OSNIVANJE PRVIH KATOLIČKIH ŽUPA U OSIJEKU ZA VRIJEME KOMUNISTIČKOGA REŽIMA U JUGOSLAVIJI
FOUNDING CATHOLIC PARISHES IN OSIJEK DURING THE COMMUNIST REGIME IN YUGOSLAVIA

Summary/Abstract: The establishment of the communist government in Yugoslavia meant for the Catholic Church the suppression of its activities, the abuse of its members and great financial difficulties. The communist regime tried to repress the work of the Church, but the Church continued her work, especially at the parish level. The City of Osijek had three parishes that became too large for systematic pastoral care due to the rapid expansion of the city in the early 1960s. In 1961, bishop Bäuerlein decided to found two new parishes in two city districts, in the Industrial District and Retfala. It was extremely challenging to found the new parishes due to the lack of funds, the settlements of the new parishes were already built and there was no space to build the churches, and the city authorities tried to block the Church at every step. However, through patient and persistent efforts of the new parish priests, Rev. Nikola Kerčov and Rev. Željko Pavličić, with the cooperation of their parishioners and with the help of religious sisters, these parishes successfully started their work.

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