Osijek, (IKA/TU) –On January 24, after Archbishop Đuro Hranić of Đakovo-Osijek announced the appointment of Friar Ivica Petanjak, heretofore the Guardian of the Capuchin Monastery of St. James in Osijek, as the new Bishop of Krk, Archbishop Hranić spoke about the life of the newly appointed bishop and congratulated him: “Esteemed and dear Father Bishop, we congratulate you on your appointment as the Bishop of Krk. We congratulate the Diocese of Krk on its new bishop and Bishop Valter Župan on the successor he has in you. We also congratulate your Croatian Capuchin Province and the communities where you have lived and from where you came. In particular, we congratulate your Capuchin community here in Osijek. Your appointment will certainly delight all the members of the religious communities in our country because in the Year of Consecrated Life one from their orders has been chosen and appointed bishop. Our Archdiocese of Đakovo-Osijek rejoices that another bishop has come from it. Our city of Osijek is proud. We congratulate this city to which you were connected in your youth, where you completed secondary school, where your decision to become a priest and Capuchin friar developed, to which you returned in your mature years and which is proud of your appointment and now follows you to the Diocese of Krk, to its see in the city of Krk.”
Archbishop Hranić also congratulated the parents of Bishop Petanjak, who were present, and promised to stay connected to him in prayer, saying: “Today, here, we assembled faithful from your native archdiocese and this city and all the religious promise you our personal prayer connection. We want the Lord to grant you abundant grace, strength, an empathic approach and love, to help you find your way in the precious, historical and rich Christian heritage and tradition of the Diocese of Krk, so that you can be its good bishop and shepherd, as you have been a good Capuchin friar, educator, pastor, provincial and guardian.”
Recalling that the Diocese of Krk is promoting the cause for the beatification of Bishop Antun Mahnić and on that day the Archdiocese of Đakovo-Osijek was commemorating the birthday and baptism of the Servant of God Bishop Josip Stadler, Msgr. Hranić entrusted the episcopal ministry of Bishop Petanjak to their intercession.

The newly appointed bishop was also congratulated by the Archbishop Emeritus of Đakovo-Osijek, Msgr. Marin Srakić, who said: “This appointment is primarily recognition of you personally for you life and work, but also of the entire Province, especially the Capuchin fathers in the monastery in Osijek, who for 312 years, have provided testimony to their religious vocation and life in simplicity and poverty.” Emphasizing that it was the Capuchin fathers who came to help after World War II when Baranja was left without priests and the faithful, Msgr. Srakić also mentioned his personal connection with the Capuchin monastery in Osijek during his youth, the opportunity he once had to enter the Capuchins and his membership in the Third Order. Msgr. Srakić recalled the names of Capuchins from the older generation, observing that the appointment of Friar Petanjak was a reward for all the good that the Capuchins had done in these regions.
He also underscored the significance of this appointment just at the time of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which has been commemorated in the Capuchin church for the past 78 years. “You were born and live on the expanses of this ‘Pannonian Sea.’ The Lord is calling you to leave this ‘Pannonian Sea’ and go to the Adriatic Sea. What else can we wish for you except to be fortified by the grace of the One who called you to ‘go out into the deep’ of the Diocese of Krk, with the support of your priests, friars, monks and nuns and the whole people of God,” concluded Msgr. Srakić.