On Friday, September 9, 2022, nine candidates entered the postulancy program of the Province of St. Jerome in Croatia, thus beginning their formation. The ceremony took place during Mass at the Church of St. Anthony of Padua in Zagreb, Croatia. The Minister Provincial, Friar Miljenko HONTIĆ, presided.
Concelebrants at the Mass included the Rector of Postulants and Guardian of the Friary in Zagreb, Friar Josip PETONJIĆ; the Rector of Clerical Students, Friar Stjepan BRČINA; the Rector of Seminarians, Friar Zvonimir PERVAN; the Provincial Secretary, Friar Zlatko VLAHEK; and the Provincial Definitor, Friar Pero DŽIDA. Also present were the relatives of the postulants and numerous faithful.
In his homily on the Gospel of the day, Friar Miljenko followed up on the Gospel from the previous Sunday in which Jesus addressed the crowd, emphasizing our need for a personal relationship with Him in order to be and become his disciples. We are told how to follow Him and how important it is for us to become His disciples. Friar Miljenko continued, “These nine postulants followed Jesus and heard His words as a personal invitation. For them, Jesus is first and their lives are to be in conformity with His life and words. Jesus calls us to bear witness to this, but we can only do so if we are in a personal and concrete relationship with Him. Only by being close to Him will we recognize our weaknesses and frailties as well as the great mercy of God. Those who are aware of their own smallness do not judge others. Whoever has experienced mercy becomes merciful.”
Before the final benediction, Friar Miljenko blessed some Bibles and Franciscan “tau” crosses, which he distributed to each postulant. He added that the postulants must draw spiritual strength from the Holy Scriptures by carrying the cross following the example of St. Francis of Assisi.
After Mass, there was a dinner in the friary dining room with the relatives of the postulants present.
Friar Zlatko VLAHEK, Provincial Secretary