“May my prayer be set before you like incense.” (Psalm 141:2)

On Sunday, May 26th, the Croatian Mission officially opened their second Mission House which is located in Prozorjie, near the capital city of Zagreb. The Mission House is home to the Reconciliation Center of the Precious Blood of Christ.

For the joyful celebration, the chapel of the Precious Blood of Christ was blessed and dedicated by Josip Cardinal Bozanić, the Archbishop of Zagreb, who celebrated Eucharist with many concelebrants and a large congregation. Present were many friends from neighboring parishes, animators and members of the Union of the Blood of Christ and others who share in the spirituality of the Precious Blood.

For the occasion, Cardinal Bozanić brought a relic of the Blessed Aloysius Stepinac, Croatian martyr, and installed it in the altar of the chapel. In his homily the Cardinal preached his hope for all “to grow in our love for God who loves us immensely. That is the miracle of God’s love. It is the Precious Blood of Christ.  It is a mystery that our mind can never understand, but the heart understands it if it opens to God.”

He thanked the Director of Croatian Mission, Rev. Ilija Grgic C.PP.S, and prayed for “the Croatian Mission to grow and bloom to become a province as soon as possible.”

Along with the C.PP.S. priests of the Croatian Mission, Rev. Willi Klein from the Teutonic Province was in attendance. Fr Willi is responsible for the presence of the Missionaries in Croatia. Also present was Rev. Wojciech Czernatowicz, C.PP.S, Provincial Director of the Polish Province. The Rev. Emanuele Lupi, C.PP.S, vice-moderator of the Missionaries, preached a day of prayer the previous day. During the dedication, Fr. Lupi also symbolically handed over the keys of the Mission House to Cardinal Bozanić. On the keys were the symbol of the Congregation and the Croatian coat of arms.