Washington, (IKA) – A solemn mass in honor of the Bl. Alojzije Stepinac will be celebrated at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, February 8, 2005, at Our Lady of Victory Church in Washington, D.C.

The main celebrant will be the Rev. Francis Moloney, S.D.B., S.T.L., S.S.L., Ph.D., Dean of the School of Theology and Religious Studies, Catholic University, Washington, D.C. The Rev. Moloney is a world renowned scripture scholar and has served on the Papal Theological Commission in Rome.

Besides various priests from the Washington area, the concelebrants include the Rev. Dr. James McCann, S.J., director of the Office to Aid the Catholic Church in Central and Eastern Europe, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops; the Rev. Paul Lee, pastor of Our Lady of Victory Parish; and the Rev. Damir Stojic, pastor of the Croatian Pastoral Mission of St. Blaise, Washington, D.C.

Also in attendance will be various dignitaries including the minister of culture in the Republic of Croatia, Mr. Bozo Biskupic and his wife, Ljerka; the ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to the United States of America His Excellency Mr. Neven Jurica and his wife, Dunja; and a member of the Croatian Parliament, Mr. Mario Zubovic and his wife, Dora. This year marks the 45th anniversary of the death of Bl. Stepinac. There will be a reception in Hess hall following the Mass.