Zagreb, March 25, 1999 (IKA) – Croatian Caritas is conducting a drive to collect monetary assistance for Kosovo, in response to an appeal for assistance made by Bishop Marko Sopi of Skoplje-Prizren on his recent visit to Zagreb. Croatian Caritas had already contributed 12,000 D.M. in assistance for Kosovo. The head of Croatian Caritas, Josip Grošić, issued an urgent appeal to all the diocesan branches of Caritas in Croatia to contribute in accordance with their abilities, particularly during the Lenten season, and to find means to ease the material distress of the Kosovo population. As of mid March, the dioceses of Varaždin and Šibenik have responded with an additional 6,000 D.M. The diocesan branches of Caritas in Split, Poreč and Dubrovnik have informed the Albanian Catholic Mission in Zagreb of their intent to provide assistance.
This morning, March 25, Croatian Caritas sent a letter to Caritas Internationalis, summarizing the aid sent to Kosovo thus far. It also placed its bank account at the disposal of the Caritas organizations of other European countries for collecting assistance for Kosovo.
Bishop Sopi wrote a letter expressing his gratitude for the assistance sent to Kosovo via Croatian Caritas, in which he confirmed the receipt of the assistance and pointed out the following: “Your Christian love and support for us in Kosovo have profoundly touched our hearts, especially when we bear in mind that you are operating under #!exceptionally difficult conditions, following the destruction wrought by war and the poverty of so many thousands each day before you,#! and yet you are able to think about us here and offer us your helping hand. Therefore, your assistance is of special significance to us.” The bishop of Skoplje-Prizren also thanked all the benefactors, for whom Mass is celebrated every Wednesday in his diocese.