American Croatian Congress becomes a global brand

(Photo: American Croatian Congress)

This past Friday, the American Croatian Congress had the opportunity to participate in a ceremony that brought together descendants of Croatians from several South American countries.

It took place online, on the BAR CROATA Podcast from Rosario, Argentina, a program that started as RADIO BAR CROATA 19 years ago.

Editor-in-chief, Professor Javier Santich, along with his colleagues Faustina Zarich and Ivan Grbac, volunteers every Friday to create a program that is followed not only in Argentina but across all continents.

People from various South American countries join the chat, and it’s not uncommon to receive greetings from distant places like Australia, North America, and Europe.

BAR CROATA has its correspondents, also volunteers, like Patricija Avila Kuljis from La Paz, Bolivia, and Branka Bezić Filipović from Split, Croatia, who is particularly beloved in South America.

They connect with other volunteers from the emigrant community. So, this past Friday, on the BAR CROATA program, Nada Pritisanac Matulich, president of the American Croatian Congress, presented 15 memberships, with the assistance of Branka Bezić Filipović, to the global Croatian emigrant family.

Pritisanac Matulich explained that the American Croatian Congress is a nonprofit organization founded in California, composed of volunteers from all continents. Its goal is to network and connect emigrants, advocate for their rights, and organize projects in areas such as culture, education, sports, and economy.

One of the leading programs of the Congress, the Project of prominent Croatian and Croatian emigrants’ ties, has been presented on three continents, in 14 locations in Croatia, and worldwide within just eight months.

Last summer, the American Croatian Congress participated in the Croatian World Games in Zagreb, gathering descendants of Croatians from all 50 U.S. states and winning the highest number of medals among all participating countries in HSI 2023, totaling 25 (10 gold, 10 silver, and 5 bronze).

The Congress does not charge membership fees and relies on its members’ contributions to fund projects, with the fulfillment of their plans being their greatest reward.

The program, conducted in a solemn atmosphere, was opened by Professor Javier Santich, who, along with his colleagues Faustina Zarich and Ivan Grbac, was also admitted to the Congress, as well as their BAR CROATA.

From Argentina, Adriana Smajic and Joza Vrljicak from Buenos Aires also received memberships, known to all as active members of the Croatian community and editors of the magazine ‘Studia Croatica,’ available online for many years.

Alongside them, Pablo Rendich, a prominent figure from Buenos Aires, Merlo Municipality, who is always available whenever something Croatian needs to be done, received a membership. Catalina Lonac, the honorary consul of the Republic of Croatia in Tucuman, and her University, San Pablo, also received memberships.

Collaboration with Catalina Lonac dates back to 2005 when she welcomed Hajduk veterans with Branka Bezić Filipović. Jose Raul Ban from the Middle Agricultural School in Venada Tuerta, whose students visited Split University College Aspira in November 2023, also joined us.

New members from other South American countries were then admitted, such as director Juan Manuel Ostoja from Lima, Peru. He and his University, San Ignacio de Loyola, a partner institution of the Split University College Aspira, received memberships. Lucas De la Torre Damianovic from Punta Arenas, Chile, a young professor and librarian of the Croatian House, also joined.

Finally, there were journalist Ines Pereyra Rivero from Montevideo, instrumental in presenting the Project of prominent Croatian and Croatian emigrants’ ties in November at the oldest and most prestigious theater in South America, the National Theater Solis, and her aunt Elena Rivero Vidovich, a painter and restorer, who donated one of her artistic paintings, acrylic on canvas, to the Project.

A touching moment occurred when descendants of Croatians from Argentina, Uruguay, Peru, and Chile appeared on the screen simultaneously, alongside Nada Pritisanac Matulich from San Pedro, California, and Branka Bezić Filipović from Split, Croatia.

This unity was worth the effort and demonstrated that we must not

falter but continue to devise new projects and opportunities to connect Croatians from Croatia and descendants of Croatians from all over the world because, as they often emphasize in South America, “blood is thicker than water.” And with achieved unity through networking, the results are unquestionable.