On Wednesday, April 26, 2023, the Province of St. Jerome in Croatia and the Croatian Society of Catholic Journalists hosted an evening to commemorate Friar Ivon ĆUK on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of his birth (February 11, 1923) and the 40th anniversary of his death (January 1, 1983). The event took place in Zagreb, Croatia.
Friar Ivon ĆUK was a member of the Province of Croatia. He was the founder and first editor of the magazine St. Anthony’s Messenger in Croatian, today known as Veritas. He was also an excellent preacher, speaker and writer of spiritual works.
The evening began with Mass at the Sv. Antuna Padovanskoga Basilica in Zagreb presided over by the Minister Provincial, Friar Miljenko HONTIĆ. Others attending included the Minister Provincial of the Friars Minor, Friar Milan KRIŠTO; Father Anton ŠULJIĆ, a member of the Croatian Society of Catholic Journalists; and friars from the local friary.
In his homily, Friar Miljenko said: “As we commemorate the life and work of Friar Ivon ĆUK, having heard this evening’s word of God, let us today ask ourselves, if we haven’t already done so: How does he impact our lives? What do we believe and live? How are we nourished? Moreover, how can we glorify the Lord in our lives? The answers to these questions will show us how much we have truly placed ourselves at God’s disposal, so that He might use us today to spread His love, His peace and His goodness in this world, and make it, at least, a little better and nobler—just as Friar Ivon did.”
After the Mass, the program continued in the Sv. Franje Asiškog Hall of the friary with a number of speeches.
Friar Ljudevit MARAČIĆ, Friar Ivon’s closest collaborator and his first successor on the editorial staff of Veritas, recalled: “Friar Ivon did not belong to a single diocese. He truly belonged to the whole Church in Croatia. Moreover, the whole Church saw him as a gift from God. He was a true journalist and editor. He was an artist with words and knew how to use various literary forms, always with great success. He didn’t hold back in his reporting, his interviews were very well prepared, his humorous contributions were very witty and his poetic expression was present even in his passages of prose. His theological analysis was easily understandable.”
Friar Ivan BRADARIĆ, the current Director of Veritas, talked about Friar Ivon’s rich written legacy and recalled what Friar Ivon said when he founded the magazine then called St. Anthony’s Messenger: “It is with great enthusiasm that we launch this magazine which carries the name of God and that of our beloved St. Anthony of Padua. Why? So that through this offering we may contribute to the glory of God and the honor of St. Anthony and offer spiritual support to our believers. St. Anthony traveled the world, preaching about the works of the Lord. He brought peace, comfort, kindness, conscience and joy.”
Mr. Neno KUŽINA, Vice-President of the Croatian Society of Catholic Journalists, recalled his own meetings with Friar Ivon: “I remember when Friar Ivon came to the friary in early 1973. During our frequent personal meetings, I paid attention to every word he said. He answered my questions and gave me advice. I grew up listening to him. He taught me that if I wanted to be a good journalist, my first job was not to believe everything I heard. I asked him to explain and he told me: ‘You have to check and verify everything.’ Friar Ivon, like some other priests, was a friend in the friary.”
The evening ended with refreshments in the friary hall.
Friar Zlatko VLAHEK, Provincial Secretary
