Đakovo, June 10, 1997 (IKA) – The chairman of the Committee for Aid to the Church in Central and Eastern Europe of the American Conference of Catholic Bishops, Archbishop Theodore E. McCarrick, led a delegation that visited the territory of Eastern Slavonia on June 7 and 8, at the invitation of General Jacques Klein, UN transitional administrator for Eastern Slavonia. On June 6, prior to their visit to Eastern Slavonia, the delegation from the American Conference of Catholic Bishops met in Zagreb with the president of the Croatian Conference of Catholic Bishops, Archbishop Franjo Kuharić of Zagreb. In their discussions with the cardinal, the American bishops emphasized that their visit to this part of Croatia was motivated by a desire to bear witness and promote peace and dialogue among people. The delegation also met with personnel from the American Embassy in the Republic of Croatia and the Croatian minister of science and technology, Dr. Ivica Kostović.
On Saturday, June 7, a meeting was held in Vukovar among Archbishop McCarrick, Catholic Bishop Marin Srakić of Đakovo-Srijem and Serbian Orthodox Bishop Lukijan of Osijek, Poland and Baranja. The last previous meeting between Bishop Lukijan and Bishop Srakić had been in Slavonski Brod on August 24, 1991. During the June 7 meeting, the representatives of the Catholic Church and the Serbian Orthodox Church in this territory presented various problems confronting them, about which they acquainted the delegation from the American Conference of Catholic Bishops. They decided to work together on reconciliation and coexistence between the Croatian and Serbian peoples. At the end of the meeting, Bishop Srakić emphasized that there had not been a war between the two Churches on this territory but despite all efforts, the Churches were not able to stop the war. However, the moment has come for renewal and every bishop is able to contribute something concrete for peace. At the conclusion of the meeting, Serbian Orthodox Bishop Lukijan stated, “We were pushed into a war in which both Churches were losers. We lost the living Church, the people. Someone was playing with us. We need assistance because we are exhausted and impoverished.” In addition to Bishop Sraki , the Catholic delegation included Auxiliary Bishop Đuro Gašparović, Msgr. Luka Stragar and Msgr. Antun Jarm. Serbian Orthodox Bishop Lukijan was accompanied by his secretary, the Rev. Ratomir Petrović of Vukovar. Archbishop McCarrick was accompanied by the Rev. Drew Christiansen, a Jesuit. The beginning of the meeting was attended by its organizer, General Jacques Klein, UN transitional administrator for Eastern Slavonia, and his advisor for cultural and religious affairs, Wojtjeh Kaluza, who was present throughout the meeting.
On Sunday, June 8, American Archbishop Theodore McCarrick, the Rev. Drew Christiansen, fra Ilija Živković, chief of the Press Office of the Croatian Conference of Catholic Bishops; Archbishop Marin Srakić of Đakovo-Srijem and other Church dignitaries were special guests at the first Mass to be held after six years in the newly renovated Greek Catholic church in Mikluševci that had been damaged during the war. This Mass was led by Greek Catholic Bishop Slavomir Miklovš of Križevci together with five other Greek Catholic priests. Bishop Slavomir Miklovš greeted all the guests, expressed his gratitude and stated that he wanted this day to be the beginning of a new life. Archbishop McCarrick expressed his joy at being able to participate in this event. “Today is like a new Easter,” said Archbishop McCarrick, adding, “Believe in that life and never give up hope in that life. Convey this hope to your children.” At the end of the Mass, the assembled faithful were addressed by General Jacques Klein, who said, “We are now in the process when we place the sword back in its sheath. It is time for us to forgive, because God says that vengeance is His, not ours. And Jesus on the Cross asked his Father to forgive his enemies. We have to look toward the future and not the past… It is time for peace.”
Before the war, Mikluševci had 550 inhabitants, of whom 95% were Rusyns and the remainder were Croats, Hungarians and Serbs. Beginning in June 1992, approximately 250 persons were expelled. In September of the same year, the last Mass was held at the church in Mikluševci. During the past several weeks, parishioners and members of the Jordanian Battalion of the UNTAES forces have been cleaning the church, making it possible to worship there.
Bishop Marin Srakić of Đakovo-Srijem and his distinguished guests also visited Fra Marko Malović, the parish priest of Ilok, the only Catholic priest who had been able to remain throughout the past war in Podunavlje (the Danube River Valley), and his curate, Fra Ferdo Posavec, the first refugee to return to Podunavlje. For the approximately 750 Catholics who remained in Ilok after the expulsions of 1991, Bishop Srakić led the Sunday Mass. In remarks to the faithful of Ilok, Archbishop McCarrick emphasized that he would inform the American authorities of the conditions and needs he encountered, which was the purpose of his visit to this territory. “My coming is testimony that the American Catholics have not forgotten their brothers in these regions and circumstances. From the very beginning, we followed what was happening here and became acquainted with your suffering. I am here to thank you for your conduct. We will continue to accompany you with our prayers and assistance,” said American Archbishop McCarrick to the assembled faithful. To the parish priest and faithful, Archbishop McCarrick also said, “Be proud of what you have suffered because this is capital used by the entire Church.” With this celebration in Ilok and a visit to the refugee camp in Blaca near Vinkovci, Archbishop McCarrick completed his visit to Croatia.