Đakovo, (IKA) – On July 15 at the Residence of the Archbishop in Đakovo, a meeting was held of the bishops of the Đakovo-Osijek Ecclesiastical Province. In addition to the Archbishop and Metropolitan of Đakovo-Osijek, Msgr. Đuro Hranić, the participants were Archbishop Emeritus Marin Srakić of Đakovo-Osijek, Bishop Antun Škvorčević of Požega and Archbishop Đuro Gašparović of Srijem. In welcoming remarks, Metropolitan Archbishop Hranić, among other things, recalled that at the previous session held in Požega, the Lenten Message of the Slavonian Bishops on the Poverty and Demographic Situation in Slavonia was prepared and solidarity with those in the Požega region whose property had been extensively damaged by recent storms was expressed to the Bishop of Požega. Archbishop Hranić also congratulated Bishop Škvorčević on the curation of the exhibitions and blessing of the Diocesan Museum in Požega.
Archbishop Hranić congratulated Bishop Gašparović on the 300th anniversary of Our Lady of Tekije, which will be celebrated on August 4. He mentioned that this date will also mark the 100th anniversary of the death of Bishop Ivan Krapac of Đakovo and Srijem, who had the Theological Seminary in Đakovo built during his brief episcopal reign, and a memorial Mass will be celebrated for him in the Đakovo Cathedral.
The bishops focused discussion on the current social situation in Croatia, the processes taking place in the political arena, and noted that it is important for a political party to present the value system that it represents with clarity, its foundations in our national heritage and the specific factors that enrich the community of European nations. They also stressed that after the parliamentary elections in September of this year, the new government should devote serious attention to the grave social situation in Slavonia and take steps to halt poverty and emigration. The bishops noted the importance of increased efforts to build the Christian laity, especially intellectuals.
They also mentioned the first meeting of the Mixed Commission of Experts from the Croatian Conference of Bishops and the Serbian Orthodox Church on Blessed Alojzije Stepinac, which had been recently held in Rome, discussed certain current ecumenical issues and emphasized the importance of working on ecumenical issues together with the local religious leaders, as a metropolitan archdiocese with one diocese located in the Republic of Serbia. They also expressed the opinion that in the wake of the independence of the Republic of Croatia and the circumstances arising from Homeland War, the Croatian Conference of Bishops should send a message to the faithful about the importance of ecumenical relations in the new situation.
The bishops also discussed the place and significance of culture in modern evangelization, emphasizing that Slavonia had suffered greatly in history and many witnesses of our Christian and national identity have been destroyed. They emphasized the need for increased preservation and restoration of the existing religious heritage and for presenting it to the public. Specifically, that which is not in liturgical use should be in the Diocesan Museum.