Suzana FANTOV
Last Saturday February 8th, during the Jubilee Holy Year, this year’s commemoration of Blessed Alojzije Stepinac’s memorial day commenced with a gathering of pilgrims outside St. Nicholas Tavelić Church in Clifton Hill. Numerous faithful from various Croatian Catholic centres and communities attended, many proudly donning traditional Croatian costumes while carrying church banners and the Croatian tricolour. Together, they followed the cross, their route marked by songs and prayers as they made their way towards the magnificent St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
After a 3‐km walk—during which they prayed the rosary and sang uplifting hymns—the pilgrims reached their destination in the cathedral courtyard, where they assembled before the statue of Blessed Alojzije Stepinac. Their arrival was celebrated with the melodic accompaniment of young folk dancers representing Croatian folklore groups from both Melbourne and Geelong. The cathedral, filled with a palpable sense of unity and special energy, became the setting for a solemn Mass presided over by Auxiliary Bishop Anthony John Ireland. The Mass was concelebrated by Fr. Vedran Lešić—who has been organising this traditional celebration at Melbourne’s cathedral for several years—alongside Msgr. Bosiljko Rajić, Fr. Velimir Maglica, and Fr. Tomislav Mlakić, the substitute parish priest at the Croatian Catholic Centre Sunshine.
Enhancing the celebration was the church choir, comprising singers from various Croatian Catholic centres. Their performance enriched the Mass, which was celebrated bilingually in Croatian and English.
In his homily, Bishop Anthony Ireland reflected on the Gospel account of the miraculous catch of fish, emphasising God’s tangible presence, grace, and readiness to impart His word. He encouraged all those present to reflect on their own lives, reminding them that there is no need to fear when God is with us. The bishop also highlighted the steadfast faith and courage that characterised Blessed Stepinac, urging the congregation to draw inspiration from his life.
Fr. Lešić expressed his gratitude to everyone who had contributed to the celebration, acknowledging the many faithful who had embraced this encounter with God. He paid special tribute to two young altar servers from the Croatian Catholic Centre Springvale, Luis and Felix, for their participation in the Mass.
In a gesture of appreciation towards his fellow priests and the bishop, Fr. Lešić presented Bishop Ireland with a book entitled The Lord’s Hand Was Upon Them. The bishop then shared two personal anecdotes from his life and recounted his encounters with Croatians, relating their fateful journeys to Australia. He urged the faithful to remain thankful for their new homeland.
Following the blessing, the assembled crowd at the 24th traditional celebration of Stepinac Day at St. Patrick’s Cathedral enjoyed a performance of “Lord, I Need You” by the folk dancers, staged in front of the cathedral. This final act, carried out under the intercession of Blessed Stepinac, once again affirmed the Croatian community’s unity, strength, and the continual growth of their faith