The 176-page biography vividly depicts the holiness and Spartan lifestyle of Fr Ante Gabrić, whom Mother Teresa (now St Teresa of Calcutta) hailed as the “living love of Jesus.” Fr Ante’s tomb at Maria Palli has become a place of pilgrimage, which people of all faiths visit to pray for his intercession. To Croatians and to the faithful of Baruipur Diocese, he’s already a saint. He set sail for India on October 20, 1938, at 23. On October 20, 1988, exactly fifty years later, he breathed his last at Mariapalli parish, which he had founded on January 20, 1975.
Category: Religion
Croatian – Indian Links, monograph marking 30 years of diplomatic relations 1992-2022
The publication Croatian-Indian Links: Thirty Chapters for Thirty Years of Diplomatic Relations (1992-EUR”2022) marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between and India and Croatia and highlights a legacy in which the contributions of our writers, scholars, artists, travellers, politicians are unified in one volume. Some chapters in the volume present certain important individuals and others present some themes or groups of individuals. Preparing this publication was suggested by H. E. Mr. Raj Kumar Srivastava, ambassador of India to Croatia (on the photo).
Blessed Easter Greetings from the city of Solin, Croatia
The city of Solin, near the city of Split, sends us a wonderful Easter greeting in the form of a traditional Croatian song “Puče moj” ( My People , or Populus meus in Latin). It is interpreted in a contemporary way by the choir of Veritas aeterna (Eternal Truth) in the church of sv. Obitelji (Sacred Family) in Solin. Arranged by Antonio Grkeš, the soloists are Ante Mlikota, Ana Dobrijević, Antonio Grkeš, Doruntina Qivlaku. The Croatian original verses are translated into English. We also provide a very nice traditional Croatian melody for “Psalm 51” arranged by Ivanski from Kaštel Sućurac (in the vicitnty of Split).
Miracle from Dubrovnik on the 1049th St Vlaho Festivity 2021
The aim of the article is to show just several details from the city of Dubrovnik during the festivity of Sveti Vlaho (St. Blaise), with a special emphasis on children. The festival is organized each February for more than thosand years – precisely 1049. This event connects all the citizens of Dubrovnik with numerous families from the environing towns and villages in picturesque local very solemn dresses, as well as tourists. Dubrovnik is considered as one of the most beautiful cities on the Mediterranean.
Our Lady of the Stone Gate in Croatia's capital Zagreb
The scholarly educational film Our Lady of the Stone Gate in Zagreb , prepared by Dr. Hrvojka Mihanović Salopek, shows the historical veneration of the Mother of God in Zagreb and presents a cultural travelogue through the oldest and most beautiful shrines in Zagreb. The film presents valuable images of Our Lady, as well as statues stored in Zagreb museums. Special attention is paid to rare books and manuscripts preserved in the Metropolitan Library of the Archdiocese of Zagreb, National and University Library and the Museum of the City of Zagreb and to the recitation of old verses.
Maxo Vanka film to be made | American Sistine Chapel
Society to Preserve the Millvale Murals of Maxo Vanka has the following mission: to conserve and protect for permanent public exhibition the nationally recognized Maxo Vanka Murals within St. Nicholas Croatian Catholic Church in Pittsburgh, enabling the immigrant artist’s “gift to America” to serve as an enduring catalyst for community engagement and education, inspire social and cultural dialogue, celebrate diversity, and forge connections through reflections on the extraordinary American experience. Murals by Maxo Vanka are not just Croatian cultural heritage. Unique. One and only. The planned film should have been done 50 years ago.
Damjan Rodin 1910-1968 Croatian priest in Brasil founder of Vila Croacia in Rio de Janeiro
Damjan Rodin was one of the first Croatian priests to move to Brazil after the Second World War, where he organised the religious and community life of the ethnic Croatian community in Sao Paulo. In Rio de Janeiro he continued his important work for Croatians and Brazilians. He was born in the Šibenik hinterland (in the town of Prvić Luka on the island of Prvić) and moved to Brazil in 1947, working as parish priest in Sao Paulo. He raised a favela in Rio de Janeiro now known as Vila Croacia, part of the Senador Camara district.
Akiane Kramarik spirituality of painting
Akiane Kramarik: “…Realizing that nobody, except for my mother, cherished my work, I became more and more disillusioned. One time I threw my painting in the rain outside. And as it was landing into the puddle someone caught it. Just in time. It was my mother. Out of breath she shared something, ‘Last night I had a strange dream. I saw thousands of people waiting for your art. The line stretched all the way to the horizon.’ ” At the age of 4 she started dreaming about God, indicating that God inspired her to start painting and writing poetry about Him. She has dedicated her life to God and is focused on making the world a better place.
Kresimir Cosic 1948-1995 the first European basketball player with major career in the USA
Krešmir Ćosić (1948-1995) is one of the greatest Croatian basketball players in history. As a player of height 211 cm, he was equally successful on any of the five postitions in a team, a rare quality in 1970s. He has won gold medal at the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow, for the then ex-Yu (of which Croatia was one of six constituent republics). He also has gold medals from the 1970 and 1978 Basketball World Championships and many other trophies. Krešo always carried a bag of books with him… In 1990s, he worked in the United States as a diplomat (deputy ambassador) at the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in Washington, D.C. In 1996, he was posthumously inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Kristian Krekovic connecting India and Croatia via his 1936 portrait of Mahatma Gandhi
Distinguished Croatian painter Kristian Kreković (1901-1985) portrayed Mahatma Gandhi in his atelier in Paris in 1936, while Gandhi was meditating there. The portrait is kept in the Gallery of Kreković ( Museu Kreković ) in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. Two panneaus containing Ghandi’s portrait have been presented in Dec 2019 to the Embassy of India in Zagreb and to the Croatian – Indian Society. This was a gift of the Society of the Friends of the Glagolitic Script, and the solemn event took place in the Napredak hall in Zagreb, during the intercofessional Christmas meeting organized by the Croatian – Indian Society, directed by Mr Joginder Singh Nijjar.
Hrvojka Mihanovic-Salopek: Veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Diocese of Gospić-Senj
We often travel to the Adriatic coast through the spacious, desolate, forested and mountainous expanses of Lika, without being aware that there used to be a highly developed center of medieval Croatian culture and Glagolitic scriptoria. Although the brutal Ottoman invasions wrought devastation, we are attracted to the residual traces of the original old Croatian civilization. This is Hrvojka Mihanovic-Salopek’s 11th DVD from the series Stella Maris of Croatia (Croatian Mariological heritage).
Hrvojka Mihanovic Salopek presenting Croatian Mariological Heritage of the Varazdin Bishopric
Dr. Hrvojka Mihanović-Salopek prepared already her tenth DVD covering various aspects of extremely rich mariological heritage among Croatians. This DVD refers to the Varaždin Bishopric on Croatian north. Numerous baroque churches, lavishly decorated by Ivan Ranger and other Baroque artists, provide a special touch into the architecture of the city of Varaždin and surrounding towns and villages. A special emphasis is placed on the natural beauties of the region, liturgical and folk melodies, as well as on centuries old Croatian literature.
Zagreb AdvEnt Days among the most interesting in Europe
The Zagreb Advent Days are among the most beautiful events of this kind in Europe, accompanied with a peaceful mood, specific music, domastic food, and unusual sceneries in richly decorated Croatia’s capital. In the recent years, Zagreb was voted the best Christmas place in Europe. On the photo the advent wreath created by members of the OZANA Association for persons in need.
Hrvojka Mihanovic Salopek presenting Croatian Mariological Heritage of the Sisak Bishopric
Veneration of Mary, Mother of Mercy, in the city of Sisak near Croatia’s capital Zagreb is the ninth film in the series Digital Recording of the Croatian Mariological Heritage, under the auspices of the Committee for Education, Science and Culture of the Croatian Parliament and the Council for Culture of the Croatian Conference of Bishops. The project leader, scenarist and director is Hrvojka Mihanović-Salopek, Ph.D, who deserves our deep gratitude for her excellent work, as well as the producers, Alojzije Prosoli and Krešimir Renzo Prosoli. On the photo two angels from the Sisak bishopric.
Mother Teresa proclaimed a saint in 2016 and her connections with Croatia
Saint Mother Teresa was deeply connected with Croatian people. Croatian Jesuits stand at the beginning of her spiritual path, and her close collaborator in India was Ante Gabric, SJ, Croatian missionary and a good spirit of Bengal. In 1995, in Kolkata, she obtained an official Croatian passpoirt from the then Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia dr. Drago Stambuk, as an authorized representative of the Republic of Croatia for Humanitarian Aid . Saint Mother Teresa had spiritual speaches in Croatian language in the Zagreb Cathedral on several occasions. The photo on the left is from her Croatian passport. We also provide some anthological photos of Mother Teresa by Zvonimir Atletić, distinguished Croatian photographer.
St Leopold Bogdan Mandic Croatian saint visited Croatia in April 2016
St Leopold Bogdan Mandic (1866-1942, memorial day 30th July) was born in Herceg Novi in Boka kotorska, and died in Padova, Italy. Physically malformed and delicate, having height only 1m 35cm, with clumsy walk and stuttering, he developed tremendous spiritual strength. Although he wanted to be missionary in Eastern Europe, he spent almost all of his adult life in Italy, and lived in Padova from 1906 until the end of his life. He spent also one year in Italian prison during the WWI, since he did not want to renounce his Croatian nationality.
Pavo Jurisic published an important monograph about 50 years of pastoral care among Croats of Melbourne
The monograph And the hand of the Lord was with them / Celebrating 50 Years of Pastoral Care among Croats of Melbourne , written by Dr Pavo Jurišić, is dedicated to Croatian immigrants in Australia, especially those in Melbourne who lived their faith and represented their homeland, and to their fellow countrymen in Australia, their new homeland which accepted them and gave them shelter.
Anna Givargizyan exhbited her photos of Armenian khachkars in Dubrovnik Croatia in Feb 2016
The photo collection of khachkars, Armenian stone crosses, has been prepared by Dr Anna Givargizyan, an Armenian living in Moscow. The exhibition lasted from the February 2nd to March 3rd 2016, and was held in the hall of the Society of Friends of the Dubrovnik Antiquities . Except Dr Givarigizyen, in the solemn opening of the exhibition participated Armenian archbishop Kegham Katcherian, the Dubrovnik bishop Mate Uzinić, Croatian historian Dr Vinicije Lupis and Mrs Naira Asatryan, who is a pianist living in Dubrovnik and is the founder of the Croatian-Armenian Friendship Society in the city.
Traditional celebration in Subotica Prelo sicanja to be organized on 7th February 2016
CROWN is very proud to announce a traditional celebration of Prelo 2016 in the city of Subotica. The whole region of Bačka where the city is situated is one of the trademarks of Croatian culture, especially via beautiful songs and dances of Bunjevci Croatians in Bačka. At the beginning of the 20th century, the city of Subotica was the largest Croatian city (larger than Croatian capital Zagreb). Also, the oldest Croatian soccer club called Bačka has been founded there, and its trademark was the Croatian Coat of Arms. The celebration of P relo sićanja starts on 7th Feb 2016 at 5pm near the Franciscan church and continues at the Croatian Cultural Center Bunjevačko kolo at 7pm. Traditional Bunjevci suits are obligatory.
Zdravko Basaric's conversation with Rabbi Kotel Da-Don in Zagreb for Wall Street International
Zdravko Basarić had the honour of speaking to the spiritual leader of the Jewish community Bet Israel in Croatia, Rabi Dr Kotel Da-Don.Rabi Da-Don drew a comparison between Israel and Croatia. “Both are Mediterranean countries; throughout their history both Croats and Israelis have fought for their Independence, both have a large number of emigrants all over the world and are classified as countries with small territories”. Rabi Kotel Da-Don likes to say that Israel is his home, and Croatia is his house.