Parish of St. James the Apostle – Medjugorje

• Parish priest: Fr. Petar Vlašić, OFM
• Parish vicars:
  • Fr. Viktor Kosir, OFM
  • Fr. Svetozar Kraljević, OFM
  • Fr. Karlo Lovrić, OFM
  • Fr. Stjepan Martinović, OFM
  • Fr. Zoran Ostojić, OFM
  • Fr. Danko Perutina
  • Fr. Tomislav Pervan, OFM
  • Fr. Miljenko Šteko, OFM
• Deacon: Fr Vjekoslav Milićević, OFM
• Lay Brother: Br. Josip Marija Katalinić, OFM

Fr. Petar Vlašić, OFM, was born on July 19, 1938, in Sovići-Gorica, where he finished primary school. He attended secondary school in Zagreb. He received his Franciscan habit in Humac, July 14th, 1962. He made his solemn vows on July 15th, 1966. He studied in Ljubljana (Slovenia) and in Sarajevo, and was ordained a priest on October 11th, 1966. He served in Humac, Rasno, Kongora, Posušje, Ljuti Dolac, Mostar, Široki Brijeg, Blagaj and Medjugorje, where he has been serving since 1999 as parish vicar. Fr. Petar Vlašić was also member of the Council of the Herzegovinian Franciscan Province.

Fr. Viktor Kosir, OFM, was born on February 16, 1938, in Uzarići, 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 Međugorje. Since 1994, he has been serving in Medjugorje, mostly as minister of the sacrament of reconciliation.

Fr. Svetozar Kraljević, OFM, was born on September 14, 1951 in Kočerin, near Široki Brijeg. He attended primary school in Kočerin, 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. 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. Stjepan Martinovic was born on 18.04.1961 in Kutina (Croatia). He finished the elementary school in Kocerin and the secondary school in Siroki Brijeg. He received the Franciscan habit in Humac (Ljubuski) in 1987. He studied theology in Sarajevo, Zagreb and Assisi (Italy). He was ordained a priest on 10.07.1994. He was serving as a parish vicar during 2 years in Humac and during 4 years in Cerin, and he was pastor in Klobuk during five years. He is in Medjugorje since autumn 2005.

Fr. Zoran Ostojić, 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.

Fra 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. 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 Antonianum Pontifical 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.

Br. Josip Marija Katalinić, 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.