Commemoration of the 150th Anniversary of the Birth of Father Gerard Tomo Stantić

The 150th anniversary of the birth of Carmelite Father Gerard Tomo Stantić, the only candidate for beatification and canonization from the Diocese of Subotica, was commemorated over the weekend through a series of religious and scientific gatherings. Media outlets broadcasting in Croatian in Vojvodina reported on Monday that these events are expected to contribute to the canonization cause.

The two-day commemoration marking the 150th anniversary of the birth of the Servant of God, Carmelite Father Gerard Tomo Stantić (1876–1956), began with a scientific symposium in Subotica. A formal academy was held at the Cathedral of St. Teresa of Avila, and the central celebration concluded on Sunday with a Eucharistic celebration at the Parish of St. Joseph the Worker in Đurđin, the birthplace of the Servant of God, Fr. Gerard Tomo Stantić.

Tomo Stantić, whose religious name was Gerard, was born in Đurđin near Subotica. He is remembered as the founder of the Carmelite Order in these regions (1904) and as the person who laid firm foundations for the subsequent arrival of the Carmelites in Croatia. Serving for more than fifty years in Sombor, he earned a reputation as a highly esteemed spiritual leader and protector of the sick. Because he served in a multi-ethnic and multi-confessional environment, Fr. Gerard was recognized as a spiritual director open to every person, regardless of faith or nationality.

The goal of the scientific gathering was to better and more objectively study the life of Fr. Gerard, his writings, the historical framework, as well as the testimonies of his virtue and reputation for holiness within the context of the cause for his beatification and canonization.

During the symposium, church and academic figures from Croatia and Serbia addressed various aspects of Stantić's life in their presentations: Dr. Ivan Pleše, OCD; Prof. Dr. Franjo Podgorelec, OCD; Dr. Dario Tokić, OCD; Prof. Dr. Jure Zečević, OCD; Master of Science József Szakály; Monsignor Stjepan Beretić; Dr. Monsignor Andrija Anišić; Master of Theology Very Reverend Daniel Katačić; and Professor Katarina Čeliković.

The anniversary program continued with a formal academy at the Cathedral of St. Teresa of Avila. The organizers of the anniversary program were the Diocese of Subotica, the Institute for Culture of Vojvodina Croats, and the Croatian Carmelite Province of Saint Father Joseph.

Participants in the program included the children's choir "Raspjevane zvjezdice" (Singing Stars) of the Croatian Music Association, the spiritual music group (VIS) "Ritam vjere" (Rhythm of Faith), children from Đurđin, the Antunović family from Sombor, Marija Kovač, poet Marica Mukrut, the choir of the Parish of St. Roch, and the tamburica orchestra of the Croatian Music Association "Festival bunjevački pisama". They all performed appropriate songs written in honor of Fr. Gerard.

On this occasion, a short film about the life of Fr. Gerard Tomo Stantić, filmed by members of the Subotica Oratory, was also screened.

The central celebration of the 150th anniversary of the birth of the Servant of God, Fr. Gerard Tomo Stantić, concluded on Sunday with a Eucharistic celebration at the Parish of St. Joseph the Worker in Đurđin. The Mass was led by the Archbishop of Split-Makarska, Monsignor Zdenko Križić, in concelebration with the Bishop of the Subotica Diocese, Franjo Fazekas, the parish priest of Fr. Gerard's birthplace, Very Reverend Daniel Katačić, and numerous priests and religious brothers of the Croatian Carmelite Province of Saint Father Joseph, the Archdiocese of Split-Makarska, and the Diocese of Subotica.

Prior to the Mass itself, a memorial plaque was unveiled and blessed as a lasting memory of this event. As inscribed on it, the plaque was erected by the grateful people of Đurđin.

"May the saintly figure and work of the Servant of God, Father Gerard, be an encouragement for all of us to strive, like him, to remain faithful to God throughout our lives. Father Gerard is not only a source of pride for Đurđin, where he was born and grew up, nor is he only a pride to the Carmelites, where he served God all his life as a priest and monk. Father Gerard is also the pride of our entire Diocese of Subotica and our Croatian people, because he is our only candidate for beatification and canonization," Bishop Fazekas said at the beginning of the Mass.

The Mass was also enhanced by singers, members of the Cathedral Choir "Albe Vidaković", the choir of the Parish of the Name of Mary from Novi Sad, and the local choir of the Parish of St. Joseph the Worker from Đurđin, under the direction of choir director and organist Miroslav Stantić.

At the end of the celebration, this year's bandaš and bandašica (harvest festival hosts) from Đurđin presented the Archbishop with a straw art piece depicting his episcopal coat of arms, which was crafted using the straw technique by Marija Vidaković from Đurđin.

The celebration was also attended by representatives of diplomacy, Croatian institutions, and associations, as well as young people dressed in traditional Bunjevac and Šokac national costumes.

Translated by Branko Lozančić