Đakovo, October 26, 1999 (IKA) — Today, on the feast of St. Demetrius, deacon and martyr, the patron saint of the Srijem portion of the Đakovo and Srijem Diocese and the cathedral in Srijemska Mitrovica (Yugoslavia), Auxiliary Bishop Đuro Gašparović of Đakovo and Srijem was ceremonially inducted as the general vicar of Srijem and received speical authorization for the territory of Srijem, with the requirement that he reside there. The induction ceremony was held during a Mass celebrated in the cathedral of Srijemska Mitrovica.
The Đakovo and Srijem Diocese was among those most seriously afflicted by the recent war. With the establishment of the national boundary between the Republic of Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the diocese was divided into two parts, and Srijem itself was divided into western and eastern sections. Until 1991, there were twenty-two priests, twenty nuns, twenty-eight parishes, and approximately 70,000 Catholics in Srijem. However, during the war, 20,000 Catholics were forced to leave their ancestral homes. It has continued to be very difficult to communicate with Srijem and provide uniform pastoral activity.
Efforts to find a new solution to providing pastoral activity to Srijem continued with the appointment of Msgr. Đuro Gašparović as auxiliary bishop in 1996. There was a need for a greater presence by the bishop in this territory as well as authorization for the transfer of priests and the coordination of pastoral activities. The Holy See responded to a memorandum from the diocesan Bishop Marin Skrakić, which the bishop composed based on discussions with priests in the Srijem parishes and presented at a session of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, and on discussions with the auxiliary bishop and the college of consultors. The Holy See decreed for Bishop Srakić to appoint Msgr. Đuro Gašparović as his general vicar for Srijem. The Holy Father award the general vicar special authority to transfer priests and personally coordinate pastoral activity in this territory, about which he is to report regularly to Bishop Srakić. Bishop Gašparović is also permitted to request further authority, if needed, and is required to reside permanently in Srijem. This appointment does not affect the unity of the Đakovo and Srijem Diocese. Bishop Gašparović was appointed as the general vicar of Srijem on October 1, 1999 and this appointment was formally proclaimed today, October 26, 1999, in Srijemska Mitrovica.
“This concerns the permanent residence of the general vicar in Petrovaradin, in the monastery of St. George, where it will be necessary to organize offices, administration and a household immediately. This has begun with the appointment of an animator and coordinator of individual categories of the faithful, young people and altar servers, the appointment of temporary administration for Caritas, an animator for spiritual renewal, and the president of the commission for the construction and repair of Church property. It is necessary to continue with the preparations for the Second Diocesan Synod of Đakovo and Srijem with work in parish groups, according to the directives from the Synod Secretariat. There is still a lot to do but this is already something for the beginning,” said Bishop Gašparović in a statement to IKA.