Zagreb, (IKA) – From April 12 to 14, the 40th plenary session of the Croatian Conference of Bishops was held at the Archdiocesan Pastoral Institute in Zagreb, Kaptol 29. The president of the CCB, Archbishop Marin Srakić of Đakovo-Osijek, presided. In the working portion of the session, there was first discussion on the forthcoming visit to Zagreb by the Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, on May 31, when he will lead the celebration of the Eucharist on the feast day of the patron saint of the city of Zagreb, Our Lady of the Stone Gate. The following day, June 1, 2010, Cardinal Re will meet with all the bishops of the CCB. The bishops agreed upon the agenda for the joint session of the Croatian Conference of Bishops and the Bishops’ Conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which will be held in Mostar from May 24 to 25, 2010.
At the session, the bishops discussed Catholic Social Week to be held next year and the working text of a document on the laity prepared by the Council for the Laity of the CCB. The preparation of that document was applauded and guidelines for its refinement were provided. Particular attention at the session was devoted to analysis of a document on the formation of candidates for the priesthood. Comments and suggestions to be included in the document were presented.
The president of Caritas Croatia, Msgr. Josip Mrzljak, and the head of Caritas Croatia, Fr. Ivan Milovčić, spoke about the current situation in this institution of the CCB. Those present were informed about campaigns in which significant funds were raised and used to help the needy in Croatia and other countries.

The bishops expressed their support for the canonical procedure for the beatification and canonization of S. Žarka Ivasić, a member of the Sisters of Mercy, who was shot in Gospić in the year 1946.

As part of the report by the Council for the Family of the CCB, Msgr. Valter Župan presented a project entitled Family Day, to be held in Zagreb on Global Family Day, May 15, 2011. The president of the Council for Missions of the CCB, Msgr. Slobodan Štambuk, announced the Summer Meeting of Missionaries and Mission Commissioners, to be held in Kotor from July 5 to 7, 2010. Bishop Ante Ivas, president of the Council for Youth of the CCB, acquainted the bishops with the preparations of the National Encounter of Croatian Catholic Youth, to be held in Zadar from May 8 to 9, 2010. The encounter will be attended by all the bishops of the CCB.
From September 30 to October 3 of this year, the plenary session of the Council of the Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE) of Europe will be held in Zagreb. The vice president of the CCEE is Archbishop and Metropolitan Cardinal Josip Bozanić of Zagreb,

The session concluded with a pilgrimage by approximately 600 priests from throughout Croatia to Zagreb in the Year of the Priest, who visited the tombs of the Blessed Alojzije Stepinac and the Servant of God Fr. Ante Antić, and the celebration of the Eucharist in the Zagreb cathedral led by Cardinal Bozanić at which all the participants of the session participated. From this pilgrimage, a letter of greeting and support was sent to the Holy Father Benedict XVI, according to a statement by the Secretariat of the CCB.