Sveti Petar u Šumi, (IKA) – On Sunday, October 3, in Sveti Petar u Šumi, employees and friends of Kršćanska sadašnjost together with local residents commemorated the 20th anniversary of the death of Dr. Josip Turčinović. Sixty associates and friends of KS led by Dr. Željko Tanjić came from Zagreb to Turčinović’s birthplace, where they first prayed at the local cemetery, after which there was a Requiem Mass that, together with the local pastor, Czeslaw Bielen, was concelebrated by Msgr. Vladimir Stanković, a member of the Assembly of KS, who also conveyed greetings from Archbishop Josip Cardinal Bozanić of Zagreb.
In the homily, commenting on the Sunday Mass reading, Dr. Tanjić spoke about the life of faith, which yields fruits that enrich individuals and communities. Josip Turčinović, through his authentic and unselfish life as a Christian and priest, left an indelible mark upon our modern history. Following the Eucharist, a special commemorative program was held in front of the Paulist parish church, with singing by the parish choir and words of welcome to the guests, friends and admirers of Josip Turčinović from all over Istria by Mayor Mario Bratulić.
After that, in front of a bust of Dr. Turčinović by the sculptor Ante Starčević, Dr. Josip Bratulić, a member of the Croatian Academy of Arts and Sciences, spoke about Dr. Josip Turčinović’s activities in the area of culture. Among other things, he recalled that it was impossible to say “no” to Dr. Turčinović because he was always overflowing with the energy of a self-effacing enthusiast for the betterment of the faith, mankind and the Croatian nation, while unconcerned about his own books or personal gain. Prof. Anton Šuljić spoke about the time when KS was founded, for which Dr. Turčinović’s abilities were God’s gift to the Church and nation. Don Živko Kustić declared that Josip Turčinović was among the greatest Church figures of the 20th century. He briefly spoke about the wisdom and organizational skills that Dr. Turčinović placed at the disposal of the Church and the nation.
Following a reception prepared for those present by the parishioners and refreshments for the guests from Zagreb provided by the municipal authorities, the pilgrims headed to the graves of distinguished Istrian priests who were affiliated with KS. Among them were the recently deceased professor at the Catholic Faculty of Theology and editor-in-chief of KS, Dr. Aldo Starić, Dr. Ante Kresina, Dr. Božo Milanović and Prof. Antun Hek. Dr. Bratulić spoke about them with great erudition and emotion.
The Sunday pilgrimage was the first part of the three-part commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the death of Josip Turčinović. The second will be the publication of the first volume of his collected works, which will include all his printed works not published in separate books, after which the third part will consist of a scholarly symposium when the second volume of Turčinović’s collected works, to be prepared from his manuscript legacy, will be presented.