who is coming to them because he was sent here by Pope Francis,” said the cardinal, and noted how “this celebration is most closely connected with the Holy Father and also places us in that river of grace, holiness and zealous pastoral service that for centuries has distinguished the Church among the Croatian nation, which we are called upon to transmit to new generations. In this mission of ours, the Blessed Alojzije Stepinac provides a type of compass so that we can orient ourselves, as St. John Paul II told us. Dear Ivica, in your episcopal ministry may you be accompanied by the powerful intercession of the Blessed Alojzije.” Cardinal Bozanić, who as a priest in the Diocese of Krk had himself been called to the office of bishop, addressed the priests of the Diocese of Krk, particularly entrusting the new bishop to their hearts, and called them to unity with their bishop and among themselves, as well as pastoral closeness with the faithful.
After the homily delivered by Cardinal Bozanić, the Principal Consecrator, the Bishop-Elect read the oath, which was followed by the Rite of Ordination. The continuation of the Mass, from the Apostles’ Creed, was led by the new Bishop of Krk, Msgr. Ivica Petanjak. Following the prayer after communion, during the singing of the hymn Tebe Boga hvalimo (Holy God, We Praise Thy Name), the newly ordained bishop passed through the cathedral and bestowed his blessing on everyone.
Then came expressions of congratulation to the newly ordained bishop.
Welcoming Bishop Petanjak to the Croatian episcopate, the President of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, Archbishop Želimir Puljić of Zadar, pointed out that the well-trodden path of his honorable predecessors, Mahnić, Zazinović, Bozanić and Župan, can provide good and secure guidance. “I congratulate you on the confidence shown in you by Pope Francis. I also congratulate your honorable predecessor, Msgr. Župan, and thank him for all the good that he has done, not only in his own Diocese of Krk but also beyond, especially in the field of family ministry,” said Archbishop Puljić.
On behalf of the Cathedral Chapter of Krk, the priests, deacons, religious and priestly candidates of the Diocese of Krk, the new bishop was congratulated by the Most Rev. Dr. Franjo Velčić, Provost. “I believe that I share the thoughts and intuitions of other brothers and sisters, since from the moment of your appointment we could see that you are coming to us with an open heart from those broad Slavonian fields, but with roots deeply embedded in the native place of the holy bishop and martyr, our heavenly patron St. Quirinus of Sisak, with roots and foundations that even today protrude and cry out from the demolished and silenced Croatian Zrin and, therefore, in your episcopal coat-of-arms you have included part of the Croatian coat-of-arms with symbols of the martyrdom of St. Quirinus and the former city of Zrin, alongside the apse of the Church of St. Quirinus, under the vaults of which for centuries there have been reverence and veneration in this city and diocese,” said the Most Rev. Velčić. The President of the Movement for Life of the Diocese of Krk, Šime Paparić, M.D., congratulated Bishop Petanjak on behalf of all the lay faithful of the Diocese of Krk.