Rijeka, June 29, 1999 (IKA) – On June 29, the feast of SS. Peter and Paul, Msgr. Mile Bogović was ordained as the auxiliary bishop of Rijeka-Senj. The ordination was conducted by Archbishop Anton Tamarut of Rijeka-Senj, assisted by Bishop Valter Župan of Krk and Bishop Ivan Milovan of Poreč-Pula. In addition to the numerous faithful, the Mass particpants included Cardinal Franjo Kuharić; the apostolic nuncio in the Republic of Croatia, Archbishop Giulio Einaudi; the president of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, Archbishop Josip Bozanić of Zagreb; retired Archbishop Josip Pavlišić of Rijeka-Senj and a number of Croatian and foreign bishops, priests, representatives of religious orders, government officials and cultural figures.
Archbishop Tamarut cited the example of the apostles Peter and Paul, who remained steadfast despite all difficulties, and wished the same to the new bishop. He also thanked the Holy See for nominating Bishop Bogović, by which it demonstrated its exceptional concern for the suffering inflicted by the recent war upon the Rijeka-Senj Archdiocese in which the new bishop will serve. Archbishop Tamarut expressed the wish that the faithful, together with their new bishop, will create the conditions for the formation of an independent diocese in this territory. On behalf of the Holy See, greetings and a blessing were conveyed to the new bishop by Nuncio Einaudi. Greetings from the Croatian Conference of Bishops were conveyed by its president, Archbishop Bozanić. He noted that with the ordination of Bishop Bogović, the Conference now has nineteen members, in addition to seven retired bishops. “A part of the suffering territory of the Rijeka-Senj Archdiocese looks to you with particular hope,” said Archbishop Bozanić at the end of his remarks. The parish priest of Slunj, the Rev. Mile Pecić, greeted the newly ordained bishop on behalf of the priests of the Rijeka-Senj Archdiocese and the diocesan parish of his birth. Commenting on the mood of numerous believers and clergy present, the Rev. Pecić said that this event was a type of plebiscite by which the people and clergy chose Msgr. Bogović as their bishop. On behalf of the faithful and students at the School of Theology in Rijeka, greetings to the new bishop were conveyed by Ksenija Rukavina, a theology student and catechist, who expressed the readiness of young people to assist the new bishop.
At the end of the Mass, Bishop Bogović told the assembled faithful that he experienced his nomination as the reward for their prayers. “Even today, do not separate prayers from the misfortunes which still have not left you,” stressed Bishop Bogović.
Bishop Bogović#!s motto is “In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.” The bishop#!s coat-of-arms contains the letter “A” in Glagolitic script, signifying the beginning but also the Glagolitic tradition which is particularly linked with the printing establishment in Senj, from which the symbol was taken and transformed into a mountain with waterfalls, symbolizing Plitvice, which flow into the sea because the domain of the new bishop also includes the Senj coastal area.
Bishop Mile Bogović was born in 1939 in Cerovac, in the parish of Slunj. He began philosophical-theological studies in Pazin, which he completed in Zagreb. In 1964, he was ordained as a priest of the Rijeka-Senj Archdiocese. From 1966 to 1971, he studied at the Pontifical Gregorian University and earned a doctorate in Church history. After returning from Rome, he taught Church history at the School of Theology in Rijeka up to the present. On June 4, Pope John Paul II named Msgr. Bogović as the auxiliary bishop of the Rijeka-Senj Archdiocese. He was also made the titular bishop of Tamata.