On Thursday, September 29, 2022, the Guardians of the Province of St. Jerome in Croatia met at the Friary of the Holy Spirit in Zagreb to plan for the new pastoral year. The next day was the feast day of St. Jerome, the Patron Saint of the Province.
As usual at the beginning of a new pastoral year, the Guardians met with the Provincial Definitors to better prepare for the new pastoral-academic year and to present plans and projects, to be implemented in the next year.
At the beginning of the meeting, the Minister Provincial, Friar Miljenko HONTIĆ, addressed the Guardians, welcoming them and expressing his pain at the loss of five friars who returned to the Father’s house. However, he also spoke of his great joy that the Lord had given the Province nine new postulants. He then thanked all the Guardians who, in the second part of the Provincial Chapter, responsibly accepted their positions of service “in which we should not seek to change our brothers or wait for them to change, but together, in personal relationship with God, seek daily co-formation with Christ.”
Friar Miljenko touched on some issues regarding financial management, the new organ in St. Anthony of Padua Church in Zagreb and announced an extraordinary Chapter to discuss new projects and the untapped potential of the friaries on the coast.
The friars discussed the possibility of using new energy sources that could considerably reduce the costs of the friaries. Regional meetings were announced for Advent and Lent and the dates of important Provincial events in 2022-23, were also confirmed.
In a fraternal spirit, all of the Guardians talked about life in their communities and the pastoral work being done there. The Director of the Provincial Vocation Center, Friar Stjepan BRČINA, presented a program to promote vocations.
The highlight of the meeting was Mass at the St. Anthony of Padua Church in Zagreb, with the Vicar Provincial, Friar Martin JAKOVIĆ, presiding. All of the Provincial Guardians and Definitors were present. The “Father Tomislav Talan” parish choir sang during the liturgy.
On the feast of St. Jerome, the Patron Saint of the Province of Croatia, a Province Day program took place at the Holy Spirit Friary in Zagreb. The day began with the recitation of the Office of Readings and Morning Prayer followed by a greeting from the Minister Provincial. Next, there was a lecture by Friar Željko KLARIĆ on various topics taken from the Apostolic Exhortation Amoris laetitia. A discussion began among the friars who deal with marriage and family issues in their pastoral ministry, which highlighted the importance of knowing the document and the new pastoral orientations.
The St. Anthony of Padua Church in Zagreb also celebrated the feast of St. Jerome with Mass presided over by Friar Miljenko together with other friars of the Province.
Friar Zlatko VLAHEK, Provincial Secretary
