Zagreb, November 25, 1999 (IKA) — The Councils for Croatian Catholic Congregations of Emigrants in Foreign Lands of the Croatian and Bosnian-Herzegovian Conferences of Bishops celebrated three thirtieth anniversaries yesterday at a reception held in Zagreb: the thirtieth anniversary of the Councils’ operations, the thirtieth anniversary of the Vatican document “De Pastorali Migratorum Cura” and the thirty years that the Croatian Congregations for Emigrants in Foreign Lands were under the able administration of Prelate Msgr. Vladimir Stanković.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Western European countries received a large number of migrants, who left their native countries for political, economic or other reasons. In 1969, the Universal Church responded to this situation with “Guidelines for Pastoral Work with Migrants,” issued by Pope Paul VI. The Church among the Croats approached the problem of emigrants as one of its most important challenges. According to a report by Father Josip Klarić, the delegate to the Croatian Catholic congregation in Germany, in Western Europe prior to 1969 there were 26 Croatian Catholic missions with 38 priests and 26 pastoral associates. Ten years later, there were 110 Croatian Catholic missions with 139 priests and 100 pastoral associates. In the early 1980s, this number climbed to 181 missions throughout the world, with 250 priests. Today in Western Europe, there are 120 Croatian Catholic missions, 147 priests, 5 deacons and 106 pastoral associates, while on other continents there are 70 missions, 92 priests and 35 pastoral associates. In Germany, there are currently approximately 350,000 Croatian Catholics.
“On this unique occasion when three jubilees are being celebrated together, on behalf of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, I first wish to thank and express appreciation to Prelate Msgr. Vladimir Stanković,” said Archbishop Josip Bozanić, for having been “faithful to the Croatian episcopate,” and for forging and fostering links, cooperation and community between the Church in the homeland and the Church in foreign countries. Archbishop Bozanić also praised Prelate Stanković for his “realistic approach.” The president of the Croatian Conference of Bishops said that the name of Msgr. Vladimir Stanković will “remain permanently inscribed in the history of Croatian emigration.”
Cardinal Franjo Kuharić also extended his congratulations, reminiscing that he had spent many hours visiting Croatian emigrants throughout the world with Prelate Stanković. The cardinal further noted that Prelate Stanković has made a valuable contribution to the important and sensitive efforts by our Church to preserve ties with Croatian Catholic emigrants. The president of the Council for Croatian Catholic Congregations in Foreign Lands, Auxiliary Bishop Pero Sudar of Sarajevo, offered his congratulations and expressions of gratitude, adding that Prelate Stanković “sensed that the Croatian foreign congregations are a great force that have grown and flourished in foreign lands,” and has invested his considerable talent and patience in preserving ties with these congregations.
At the celebration, Dr. Pero Aračić, the new head of the Croatian Congregations for Emigrants in Foreign Lands, emphasized that a small nation must not renounce a fifth of its people but must work with the second and third generations of emigrants. Now, following the establishment of an independent and sovereign Croatia, the duties the missions should be taken over by government institutions. Stjepan Herceg, a social worker with Caritas in Germany, spoke about social work as an aspect of pastoral care. He also presented the proceedings from the Fourth World Congress on the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Refugees, which was organized in the Vatican from October 5 to 10, 1998, by the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants. The proceedings, entitled “Migration on the Threshold of the Third Millennium,” published by Krščanska sadašnost, were presented by Dr. Josip Baloban, who noted that they were primarily intended for students of theology and public officials, as well as all those engaged in the area of assisting displaced persons and refugees.
The numerous distinguished guests included the papal nuncio in the Republic of Croatia, Archbishop Msgr. Giulio Einaudi, Bishop Marin Srakić of Đakovo and Srijem; Military Ordinary Bishop Juraj Jezerinac; Auxiliary Bishop Vlado Košić of Zagreb; the secretary of the Ministry of Development, Migration and Renewal, Marin Sopta; provincials of mens’ and women’s religious orders; the national pastoral directors for migrants of Germany and Austria, Dr. Peter Rassel and Anton Štekel; Fr. Loreto de Paullis of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants, delegates from Croatian Catholic missions, numerous dignitaries, and friends of Prelate Stanković. Prelate Stanković thanked everyone, emphasizing that “the conditions and misfortunes of the past have required God’s direct intervention” in order for the Church to perform such a responsible task for the Croatian nation. The reception included a performance by the Pelican Octet, comprised of sisters from the order of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ.