Đakovo, (IKA/TU) – The archbishop and metropolitan of Đakovo-Osijek, Msgr. Marin Srakić, met with reporters on Monday, December 21, at the archbishop’s residence in Đakovo. On this occasion, he presented his Christmas pastoral message entitled And Dwelt among Us, in which, during the Year of the Priest, particular attention is focused upon the priest who, like Christ’s High Priest, “‘is chosen from among men and appointed to act on behalf of men,'” called to live with and for others, to share joy and hope with all, to live his pastoral love sincerely and, in firm communion with the bishop and to promote the unity of Christ’s Church. Noting that even a priest has human difficulties, struggles and failures, which, together with the other members of God’s nation, sets him on the path of ongoing conversion and the call to holiness, the archbishop particularly urged prayer for priests, willingness to serve the community and co-responsibility in all the parishes and communities. “To all of you in the Archdiocese of Đakovo-Osijek, all Christ’s faithful and all people of good will, especially all the religious educators, catechists and all the participants in our Year of Parish Catechesis, all associates involved in various areas of pastoral life, all religious and you, dear deacons and priests, together with Auxiliary Bishop Đuro, from my heart I wish you a blessed and joyful Christmas and through God’s blessing a fulfilled New Year 2010,” said the archbishop at the conclusion of his pastoral message.

During the second half of the press conference, the archbishop also answered questions from journalists and commented on the Mašović-Vincetić-Nikolić Award he received from the Croatian Helsinki Committee for advancing inter-religious dialogue and religious tolerance. He agreed with the statement that Christmas is increasingly seen through a prism of the material, cautioning that what happened in the West should not happen to us: “Singing Christmas songs, holding concerts, lots of buying and giving presents until Christmas Eve. And on Christmas they do not know what to celebrate – their Christmas is empty! Christmas is a day of joy but it is necessary to distinguish where that joy comes from. Does it come from within, generosity, openness toward others or does it arrive with gifts and material goods? There is a shift here in the scale of values, which is unfortunate.”

Commenting upon the bond between Croatians living in other countries and in the homeland, the archbishop said that this is especially evident precisely during the Christmas holidays. He recalled past Christmases when Croatians who had emigrated came back to the homeland in large numbers, concluding that in recent years fewer are returning because that first generation is slowly going into retirement and the second has somewhat forgotten and is not as emotionally connected to their parents’ homeland. “Christmas is a family holiday and the family must be preserved, regardless of where someone lives. Where families are preserved, the religious spirit will also be preserved as well as the bond with the homeland. Preserve your families. Celebrate Christmas in the family,” recommended the archbishop, recalling that the only Christmas that he spent outside Croatia, in Rome, was his saddest.

Commenting on the upcoming presidential election, the archbishop referred to the message from the Croatian Conference of Bishops in which the bishops, as he said, begin from the Constitution. “The president must adapt his person and office to the Constitution – safeguard unity and integrity, work for the rights of all the citizens and respect values – Christian and human, which are practically indistinguishable. One who loses the election should congratulate the winner and continue to fight for Croatia with him. There are quality people among our candidates,” concluded the archbishop.