Pastorial Staff - Medjugorje-mir,mir,mir

Parish staff 2011

Parish priest:     Friar Marinko Šakota

Parish vicars:     Fr Viktor Kosir, OFM
                                Fr Svetozar Kraljevic, OFM
                       Fr Karlo Lovric, OFM
                          Fr Zoran Ostojic, OFM
                            Fr Danko Perutina, OFM
                              Fr Tomislav Pervan, OFM
                           Fr Miljenko Šteko, OFM                        
                      Friar Slaven Brekalo

             Lay Brother:      Br. Josip Marija Katalinic, OFM

Friar Marinko Šakota was born in Čitluk on July 12th 1968. He completed his Elementary school in Čitluk, as well as the first grade of High school.
That is the time he felt vocation and decided to join Franciscan order, so he moved to Franciscan Seminary in Visoko where he finished second grade, and the other two he had completed at Jesuit Grammar School in Dubrovnik, where he had also graduated.
He put on his Franciscan habit on July 15th, 1987 in Humac where he stayed for one year of the Novitiate. From 1988 to 1989, he served in Yugoslav People’s Army. He started his study of philosophy and theology in Sarajevo at Franciscan Theology College (1989 -1990), continued to study in Zagreb at Jesuit College (1990-1992) and completed and graduated in his bachelor’s degree in Fulda, Germany (1992-1995). He gave his solemn vows in Široki Brijeg in 1993.
He was ordained as deacon in Zagreb on February 10th, 1996, and ordained as a priest in Frohnleiten on July 13th, 1996.
His first service was Franciscan Monastery in Innsbruck where he helped out for one year from 1996 to 1997, and then he was spiritual assistant in Frohnleiten from 1997 to 1998, and chaplain in Augsburg from 1998 to 2000. He was chaplain in Mostar from 2000 to 2003, and parish priest in Gradnici from 2003 to 2010. He is in Medjugorje since September 2010 as a chaplain. After parish priest,Fr. Petar Vlasic,died, the new parish priest is Fr. Marinko Šakota.

Fr. Viktor Kosir, OFM, was born on February 16, 1938, in Uzarici, where he finished primary school. He attended secondary school in Split and Visoko. He received his Franciscan habit on July 14, 1957. He studied theology in Sarajevo and ljubljana (Slovenia). He was ordained a priest on May 2nd, 1965. As catechist, he served in Mostar, as a Parish priest in Vitina, Posušje, Posuški Gradac and Široki Brijeg, and as Parish vicar on two occasions in Medjugorje. Since 1994, he has been serving in Medjugorje, mostly as minister of the sacrament of reconciliation.  

Fr. Danko Perutina was born in 1970 in Sarajevo. On completion of his elementary and secondary schooling, he entered the Franciscan Order in Herzegovina. After his Novitiate, he studied theology in Zagreb.
He was ordained a priest in Norval (Canada) in 1999. He served as chaplain and assistant to the Master of the seminarians in Humac from September 1999 to March 2001, and as chaplain in Medjugorje from March 2001 to October 2002. Then, from October 2002 to October 2005, he studied Mariology in Rome, where he post-graduated from the Marianum Pontifical Faculty of Theology with the theme: "The Virgin Mary in intellectual and spiritual education". He served as assistant to the Novice master and master of postulants since June 2005, became a member of the Council for education and formation in August 2005, and was also a member of the Administration of the "Merciful Father" Community since May 2006. He currently serves as chaplain to Medjugorje since his reappointment in August 2007.

Fr. Karlo Lovric was born on December 12, 1941, in Uzarici, where he attended the elementary school. He continued his classes at the school in Siroki Brijeg. In 1957, he entered the Seminary and attended the classic college, first in Sinj and then at the Jesuit Classic College in Dubrovnik, where he made his baccalaureate. After he had completed his military service, he received the Franciscan habit and entered the noviciate in Humac, in 1963.
He studied philosophy and theology in Visoko and Sarajevo, and then in Königstein near Frankfurt a.M., where he graduated and was ordained a priest on June 29, 1968.
From 1969 to 1971, he was a spiritual assistant in Humac/Ljubuški, from August 1971 to the end of the year in KHM Zürich, and from 1972 to 1980, he was the founder and in charge of the Croatian Catholic Mission St. Gallen in Switzerland. From October 1980 to 1982, he was the Pastor in Siroki Brijeg. From September 1982 to December 1988, he was again in Switzerland, where he founded and led the Croatian Catholic Mission Lausanne. From 1988 to the end of January 2005, he was in charge of the Croatian Catholic Mission Zürich. In Switzerland, he was the National delegate for the Croatian Catholic Missions in Switzerland from 1989 to 2001, as well as the Provincial delegate from 1999 to 2001.
He came to Medjugorje in May 2005, and he is serving as a spiritual assistant.

Fr. Svetozar Kraljevic, OFM, was born on September 14, 1951 in Kocerin, near Široki Brijeg. He attended primary school in Kocerin, Seminary in Split, and completed his noviciate in Humac and his military service in Zrenjanin and Priština. He studied Theology in Sarajevo, Zagreb and Washington DC (USA). He was ordained a priest in Chicago (USA) in 1977. As priest, he served in USA (Milwaukee, New York), and in Humac, Konjic, Mostar and Široki Brijeg. He has been in Medjugorje since 1997.

Fr. Zoran Ostojic, OFM, was born on August 23, 1914 in Medjugorje. He attended primary school in Medjugorje and secondary school in Široki Brijeg. He received his Franciscan habit in 1933. He studied theology in Rome. He was ordained a priest in 1939. He served in the USA form 1950 to 1990. He has been serving in the parish of Medjugorje as a confessor since 1990.

Fr. Tomislav Pervan, OFM, was born on November 8, 1946, in Citluk. Elementary school in Citluk, Franciscan secondary school and little seminary in Visoko (in Bosnia), baccalaureate and reception of the Franciscan habit in 1964. Studies of philosophy and theology at the Franciscan Theology in Sarajevo and the Franciscan Theology in Schwaz (Austria). Ordered a priest in Austria on November 21, 1969. From 1970 to 1972, catechist and educator of the young Franciscans at Humac. Post-graduate studies in Germany and in Austria, doctorate in theology in 1976 at the University of Graz, Austria. From 1977 to 1982, educator of young Franciscans, catechist and vicar at Humac (Ljubuski), from 1982 to 1988, parish priest in Medjugorje. Within the framework of the Province, since 1988 - in charge of the training and education of the young Franciscans, since 1990 - Vicar of the Province, from 1994 to 2001 - provincial of the Franciscans of Herzegovina. Again in Medjugorje since May 2003.

Fr. Miljenko Šteko was born 1969 in Tomislavgrad. On completion of both the elementary and secondary school cycles, he entered the Franciscan Order. After his Novitiate, he studied philosophy in Zagreb (Jesuit Faculty), theology in Bologna (Italy), and post-graduate studies at the Franciscan AntonianumPontifical University in Rome. He subsequently obtained a doctorate in spirituality at the Teresianum Pontifical University, also in Rome.
He was ordained a priest in 1996 in Frohnleiten (Austria). He served in Humac, Posušje and Zagreb. Within the Province, as Secretary for formation and studies, he was educator of the seminarians, novices and students of theology. For several years, he was president of the Commission for formation and for studies at the Croatian Conference of Higher religious superiors, in addition to his membership of other Councils and Commissions. In April 2007, he was elected Vicar of the Herzegovinian Franciscan Province. He now serves in Medjugorje since his new appointment as parish chaplain in August 2007.

Friar Slaven Brekalo was born in Mostar in 1978. He put on his Franciscan habit on July 15th, 2003 in Humac, Monastery of St. Anthony. He studied theology at Catholic Faculty of Theology in Zagreb. He gave his solemn vows on September 21st, 2008 in the parish of St. Francis in Bukovica (Tomislavgrad). He was ordained as a priest in 2010 in Mostar church of St. Peter and Paul, on the feast of St. Peter and Paul. He works in Medjugorje as a parish vicar.

Br. Josip Marija Katalinic, OFM, was born on November 22, 1952 in Pepelana near Virovitica, where he also attended primary school. He entered the Franciscan noviciate in 1989 in Humac, where he made his final vows on September 17, 1994. He was serving in Franciscan monasteries in Mostar and Široki Brijeg. Since July 20, 2002, he has been serving in Medjugorje.