On Saturday, September 7, 2024, six candidates entered the postulancy program of the Province of St. Jerome in Croatia. The ceremony took place at the Basilica of St. Anthony of Padua in Zagreb, Croatia, during Mass presided over by the Minister Provincial, Friar Miljenko HONTIĆ. Various formators and friars from the local friary were also present.
In his homily, Friar Miljenko took up the words of the Prophet Isaiah 35:4: “Say to the fearful of heart: Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God, he comes with vindication; with divine recompense he comes to save you.”
Among other things, Friar Miljenko said, “I had an opportunity to talk to these six young men who are at the beginning of their journey and the four who are now entering the novitiate. Certainly, the commitment required for all those in formation is not easy. There are many questions, much fear and insecurity, and many challenges and ambiguities. That is why it is important to listen seriously to these words from Scripture. Once heard, it is important to keep those words permanently in our hearts and minds, so that they constantly resonate in our souls and we can hear them echo: ‘Be strong, do not fear! God has hastened to save you!’ Thus, we should not fear any challenge, but put everything in the hands of God.”
After his homily, Friar Miljenko blessed some bibles and Franciscan Tau crosses and distributed them to each candidate, telling them that they should draw spiritual strength from the Holy Scriptures by carrying their crosses towards the Resurrection, following the example of St. Francis of Assisi.
After the Mass, dinner was served in the refectory of the friary, attended by the relatives of the postulants.
The six new postulants are: Toma PEREŽA, Filippo PANZA and Juraj LIŠKA from Zagreb, Croatia; Luka GELJIĆ from Vinkovci, Croatia; Vedran KAMENEČKI from Zabok, Croatia; and Manuel LUKIĆ from Brčko, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Friar Zlatko VLAHEK, Provincial Secretary
