On November 14, 2023, the Feast of St. Nicholas TAVELIĆ was celebrated at the national shrine named in his honor in Šibenik, Croatia. He is the first native-born saint of Croatia. He was canonized in 1970.
The Most Reverend Roko GLASNOVIĆ, Bishop of Dubrovnik, Croatia, presided over the 6:00 p.m. solemn Mass. Those concelebrating included the Most Reverend Tomislav ROGIĆ, Bishop of Šibenik, Croatia; Friar Miljenko HONTIĆ, the Minister Provincial of the Province of St. Jerome in Croatia; Friar Josip IVANOVIĆ, the local Guardian and Rector of the Shrine; and seventeen other priests. The Mass was preceded by a procession along the streets of the city.
In his homily, Bishop GLASNOVIĆ stressed the importance of seeking the truth and living it according to the example set by St. Nicholas who never stopped following the Truth: Christ Himself.
The faithful had the opportunity to prepare for the Feast of St. Nicholas over nine consecutive Fridays (September 15 through November 10) and also by attending a preparatory novena. Young men in formation, from the Province and the local diocese, as well as altar servers from the Shrine, provided liturgical service, while the choir from the St. Francis Friary Church in Split, Croatia, sang at the Mass. The Mass was broadcast live on Laudato TV and Croatian Catholic Radio (HKR).
St. Nicholas TAVELIĆ was a Franciscan friar who was martyred in Jerusalem in 1391, together with three other friars. He was canonized by Pope St. Paul VI in 1970. Born in Šibenik, Croatia, St. Nicholas preached the Gospel in Bosnia trying to convert Muslims and the heretical Bogumilians. After twelve years, he left Bosnia and departed for the Holy Land, where he was martyred.
Friar Josip IVANOVIĆ
