Zagreb, (IKA) – In the presence of a multitude of the faithful, approximately two hundred priests, professors, students, Archbishop Emeritus Marin Srakić of Đakovo-Osijek, and the President of the Bishop’s Conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bishop Franjo Komarica of Banja Luka, the funeral rites for Prof. Dr. Adalbert Rebić were conducted by Auxiliary Bishop Ivan Šaško of Zagreb at the Mirogoj Cemetery in Zagreb on February 24, 2014.
“Dear Adalbert, here are your Zagreb, Zadar and Đakovo students, many of them, because there is almost no Croatian priest, theologian, catechist or Church musician who has not listened to or read your interpretation of the Holy Scripture, delved into your translations, allowed himself be led through archaeological excavations and learn the letters, words and spirit of the biblical languages. From scholarly to pastoral work, from the publication of journals and books, editing and administrative positions in the publishing house Kršćanska sadašnjost to presiding over institutions and organizing symposia and meetings. From complex theological discussions to simple prayers. (…) Here are your fellow prebendaries of the Zagreb Cathedral and canons of the Cathedral Chapter, fellow professors from the Catholic Theological Faculty of the University of Zagreb and other educational institutions. Here are the faithful to whom you preached the living Word of God, not only in Croatia but also in various places throughout Europe and the world. Here are your pilgrims, especially those who cherish memories of the Holy Land. You brought them closer to the voices of the prophets and apostles, to the Savior who proclaims the Good News, who heals, liberates and forgives, submits to the cross, who was resurrected and lives in the mystery of the Church. Here are your friends, members of other churches and religious communities,” said Bishop Šaško, and conveyed the respects of Cardinal Josip Bozanić. He then spoke of the places in the Church where the deceased left his mark, emphasizing his humanitarian engagement, “displaced persons and refugees from various parts of Croatia, not forgetting people from Bosnia and Herzegovina, whom he made feel accepted, safe and comforted when, during the most difficult days of the wartime violence against the Croatian nation and state, they found in you as a priest more than a humanitarian worker.”
Parting words and expressions of respect on behalf of the Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Zagreb, were delivered by Prof. Dr. Mario Cifrak. Recalling the life of the late Prof. Dr. Adalbert Rebić, Assistant Dean Cifrak spoke of the duties that Prof. Rebić performed at the Catholic Faculty of Theology and the University of Zagreb, where he was appointed the assistant rector for organization. At the Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Zagreb, he was a professor of biblical studies, Oriental languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, Syriac and Arabic) and biblical archaeology from 1968 to 2007. At the publishing house Kršćanska sadašnjost, he was the editor of biblical publications and its director from 1968 to 2009. As an editor of the Croatian translation of the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah, the Book of Lamentations and the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel, he participated in the translation of the Bible into the Croatian language in an edition issued by the publishing house Stvarnost in 1968. He was an editor of the Croatian translation of the Jerusalem Bible (KS, 1994). He was the editor of an edition of the Jerusalem Bible (Kršćanska sadašnjost, 1994), in which he translated the introductions to several books of the Old Testament from French into Croatian, as well as interpretations and commentaries accompanying individual biblical texts. He was also responsible for the publication of a biblical manual (Biblijski priručnik) and a translation from French into Croatian of the Ecumenical Translation of the Bible (TOB). As an editor, he was responsible for the publication of a general religious lexicon (Opći religijski leksikon).
In his fruitful career, he published 28 works and approximately 400 articles in various domestic and foreign journals.
Dr. Adalbert Rebić was a member of the Croatian Literary Translators Association (since 1974), the Croatian Association of Artists and the Pontifical Marian International Academy in Rome (since 1980).
From 1991 to 1995, he held the post of the Head of the Government Office for Displaced Persons and Refugees. In 1995, he was a minister without portfolio in the Government of the Republic of Croatia in charge of humanitarian affairs.
Dr Adalbert Rebić left an indelible mark on the history of the operations of Kršćanska sadašnjost, the publishing house of the Archdiocese of Zagreb. From the very beginning, he was closely linked by cooperation and friendship with other worthy persons at this publishing house in the domestic and international Church and sociocultural frameworks, especially Josip Turčinović, Vjekoslav Bajsić and Tomislav Janko Šagi-Bunić, all of whom were professors at the Catholic Faculty of Theology in Zagreb, said Dr. Cifrak, who also recalled Dr. Rebić’s collaboration in the translation of the Zagreb Bible and on the journal Svesci (Kršćanska sadašnjost), as well as his dedicated efforts to advance other periodicals published by Kršćanska sadašnjost (Bogoslovska smotra, Croatica christiana periodica, Kana, Služba Riječi, Biblija danas). In this context, he pointed out how on two occasions Dr. Rebić served as the director of Kršćanska sadašnjost, during which time he worked on finding the optimal solution for office and production space, which was eventually located in the Chromos commercial complex.
In conclusion, Prof. Cifrak read the words with which Prof. Rebić retired from the university community in 2005: “I thank you for your cooperation and understanding, and I beg forgiveness from my colleagues in the service and members of the faculty administration for my shortcomings. I wish my younger colleagues abundant blessings from God in their scholarly work, and especially successful transmission of the Word of God to new generations of candidates for the priesthood and lay students: Shalom u’Berakot.” In this spirit, Prof. Cifrak expressed his gratitude: “We now wish this peace for you who humbly walked the Zagreb streets, squares at Kaptol and Nova ves, as many media publications are reporting these days, as if you were walking in the Holy Land, to which you brought pilgrims many times since 1966, and for all of us, “peregrini et hospites supra terram” (wanderers and strangers on the earth) (cf. Heb 11,13).”
After the coffin with the body of the deceased was laid in the tomb of the prebendaries, Bishop Franjo Komarica spoke.
The Church among the Croatian nation is truly indebted to him, as are many of us because he was a friend of God, a friend and genuine helper to many of his fellow travelers, with his words, whether written or spoken, as well as his numerous concrete acts of love, particularly during the dramatic war years, when, with the permission of Archbishop Franjo, he assumed a responsible office. Many from Croatia, but also from Bosnia and Herzegovina, found comfort not only in his office but in his faithful, Christian heart, said Bishop Komarica.
On behalf of the College of Prebendaries of the Zagreb Cathedral, the Most Rev. Mijo Gabrić paid final respects, recalling the deceased’s exemplary exercise of the office of a prebendary of the Zagreb Cathedral, confessing and preaching. He noted the desire that the deceased expressed three days before his death, “only to see the face of God,” and the peace with which he passed into eternity. “After much walking in the earthly Jerusalem, I wish you a happy and eternal Jerusalem, until we meet again,” concluded the Most. Rev. Gabrić.