Croatian community in New York celebrate Stepinčevo
- by croatiaweek
- in Entertainment
New York City, 13 February 2023 – The feast of Blessed Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac was celebrated on Sunday in the Croatian Parish Sts. Cyril & Methodius & St. Raphael’s Catholic Church in New York.
Fr. Iko Skoko led the Holy Mass at 9 a.m. in concelebration with the vicar, Fr. Lovro Šimić.
(Photo: Ane Strazicic Rodriguez)
In his sermon, Fr. Iko mentioned that they were celebrating the 125th anniversary of the birth of Cardinal Stepinac, the 70th anniversary of Pope XII including him in the College of Cardinals of the Catholic Church, and the 25th anniversary of his beatification by Pope St. John Paul II. in the Croatian Marian National Shrine of the Mother of God in Marija Bistrica on October 3, 1998.
(Photo: Ane Strazicic Rodriguez)
In the first part of the sermon, Fr. Iko emphasized the four values of the servant of God Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac, or as the Pope said points that are a compass for orientation: one – faith in God, two – respect for man and three – love for everyone up to forgiveness and unity with the Church headed by Peter’s successor.
(Photo: Ane Strazicic Rodriguez)
In the second part, he talked about the content of the letter that Cardinal Stepinac wrote to his sister Štefanija in 1953. In that letter, the Cardinal asked his sister not to allow herself to be overcome by hatred and revenge towards those who tortured her son while he was serving in the army. The cardinal writes to her that the characteristic of communists is that they hate, take revenge, rob and kill. He invited her to pray for those who tortured her son because they are the most unfortunate people in the world.
(Photo: Ane Strazicic Rodriguez)
(Photo: Ane Strazicic Rodriguez)
The solemn mass celebration at 11 a.m. was led by the Bishop of Krk, Msgr. Brother Ivica Petanjak. The procession passed through the center of the church led by ministers carrying a cross, candles and a censer, followed by youths of the parish in national costumes who are members of the Croatian School and Kolo group Kardinal Stepinac, and at the end the ministers.
(Photo: Ane Strazicic Rodriguez)
The parish choir sang at both masses. The parish priest Fr. Nikola Pašalić greeted everyone present and especially Bishop Petanjak. He emphasized that his arrival at Stepinčevo was important and a joy for all parishioners in New York.
(Photo: Ane Strazicic Rodriguez)
The parish priest’s welcoming words addressed to the Bishop were met by long applause by the parishioners. Young parishioners in national costumes read the Mass readings and the prayers of the faithful. In his instructive sermon, the bishop spoke about the life of Blessed Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac.
He highlighted two messages that should be learned from Stepinac. First, to learn to make important and good decisions in life. Blessed Alojzije Stepinac, after being wounded in the war and after serious thought and prayer, made the decision to become a priest. After that decision, he devoted himself to his calling without any doubt or hesitation. The bishop said that today a culture of “indecision” is being created, which is felt at every step, especially in the lives of young people who do not decide to get married, not even in front of the registrar.
(Photo: Ane Strazicic Rodriguez)
Second. learning to live the Gospel regardless of the political system in which to live. Blessed Alojzije Stepinca lived in several alternating regimes. He remained steadfast and unbreakable, trying to live the Gospel and testify that the greatest value is man.
(Photo: Ane Strazicic Rodriguez)
At the end of the Holy Mass, Fr. Nikola thanked the representatives of the diplomatic corps of the Republic of Croatia in the USA, Ambassador Pjero Šimunović, Consul General Nikica Kopačević, Consul Lidia Babić, the military envoy of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the UN Mr. Bruno Lekić and his wife for their arrival and participation in the mass.
(Photo: Ane Strazicic Rodriguez)
He thanked the bishop’s secretary, Fr. Josip Karabaić, Brother Ika Skoka, Brother Lovra Šimić, nuns Sr. Izabela Galić, Sr. Zdravka Širić and Sr. Mirela Kurevija and everyone who contributed in any way to the organization of the liturgy for Stepinčevo. Special thanks for coming and leading the Eucharistic celebration were given to the bishop, Msgr. Ivica Petanjak.
(Photo: Ane Strazicic Rodriguez)
The bishop thanked the priest Fr Nikola for the invitation. He was glad to see a full church of believers and invited them to pray for their country where they live, work and study, but also for their homeland.
(Photo: Ane Strazicic Rodriguez)
He asked the elders to pass on to their youth the love for the Motherland so that they know who they are and where their roots come from. Then he emphasized that they come to their homeland as much as they can.
(Photo: Ane Strazicic Rodriguez)
After the Holy Mass, the parish priest invited everyone to a banquet held in the hall below the church. There were about 500 guests at the banquet, for which the young members of the Kolo group Kardinal Stepinac group and children from the Croatian School performed an appropriate program. First, they sang the American and Croatian national anthems, and then danced several Croatian kolos, wanting to bring the Motherland closer.
(Photo: Ane Strazicic Rodriguez)
(Photo: Ane Strazicic Rodriguez)
At the end of the banquet, Fr. Nikola thanked everyone as well as the staff of LaFortune, owned by the Jere and Ojdane Kursar, who took care of the good Croatian food on offer. Viktor Šarić took care of the music, and the Croatian youth continued with the traditional Croatian kolo dances.
(Photo: Ane Strazicic Rodriguez)
(Photo: Ane Strazicic Rodriguez)
(Photo: Ane Strazicic Rodriguez)
At the end of the celebration, a raffle was held with the proceeds going to help finance the trip of the Kolo group Kardinal Stepinac to the Croatian Cultural Extravaganza of young Croats in America and Canada in Los Angeles.
(Photo: Ane Strazicic Rodriguez)
Text by Ane Strazicic Rodriguez
