Lovran, (IKA) – Chaired by the president of the Croatian Conference of Bishops and Archbishop of Đakovo-Osijek, Msgr. Marin Srakić, the 41st Plenary Session of the Croatian Conference of Bishops was held in Lovran from October 19 to 21. In the course of the work of the session, the Archbishop of Zagreb and Vice President of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences, Cardinal Josip Bozanić, and Archbishop Srakić reported on the 40th Plenary Assembly of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE) that was held in Zagreb from September 30 to October 3. They stressed that this had been an exceptionally important event for the Church and for the Republic of Croatia. The assembly was attended by 75 participants, the largest number to date, among whom there were 10 cardinals, 18 archbishop and 16 bishops from all over Europe. The main topic of the assembly, Demographics and the Family in Europe, was considered from the theological and sociological aspects. Many other current European themes were also touched upon. The Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia, Jadranka Kosor, participated in the opening of the assembly and the participants were received at the Presidential Palace by the President of the Republic of Croatia, Ivo Josipović. A concluding statement was issued by the assembly, in which it warns of the “demographic winter” in Europe, the causes of which lie in the family policies of individual countries and the general cultural atmosphere that affects personal and social behavior. However, the bishops see hope in the living testimony of the faithful who accept the presence of Jesus Christ in their lives and show that it is possible to live in the family in accordance with Christ’s call. It was pointed out that the Church media covered the assembly in an objective manner, while on the basis of the reports by the secular media it would be possible to conclude that they had ignored this important event. It was also noted that after the assembly, many letters arrived from the participants in which they thanked the Croatian Conference of Bishops and the Archdiocese of Zagreb for their hospitality and outstanding organization.
The bishops accepted an appendix to Ratio Studiorum that is an integral part of the documentation on the formation of candidates for the priesthood, Ratio fundamentalis nationalis Croatiae.
The Chairman of the Council of the CCB for the Family and Bishop of Krk, Msgr. Valter Župan, said that preparations are continuing for Family Day, which is planned for May 15, 2011 in Zagreb.

At the session, the bishops also discussed the topic of Croatian Social Week. The bishops were informed about the history of such gatherings in Croatia and the possibilities for the organization of such an event, which has not been held in our country for several decades, by Dr. Stjepan Baloban, Head of the Department of the Social Doctrine of the Church at the Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Zagreb, and Dr. Gordan Črpić, Head of the Center for the Promotion of the Social Doctrine of the Church of the CCB. In order to continue the tradition of the four Croatian Social Weeks that have been held so far, the bishops entrusted this project to the Center for the Promotion of the Social Doctirne of the Church of the CCB. Catholic Social Week will be held on October 21-23, 2011 in Zagreb.
In a report by Bishop Ante Ivas of Šibenik, President of the Committee of the CCB for Young People, and Archbishop Želimir Puljić of Zadar on the National Croatian Catholic Youth Meeting held in Zadar in May, it was emphasized that this was the best attended meeting until now, having gathered over 30,000 young people from all over Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and the diaspora. The hospitality that they encountered from families and parish communities was particularly mentioned. It was confirmed that the next meeting has already been announced and will take place in Sisak on May 5-6, 2012.
The President of the Council for the Laity of the CCB, Archbishop Ivan Devčić of Rijeka, presented an edited document on the lay faithful in our Church. After discussion, it was concluded that it is an exceptionally valuable document that should include further modifications.
The bishops discussed the proposal to initiate the canonization process for the priests and religious who were killed during the period of the totalitarian regimes of the 20th century. It was decided to establish a commission that will systematically collect documentation and compile a list of all the casualties. Reports on the operations of Caritas Croatia were submitted by the President of Caritas Croatia, Archbishop Josip Mrzljak of Varaždin, and the Acting Director, Fabijan Svalina. The extremely important role of Caritas in the Church and society for the good of those most in need was acknowledged.
The National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies, Dr. Milan Špehar, submitted a report on his five-year mandate. During that period, considerable progress has been noted, especially in the spreading of missionary awareness. There has been a considerable increase in the funds collected for missions. At the end of Dr. Špehar’s report, the bishops thanked him for everything he has done to promote missions in the Church among the Croats. In recent times, organizations and associations have appeared that conduct various missionary activities and in this way create confusion among priests and the faithful, about which Msgr. Slobodan Štambuk, President of the Council of the CCB for Missions, stated that all mission collections should be conducted exclusively through the National Office of the Pontifical Mission Societies. The bishops through the Council of the CCB for Missions urge priests and the faithful to be governed by the Code of Canon Law (especially Canon 1265 § 1) and the directives of their local bishop.
The presidents of the individual bodies of the CCB submitted reports on their areas of activity.

Delegates from the CCB were appointed for the sessions of other bishops’ conferences in the year 2011. The mandates of the members of the bodies of the CCB were extended and some new members were appointed.
Cardinal Bozanić was appointed as the new Vice President of the Croatian Conference of Bishops. Archbishop Marin Barišić of Split-Makarska and Archbisohp Ivan Devčić of Rijeka were reappointed as members of the Permanent Council of the CCB. Cardinal Bozanić was appointed as the President of the Episcopal Commission of the CCB for Relations with the State, to which Msgr. Puljić, Msgr. Ivas and Msgr. Vjekoslav Huzjak were appointed as the members and Msgr. Enco Rodinis, General Secretary of the CCB, as the secretary. After ten years of devoted work by Msgr. Ivas, Msgr. Mijo Gorski, Auxiliary Bishop of Zagreb, was appointed as the new President of the Committee for Young People of the CCB. Msgr. Nikola Kekić, Vladika of Križevci, was appointed as the new President of the Committee of the CCB for Pastoral Ministry to the Incarcerated. The bishops were informed of the progress of the construction of the CCB building in Ksaver, which is generally proceeding according to plan.
The calendar of meetings in the next year was coordinated and agreed upon. A Special Plenary Session of the CCB will be held on January 25 in Zagreb. The Spring Plenary Session of the CCB will be held from March 29 to 31 in Zagreb, and the Autumn Plenary Session from October 18 to 20 in Varaždin.
A joint meeting of the Croatian Conference of Bishops and the Bishops’ Conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina will be held on January 24, 2011 in Zagreb. The annual meeting of the CCB with the Croatian Conference of Religious Superiors (HKVRP) will be held on June 1, 2011.
A joint Croatian-Slovenian pilgrimage has been announced for July 2, 2011 to the Marian shrine of Ptujska Gora in Slovenia.
The previously announced pastoral-catechetical colloquium for priests organized by the Council of the CCB for the Clergy and the Council of the CCB for Catecheses will be held on March 22-23, 2011 in Zagreb.
At the end of the session, the members of the CCB met in Lovran with the Secretary of the Holy See for Relations with States, Archbishop Dominique Mamberti. In a speech, the President of the CCB mentioned the invitation that the Croatian bishops have extended several times to the Holy Father to visit Croatia and asked Msgr. Mamberti to convey this invitation and desire from the Croatian bishops and all the Croatian faithful to the Holy Father.
In the St. Vitus Cathedral in Rijeka, Msgr. Mamberti celebrated Mass together with all the participants in the session.