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Stepinčevo celebrated in New York’s Croatian Catholic Church

Stepinčevo celebrated in New York's Croatian Catholic Church

(Photo credit: Croatian parish of St. Cyril and Methodius and St. Rafael)

by Srecko Mavrek

In New York, the Croatian parish of St. Cyril and Methodius and St. Rafael celebrated the memorial day of their heavenly patron, Alojzije Stepinac. 

The solemn Sunday mass celebration was led by Msgr. Ivan Ćurić, assistant bishop of Đakovo-Osijek, in concelebration with the parish priest Fr. Nikola Pašalić, Fr. Josip Tadić and Fr. Lovro Šimić, who was the master of ceremonies at the holy mass. 

The priest, Fr. Nikola, greeted the bishop, Mons. Ćurić, who gladly agreed to come from Đakovo here to New York, to lead the holy mass at Stepinčevo. Following the example of Blessed Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac, the bishop delivered a beautiful and appropriate sermon, encouraging all present to holiness and fraternal unity.

Stepinčevo celebrated in New York's Croatian Catholic Church

(Photo credit: Croatian parish of St. Cyril and Methodius and St. Rafael)

“We pray that God’s blessings descend upon our parish community, our Croatian families, and our homeland through the intercession of the Blessed One! Dear God, thank you for the wonderful celebration of Blessed Alojzije Stepinac’s Memorial Day in our parish of Saints Cyril and Methodius and Saint Raphael in Manhattan, New York,” they said on behalf of the Croatian parish in New York.

Stepinčevo celebrated in New York's Croatian Catholic Church

(Photo credit: Croatian parish of St. Cyril and Methodius and St. Rafael)

A holy mass was presided over by Don Josip Tadić, director of the Drina martyrs’ church construction project “Pearl on the Drina”. In New York, Don Josip met with many Croats who supported the construction of the church in Goražde. He thanked everyone for their contributions to this church’s building.

Stepinčevo celebrated in New York's Croatian Catholic Church

(Photo credit: Croatian parish of St. Cyril and Methodius and St. Rafael)

“May God, through the intercession of the blessed Drina martyrs, bless all who have feelings for the sacrifice of the Drina martyrs and for the church that is being constructed and will serve as a shrine to our blessed Drina martyrs as well as a place where we can make pilgrimages and pray to God for our life needs on a place where faith was witnessed with innocent blood,” Don Josip said.

Stepinčevo celebrated in New York's Croatian Catholic Church

(Photo credit: Croatian parish of St. Cyril and Methodius and St. Rafael)

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