Zagreb, November 6, 2002 (IKA) — The 400th jubilee of the unification of the Croatian Province of the Third Order Franciscans was celebrated on November 5 and 6 at the monastery of St. Francis Xavier in Zagreb with a two-day conference at which, in addition to lectures, attention was devoted to the unification and its significance, the social and Church conditions of the time in our region, and the life of the Province before and after the unification.
With the issuance of the bull Pro nostri pastoralis muneris by Pope Clement VIII, dated September 2, 1602, the province joined the provinces of the Third Order Franciscans in the region of Italy. At an open meeting, the General Minister of the T.O.R., Fra Ilija Živković, expressed the hope that this conference on the spread and development of the Order, which greatly enriched the Croatian Province, will kindle a new awareness in Croatia regarding the current status of the Third Order Franciscans in the world, new interest in becoming better acquainted with the T.O.R., and new responsibility and cooperation. From 1602 until the present, representatives of Croatia have participated in the General Capitulas, served as members of the General Councils and many of them, particularly during the past century, have made important contributions during times of crisis and to the expansion and organization of the Order, said Fra Ilija Živković.
The Croatian Province of the Third Order Franciscans currently has 79 religious who live in 18 monasteries and houses in Croatia. Fourteen religious of the Croatian Province are working outside Croatia, in Germany, Italy, the USA and Peru. According to the charism of Third Order Franciscans, religious live and work in monasteries and parishes, serve as chaplains in hospitals and institutions for the aged and infirm, organize various forms of spiritual and charitable functions at their monasteries, lead spiritual exercises and renewal, teach at Catholic educational institutions, and devote particular attention to the pastoral Sacrament of Reconciliation. The headquarters of the Province is in the city of Zagreb, the capital of Croatia.