Osijek, (IKA/TU) – On January 24, after Archbishop Đuro Hranić of Đakovo-Osijek announced that the Franciscan Capuchin Ivica Petanjak had been appointed the new Bishop of Krk, the newly appointed bishop, surrounded by priests, monks, friars and nuns from the Osijek region and environs, in the presence of Bishop Emeritus Marin Srakić and the Provincial Minister of the Croatian Capuchin Province of St. Leopold Mandić, Friar Jure Šarčević, said the following: “Since nothing happens without God’s will, regardless of what we think and how we interpret it, today when I stand before a completely new beginning, I first of all want to thank the Triune God for the past years of my religious and priestly life, in which there was no dearth of challenges and new beginnings. I humbly pray for the light, wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit in the new office that has been entrusted to me.” The newly appointed Bishop of Krk then thanked the Holy Father and everyone who had participated in his episcopal appointment for the confidence they had shown in him, his parents, brothers, sisters and their families, the Archbishops of Đakovo-Osijek who wanted the appointment to be announced in Osijek, and the pastor and priests from his native parish of Drenje.
Friar Ivica then heartily greeted the Bishop of Krk, Msgr. Valter Župan, all the priests and seminarians of the Diocese of Krk, the religious serving there and “all the dear lay faithful,” and said to them: “For many of you, my appointment will be a big surprise but I have been living with this surprise for some time and whenever something unexpected happens to me in life, I try to find the logic because with God nothing happens by chance. By now, I have grasped something but you will tell me if I was on the right path.”
Emphasizing that it is an honor and obligation for him to come to the ancient Diocese of Krk, from where our cardinal comes, and placing the work beginning for him this day under the intercession of St. Francis de Sales, whose feast day it is, the newly appointed Bishop Petanjak said: “Your Excellency, Bishop Župan, brother priests, friars, monks and nuns, dear brothers and sisters in faith, and all people of good will in the Diocese of Krk, since I am coming to you, I knock on the doors of your hearts and pray that your hearts find a little place for me. For the beginning, that will be enough and one sigh toward heaven, and even better if you include me in your prayers. I have already included all of you in mine.”