110 years of existence celebrated by Croatian Parish in New York

The Croatian Parish of St. Cyril and Methodius and St. Raphael in New York celebrated its 110th anniversary on Sunday, October 22, 2023. The Thanksgiving Mass was led by Father Marko Puljić, the Custos of the Custody for the USA and Canada. Father Marko had been a chaplain and later the parish priest in our New York parish, so he received a warm welcome and gratitude from the crowded church of parishioners who came to celebrate this significant day for all Croatian immigrants from New York and the East Coast of America. In his sermon, Father Marko emphasized the importance of surrendering oneself to God and remaining in His presence, which has been the main task of this Croatian parish and any Catholic parish around the world for over a hundred and ten years. The Croatian Franciscan Friars of the Holy Family have played a significant role in building the community of parish and family life, and Father Marko expressed his gratitude to all the parishioners, friars, and sisters who have contributed to the life of the parish. He also thanked those who have helped build the Croatian community in neighboring churches in Astoria and New Jersey. Father Nikola Pašalić, the parish priest, addressed the faithful with gratitude and reflected on the history of the parish and the many friars, sisters, and parishioners who have dedicated their lives to serving the Croatian community. He expressed hope that future generations would continue the legacy of the parish and its commitment to promoting Croatian culture and language. After the Mass, there was a celebration in the Grand Parish Hall, featuring performances by the children of the Croatian School Cardinal Stepinac and the Folk Dance Group Cardinal Stepinac. The celebration continued with a feast showcasing Croatian wines and delicacies prepared by the staff of the Croatian catering place LaFortuna.

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