In October, the Postulator General and the Assistant General for the Centralis Europae Foederatio (CEF) made a joint visit to Croatia.
Friar Damian PĂTRAŞCU (Postulator) and Friar Miljenko HONTIĆ (Assistant General) stayed in Zagreb, Croatia, for the first stage of their journey (October 14-20, 2018) where they learned more about Friar Celestin TOMIĆ (1917-2006) who lived and died in the fame of sanctity.
On October 15-16, they met with the Minister Provincial Friar Josip BLAŽEVIĆ, who informed them of the Croatian friars’ wish to initiate a cause for the beatification of Friar TOMIĆ. This confrere was an illustrious professor and a humble friar. He greatly loved studying and teaching the Holy Scriptures in our seminaries and at the theological faculty in Zagreb. Many friars and priests remember him as almost being a new Saint Jerome of Dalmatia.
The visitors next went to the friary in Šibenik, where they met with Friar Augustin KORDIĆ. This confrere has been put in charge of gathering the documentation for this case and the preparations needed to open it. Despite his age, he has committed himself very ardently to this task, which the Provincial Chapter entrusted to him.
On October 17-20, both friars participated in celebrations commemorating St. Francis of Assisi’s passage through this area and the 800th anniversary of the first Franciscan church built in this country. The festivities were organized by Pastor Stipe BODRUŽIĆ, from the parish of St. Mary of the Angels in Trogir (Central Dalmatia).
On the evening of October 19, Friar Miljenko HONTIĆ presided over a final Mass, during which a relic of Saint Francis of Assisi was solemnly enshrined and a statue of the Seraphic Father, made for the occasion, was blessed. After the Mass there was a procession of the relic of St. Francis through the streets of Trogir, with the participation of many priests and faithful from the city and its surroundings.
Friar Damian PĂTRAŞCU and Friar Miljenko HONTIĆ
