Zagreb, (IKA) – Family and friends bid farewell to the Rev. (Don) Živko Kustić on Tuesday, July 22, at the Mirogoj Cemetery in Zagreb. Funeral rites were led by Bishop (Vladika) Nikola Kekić of Križevci, assisted by a number of priests. “We have come and assembled here on this hill overlooking our city to thank God with our presence, prayers and hymns for having had the opportunity to live with Živko, listen to him, talk to him and read the fruits of his heart and mind,” said the bishop in the eulogy.
“Živko, like each one of us, was a unique image of God. However, throughout his 84 years on earth, he was special,” said Vladika Kekić, who praised “the human and Christian foundations upon which everything was built,” including Don Živko’s grandmother Ana, a genuinely pious woman whom he often mentioned, his mother Josipa and his pastor in Pag, Don Joso Felicinović, adding: “Praise should also go to Marica, our Živko’s late wife, who was totally devoted to her husband and raising their two daughters, three sons and numerous grandchildren.”
Speaking about Don Živko as a priest, the bishop made particular mention of the Jesuit Fr. Scheibel, “his spiritual mentor as a young student, who gave him wise advice and supported him in his religious vocation. He said to him: ‘Živko, God has his own special paths on which he leads someone. Just let yourself be led and happiness will shine upon you.’ That’s how it was.” Namely, in order to fulfill Živko’s desire to become a priest despite being a married man, the doors of the Greek Catholic Church were opened to him, i.e., the Diocese (Eparchy) of Križevci, which was then under the spiritual leadership of Vladika Gabrijel Bukatko, who ordained him to the priesthood in May 1958 in the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity in Križevci. “And the young priest Živko with his wife Marica and three children left Zagreb on November 1 and moved to Žumberak, the old Žumberak Greek Catholic Parish of SS. Peter and Paul in Mrzlo Polje.”
“In this mountainous vineyard of the Lord, Fr. Živko, like the apostles after Pentecost, ardently proclaimed the good news and gathered the children in the many villages of the parish, despite threats by the local communists and members of the secret services. Although he was only in this parish for three years, he left an indelible mark,” said the bishop. After another three years of pastoral ministry in the Parish of SS. Peter and Paul in Sošice, a new Catholic newspaper, Glas Koncila, appeared in Zagreb, marking the beginning of his new life. “A team of Catholic sages came together who had a vision for the Church in modern society. They sought to achieve this by reporting on the Second Vatican Council to the Catholic and general Croatian public. Glas Koncila was a journalistic sensation at the time when the authorities controlled every word through their underlings. For them, the free Word was more dangerous than any weapon. For years, Živko extolled this Word of the freedom of the Church and every individual in his excellent commentaries and articles—especially in the column “Letters from a Village Pastor.” Through his excellent reporting, we learned about many of our parishes and the lives of Croatian Catholics throughout the world. People eagerly awaited each new issue of Glas Koncila and devoured every word,” said Bishop Kekić, and added: “We can freely state that Glas Koncila with its editor-in-chief Živko Kustić and his worthy associates cleared the way for the free state of Croatia and the free Church.”
“Živko knew how to proclaim the gospel of Christ so clearly and well that people would listen to him day and night. Readers of his ‘morning sermons,’ which were published for years in one of the daily newspapers, were amazed how he could say so much in such a short text,” said the bishop.
The bishop also said that Don Živko was a true gift from God for the residents of the home for the aged on Klaićeva Street, where he and his wife lived during their final years: “He was serving the Liturgy, interpreting the Word of God, hearing confessions and providing comfort, especially to those whom no one came to visit. He prepared them, as well as himself, for death and the joyful encounter with Our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Bishop Kekić then remarked how “little was known about us Greek Catholics by the Croatian Catholic public, although we are one Church, and even today, many still know very little and have not always been well-disposed toward us. In Živko we had support. Whenever he had the opportunity, he would explain who and what we are, writing and teaching people about us.
“Like the author of the Letters to the Hebrews, I ask myself: ‘And what else can I say. There is not enough time” for me to continue and speak about the many other undertakings in which Živko was the driving force and soul: the magnificent National Eucharistic Congress in Marija Bistrica, [the children’s publication] Mali koncil, [the publishing house] Kršćanska sadašnjost, the Croatian National Catechetical Olympics, the Croatian Catholic Press Agency—IKA—Zagreb, numerous public debates, television programs …” said Vladika Kekić, concluding: “He is one of those in the Gospel to whom the Lord gave five talents. He used these five talents well in this earthly life and now, with peace of mind, can stand before the face of God and say: ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.’ And he will hear the answer: ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy’ (Mt 25, 20–21). We pray to the Lord that one day each of us will be able to hear these same words from the good Lord!”