Zagreb, (IKA) – The late Msgr. Vladimir Stanković, a priest of the Archdiocese of Zagreb, for many years the head of pastoral ministry to Croats in foreign lands, associate of three cardinals and a canon, was buried on Wednesday, July 15, at the Mirogoj Cemetery in Zagreb.
A Requiem Mass for Msgr. Stanković was held in the Church of Christ the King at the Mirogoj Cemetery, led by the Archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal Josip Bozanić. The Mass was also concelebrated by Military Ordinary Juraj Jezerinac, Bishop Vlado Košić of Sisak; Auxiliary Bishops Valentin Pozaić, Ivan Šaško and Mijo Gorski of Zagreb; the General Secretary of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, Msgr. Enco Rodinis; the Head of Croatian Pastoral Ministry to the Croatian Diaspora, Dr. Tomislav Markić; canons of the Zagreb Cathedral Chapter and about a hundred priests, among whom a goodly number were serving in other countries.
At the beginning of the homily, Cardinal Bozanić mentioned that July 15, the day of the funeral, was also the anniversary of the first Mass celebrated by the deceased in 1956. Recalling Msgr. Stanković’s life, Cardinal Bozanić spoke of the many offices that he had held, while noting that his office as the head of pastoral ministry to the Croatian diaspora, from 1969 to 1999, occupied a special place. “In this office, he made numerous contacts with Church and civil institutions, which had a profound impact upon Croats dispersed throughout the world. He is remembered by the many priests and religious with whom he worked, and whom he encouraged to remain with the people in their difficulties in coping and creating the foundations for life under new circumstances. Aware that many people in foreign lands require human and spiritual assistance, he often attempted, either alone or in the company of Croatian bishops, particularly the late Cardinal Franjo Kuharić, to visit and encourage our compatriots on all the continents,” said Cardinal Bozanić, remarking that Prelate Vladimir Stanković’s biography is distinguished by his love for the Church and loyalty to its pastors.
“On behalf of the Archdiocese of Zagreb and on my own behalf, I thank God for the gift of the priest Vladimir Stanković, I thank Msgr. Stanković for the office that he held and the testimony that he has left us. He was a man with a big heart. He sympathized with the spiritual and material needs of his neighbors. Therefore, the news of his death in the early hours of Saturday morning, July 11, reverberated in Zagreb and beyond. These days we have received many messages of condolence, for which I thank everyone,” said Cardinal Bozanić, and observed that Msgr. Stanković had left this world in devotion to the God’s will, precisely as he had lived.
On behalf of the Zagreb Cathedral Chapter, Msgr. Ivan Miklenić bid farewell to the deceased: “With heavy but full hearts, we say farewell today to Msgr. Vladimir Stanković, who was one of the pillars of the Catholic Church in Croatia during the second half of the twentieth century, a priest who greatly indebted the Croatian nation and Church. ‘I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race and kept the faith,’ Msgr. Stanković tells us today, together with St. Paul, having transformed his entire life into a response to the Lord, who endowed him with many talents. Msgr. Stanković placed these talents at the service of the Church and performed many great, noble and honorable acts in devoted service to God, the Church and the Croatian nation during the most difficult moments in history,” said Msgr. Miklenić.
Summarizing Msgr. Stanković’s biographical information, Msgr. Miklenić noted that Msgr. Stanković’s particular intellectual and spiritual strengths were apparent while he was still a seminarian and began keeping a diary, which he would continue to do until almost the end of his life. When he was 80 years old in the 54th year of his priesthood, he published just the first year of this diary, 1949/50, in a book entitled Biti svećenik po srcu Isusovu (To Be a Priest After the Heart of Jesus). This diary reveals him to be an author of exceptional intellectual and spiritual potential, whose formation was marked by simple, studied and firm faith together with love of God and the Croatian nation.
In reference to the thirty years when Msgr. Stanković was in charge of pastoral ministry to the Croatian diaspora (1969–1999), Msgr. Miklenić said: “In this position, he was the protagonist of one of the most successful works of the Church during the communist era among speakers of the Croatian language. He wisely protected the freedom of Croatian emigrants and Croatian missions from Yugoslav embassies and politicized emigrants. When the aggression against Croatia began, he was President of the Caritas Central Committee of the Bishops’ Conference of Yugoslavia (1989–1993) and President of Caritas Croatia (1993–1998). Thanks to his international acquaintances and efforts, considerable material assistance in food and other necessities reached Croatia, which was full of refugees and displaced persons. He inspired, built and revived unity among Croats in the diaspora and those in Croatia with Christian values, which resulted in particularly self-giving, self-sacrificing love being felt by many in need.” Msgr. Miklenić also spoke about the offices that Msgr. Stanković held in the Archdiocese of Zagreb.
He pointed out that Msgr. Stanković, through his priestly activity, made major contribution to all the great events of the Church among the Croats, was the author of many hymns that are still sung today in the liturgy, and had excellent relationships with religious and other Church institutions. He had an exceptionally strong personality and courageously spoke out in public in order to protect the legal and legitimate interests of the Church and Croatian nation, said Msgr. Miklenić.
“Human words are inadequate to express the life and mystery of any person, and are especially too weak to express everything necessary and appropriate about a person of the magnitude of Msgr. Vladimir Stanković, because his works are so great that they will certainly be the subject of thorough analysis and provide new inspiration to many. As believers, we are left with the duty of expressing sincere gratitude to the good God who gave him to us and who ennobled and enriched us through him in many ways. We are left with the duty to pray to the Lord to be a gentle and merciful judge of his human frailties, that he may enjoy God’s eternal love and peace in the resurrection. And we are left with the duty, each in our own way and office, to continue Msgr. Vladimir Stanković’s great and noble work. So be it,” concluded Msgr. Miklenić. Msgr. Stanković was buried in the canonical tomb at Mirogoj. The singing was enhanced by the Adorers of the Blood of Christ.