Šibenik, (IKA) – On Monday, July 25, the Feast of St. James, Msgr. Tomislav Rogić was ordained as the Bishop of the Diocese of Šibenik in the Cathedral of St. James. The principal consecrator was the Archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal Josip Bozanić, and the co-consecrators were the Archbishop of Split-Makarska, Msgr. Marin Barišić, and the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Šibenik, Bishop Emeritus Ante Ivas. The Mass was also celebrated by the Apostolic Nuncio in the Republic of Croatia, Archbishop Alessandro D’Errico; the President of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, Archbishop Želimir Puljić of Zadar, archbishops and bishops from Croatia and other countries, provincials and numerous diocesan and religious priests. After Nuncio D’Errico read the apostolic letter, Cardinal Bozanić delivered the homily. He emphasized that the cathedral pastor of the Diocese of Šibenik protects the “inextinguishable Christian heritage, the living memorial of testimonies of faith and service to the truth of the Gospel.” Therefore, he particularly greeted “the former pastor of the Church of Šibenik, his colleague in the episcopate, Msgr. Ante Ivas,” the 48th bishop of the city of King Krešimir, and expressed “grateful recognition for nearly twenty years of courageous and devoted episcopal ministry.”
The Cardinal then spoke about the importance of the office that St. James the Great performed in the Jerusalem Church, as well as the specific nature of his role during the time of Jesus’ earthly existence, from the Mount of the Transfiguration to Calvary, and he called him an eloquent example of how to accept Christ and remain faithful to Him until the end. St. James is depicted in Christian iconography as holding a pilgrim’s staff and the scroll of the Gospels. To Msgr. Rogić, the Cardinal said: “Jesus Christ calls you, Bishop Tomislav, and through Pope Francis sends you to the Church of Šibenik to be like St. James with a bishop’s crosier and the Gospels, in order for you, together with the people entrusted to you, to make a pilgrimage on the path of Christian life.”
The Cardinal then enumerated the characteristics that a bishop should have, especially that he should be a credible witness of God’s mercy. Noting that a person who lives the faith in the Church, who lives the faith of the Church of all times, often confronts “the prevailing views of this world, which are sometimes extremely intolerant,” Cardinal Bozanić cautioned, and in issues of evangelical values, special courage, determination and clarity are required from a bishop. “In connection with this, Blessed Alojzije Stepinac said: ‘One of the greatest evils of our time is mediocrity in questions of faith. Let us not delude ourselves … either we are or we are not Catholics. If we are, then this must be manifested in all the areas of our life (Homily, June 29, 1943),” said the Cardinal and then addressed Msgr. Rogić: “Dear Bishop Tomislav, in your knowledge and faith, expect and accept participation in the Cross with Jesus Crucified, but also the Risen Jesus. The Cross is inevitable; it tests our election.” At the conclusion of the homily, Cardinal Bozanić addressed Msgr. Rogić as follows: “Bishop Tomislav, may the joy and hope, sorrow and distress of the people of the Diocese of Šibenik, especially the poor, the unemployed, the abandoned, the sick, the elderly, the newcomers and all who suffer, always find an echo in your heart and prayers. Be close to everyone: children and young people, families, Croatian war veterans and the elderly.” He also urged him to accompany all consecrated persons with care and love; to love all presbyters and deacons, your co-workers in Christ’s service, with paternal and fraternal love, and everyone should share a common concern for religious vocations.
The Cardinal concluded his homily with the following words: “Dear Bishop Tomislav, in your episcopal ministry, imitate Blessed Alojzije Stepinac, of whom Saint John Paul II said that he ‘gave his people a sort of compass to serve as their orientation.’ Our Beatus, despite the ravages of time, loses nothing of his eloquence but continues to emanate light and spread hope. In him we find a fearless shepherd, a paragon of apostolic zeal and Christian strength, whose heroic life shines ever brighter and illuminates the Croatian faithful. I commend you to his heavenly intercession.
Following the ceremony of episcopal ordination and the Mass, the new Bishop of Šibenik, accompanied by the two co-consecrators, passed through and around the cathedral, bestowing his blessing on all the participants in the celebration. Then he returned to the cathedral, where he was addressed by the President of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, Archbishop Želimir Puljić; the Vicar General of the Diocese of Šibenik, Msgr. Marinko Mlakić, Igor Friedrich on behalf of the laity; and the Bishop Emeritus of Šibenik, Msgr. Ante Ivas.
The Archbishop of Zadar began his address with a review of the history of King Krešimir’s city of Šibenik, noting that data from the eleventh century indicate that the Croatian Kingdom during the reign of King Krešimir IV had already entered into the European political and intellectual sphere, in which the papacy was and would remain “the orientation of Church, spiritual, moral but also political powers.” “I am pleased that from now on I shall greet our former ‘northern neighbor’ from Udbina as a dear ‘southern neighbor,’ who has been sent primarily to serve the faithful of the honorable Diocese of Šibenik. However, the office of bishop is linked in a mysterious way in communion with other bishops. Not in the ordinary manner but sacramentally. It is woven into the mystery of episcopal ministry that creates a ‘school of communion,'” said Archbishop Puljić. To Msgr. Rogić, he expressed “a warm welcome to the assembly of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, with the wish that together we shall achieve what the Lord expects of us here and now.” Addressing Bishop Emeritus Ivas of Šibenik, Vicar General Msgr. Marinko Mlakić said that this day concludes the twenty-year pastoral ministry of Msgr. Ivas to the Diocese of Šibenik. “You assumed the diocese during the postwar years when it was necessary to rebuild the demolished churches, rectories and monasteries, and to build new ones in places where it had formerly been impossible to do so. However, even more than that, it was necessary to encourage the faithful to return to their homes and the charred remains thereof, so that together, in addition to the rebuilding of the churches, they could begin to rebuild their homes and families. The entire period of your episcopal ministry was marked by great changes, many new winds, some pleasant and some unpleasant. We were particularly surprised by constant attempts to devalue the honorable Cross, golden freedom, the sanctity of human life and the family, sincere patriotism and evangelical philanthropy among our people. It truly required a lot of daring and wisdom during those days and years to steer the helm of the Šibenik Church and guide it on those travels and toward those harbors to which we are called by our Teacher and Savior Jesus Christ,” said Msgr. Mlakić to Bishop Ivas. On behalf of the priests and religious of the Diocese of Šibenik, he thanked Msgr. Ivas for all his spoken and written words, all his decisions and the offices with which he entrusted them, for all the pastoral and other ventures he had undertaken with them, expressing the wish that Bishop Ivas would have a long time to enjoy his well-earned retirement and pray for them.
To the new Bishop of Šibenik, Msgr. Mlakić said: “Be our shepherd, because we need a shepherd. We need a shepherd who will lead us in troubled times and who will set an example in the imitation of the sole true Shepherd of the Church, Jesus Christ. We need a shepherd who will interpret the Word of God and the doctrine of the Church, and who will be its first servant and thus testify by his example to faith in God and the Church. We need a shepherd who will lovingly entrust offices to us, remind us and encourage us, and who will always be ready to re-examine himself and his obedience to the Shepherd Jesus with humility, obedient to his and our Heavenly Father unto death on the Cross. Father Bishop Tomislav, welcome!”
Msgr. Ivas addressed the newly ordained Bishop Rogić as follows: “Enter the boat of the Šibenik Church, which was entrusted to you by God the Holy Spirit. We receive you with open hearts. We offer you our hands. We clasp them! We pray for you and we will pray with you for all and in all to be Christ! For this Croatian nation to live life in abundance, on its sea, fields and rocks. That it not let itself be misled or betrayed. Place your hand in the hand of the One who holds the rudder and sails of all our ships. He is the Lord, our Source and our Eternal Harbor. Row on the high seas! Throw nets! There is the sea!”
On behalf of the laity, the new bishop was greeted by the religion teacher and head of the School of Economics in Šibenik, Igor Friedrich: “Šibenik is celebrating the 950th anniversary of the first mention of its name. In its long and glorious history, many have left indelible marks. We believe that you, like your predecessors, will contribute to the spiritual, cultural and every other betterment of our diocese. In the holy task of proclaiming the Good News, you can count on help from us lay faithful, religion teachers, Christian families, young people and the Church movements that are active in our diocese,” said Friedrich.
Bishop Rogić, in his first address as the new Bishop of Šibenik, admitted that he had felt confused and anxious but that his anxiety was melting and continues to melt every day with every encounter, every new acquaintance. “All and in all Christ! May it begin thus, may it continue thus and may it end thus in the Savior according to His will!” said Msgr. Rogić. “Faithful of Šibenik, may we grow together in faith and trust in God’s omnipotence, mercy, guidance and help. I commend myself to your prayers and will return them with prayers every day. We shall not be forgotten by Our Lady or St. Michael or St. James or St. Nicholas Tavelich or all the Croatian martyrs,” said Bishop Rogić.
The celebration of the episcopal ordination was attended by many relatives and friends of Bishop Rogić, many of the faithful and representatives of political and cultural life. The liturgical singing was led by the Cathedral Choir of Šibenik and the St. James Singers (Pivači sv. Jakova), conducted by Jelena Mikulandra and accompanied on the organ by Nikola Lovrić Caparin. The masters of ceremonies at the Mass of ordination were Fr. Roko Glasnović, Secretary to the Bishop and Administrator of the Parish of Jadrtovac, and Fr. Krešimir Mateša, the Cathedral Pastor in Šibenik. The chasuble worn by Bishop Rogić at the Mass was a gift from the Diocese of Šibenik. Two chalices were used during the Mass, one from Bishop Rogić’s first Mass and the second a gift from the parishioners of Udbina.
The Mass was broadcast live by Channel 2 of HTV and Croatian Catholic Radio.