Zagreb (IKA) – On the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lady, September 8, the office of the provincial of the Croatian Province of the Society of Jesus was assumed by Prof. Ivan Koprek, Ph.D. He succeeds the Rev. Ivan Macan, who served as the provincial during the past six years.

The Rev. Ivan Koprek was born in 1954 in Varaždin, and is among the many priests, religious and nuns from the Parish of St. Elijah, including a number of Jesuits.

The Rev. Koprek joined the Society of Jesus in 1975. After studies in philosophy and theology at the Institute of Philosophy and Theology, S.J., in Zagreb, he was ordained to the priesthood in 1982. He received a doctorate in philosophy in Munich.

Dr. Ivan Koprek is a full professor of the College of Liberal Arts of the Society of Jesus in Zagreb, where he served as dean from 1995 to 2001. He is the author of a many books and scientific articles published in domestic and foreign journals, a member of a number of scientific institutions and the secretary of the Commission for the establishment of the Catholic University in Zagreb.