Sunday 13 June - Evening Service with Rev. David Hart
The Rev. David Hart works in the Diocese of Salisbury in the UK with responsibility for Initial Ministerial Education. Several months ago David contacted us after meeting us through this website with news that he was due to pass through Zagreb. Since we do not have a resident priest, we jumped at the chance of inviting him to lead our service. It was a memorable occasion on a beautiful evening in Zagreb. See the photographs in the gallery |
||
Sunday 13 June 2010 – Summer party
|
||
Klaićeva donation
On 19 March 2010, representatives of World Hope International and the Anglican Chaplaincy in Zagreb presented a scan pump to the Hospital for Paediatric Diseases in Vjekoslava Klaića, Zagreb. The pump is used by children to self-administer pain relief. In the photograph, you can see Mark Davies as a representative of the Anglican Chaplaincy in Zagreb, Nikolina Ivanković and Tatyana Gnjip of World Hope International, and staff of the hospital's Department for Paediatric Haematology and Oncology. |
||
Sunday 14 March 2010 (Mothering Sunday, UK)
In the gallery, two children can be seen during Sunday School with Renée Davies making paper flowers to hand to their mothers during the service. |
||
13 December 2009 – Carol service
The service was led in equal part by Rev Jady Koch, curate from Christ Church, Vienna, who preached and served holy communion, and Janet Berković. Janet drew the children into the service by inviting several to the altar to open presents, one for themselves, and another a modern-day artefact to prepare for each reading and to show the currency of the readings for our modern times. This day, 13 December, was also the Feast Day of St Lucia. It was fitting that during the service Rebecca Soderberg from Sweden spoke about the importance of Lucia, the bringer of light, in pre-Christian and Christian life in Sweden. This day was a very special occasion for the regular Anglican / Episcopal congregation since we were able to share our service with many newcomers, and with a fine smattering of youngsters. We look forward to keeping several as new members of the congregation as we continue our services, the next one on 27 December and onwards in the New Year. |
||
8 November – Remembrance Sunday
The Rev. Jady Koch led today's service in remembrance of those who have died in war, not only in the two world wars but also in those of more recent times. Rev Jady Koch admitted that, as a relative newcomer to Europe which has seen such tragedy as a result of war, it was pehaps no easy task to preach on this theme. But at a poignant moment during his sermon, he pointed to the figure of Christ on the cross behind him to suggest that the image of suffering and sacrifice is not at all remote from us. We held a two-minute silence in memory of those who had lost their lives in war. We donated 850 kn from the collection to the Poppy Fund Appeal This was Rev Koch's first visit to Zagreb. He originates from Louisiana, USA and is currently curate at Christ Church, Vienna. He is concurrently studing for a PhD in systematic theology at Humboldt University in Berlin. He was accompanied by his wife, Liza. We look forward to welcoming them again on 13 December, when Rev Jady will lead our Carol Service. Go to the gallery for more pictures of our visitors.
|
||
12 - 15 September 2009
Rev. Tony Pugsley joined us for his second visit to Zagreb from 12 to 15 September. Rev. Pugsley was formerly vicar of Christ Church Wareley and St. Mary’s Great Warely in the diocese of Chelmsford. He retired in 2004 and has been assisting in parishes in the Colchester area of the deanery ever since. At the moment, he is helping the parish church of St. Osyth, St. Peter & St. Paul’s, during an interregnum, and All Saints in Walton-on-the-Naze. We in Zagreb are very pleased to share him as our locum priest. During his visit to Zagreb, he led a study on Life Discipleship, part of a series called The Square Mile, focusing on mission and outreach. At the Sunday service, he presided at Holy Communion and preached on the Gospel text for the day, Mark 8…. “Who do you say I am?” In Tony’s own words: |
||
31 May 2009
After the service today, led for the last time by John Powell, we had a garden lunch to say farewell to John and his wife, Elizabeth, and children Timothy, Ruth and Benjamin who are about to leave Zagreb for their next posting either in Britain or elswhere in Central Europe. John has been with us since his arrival in Zagreb over twenty months ago, and has taken the position of Chairman of the Chaplaincy and has led the services with dedication, warmth, inspiring words, and wonderfully effective chairmanship. John's report to the Annual Meeting of the Chaplaincy Council gives a taste of what we have achieved this year under his leadership. We pray that we can be inspired by his example. Goodbye John, Liz and the children, may God protect you! The photograph shows Elizabeth and John Powell at the farewell lunch.
|
||
20 May 2009
Our Chairman, John Powell, led a service of commemoration at the British war cemetery on the island of Vis. He joined six British Second World War veterans in perhaps the last formal ceremony on Vis to honour their former comrades. John was accompanied by another member of our congregation, Fredrik Vahlquist in his capacity as former President of the Memorial Association of Swedish Volunteers in Finland 1939-1944. John Powell writes that the British veterans numbered 125 when they visited the island in 1985, with their numbers having decreased this year to 6 remaining veterans, all of whom are now in their mid/late 80s.
|
||
10 May 2009
The Venerable Patrick Curran conducted a Eucharist this morning. The service was followed by our AGM, which was held today to take further advantage of our archdeacon's presence. In his report to the AGM, the chairman, John Powell, considered the great challenges ahead for the Chaplaincy given that, by the very nature of the congregation, we have a rapid turnover of members. See the full report here. The departure of several families within short succession, and the coming departure of John, Liz, and their children, Timothy, Ruth, and Benjamin, mean that our congregation will be considerably depleted. However, we hope that we can soon welcome new members to join our congregation.
|
||
9 May 2009
This weekend we welcomed to Zagreb the Venerable Patrick Curran, Chaplain of Christ Church, Vienna, and Archdeacon of the Eastern Archdeaconry. In the latter office, Patrick has oversight of the Anglican Chaplaincy of Zagreb. Shortly after arriving by train on Friday evening, Patrick led a bible study, hosted by John and Liz Powell. Our discussion focused on Ephesians 6, verses 10 to 20, which was indeed a fortifying message for our Chaplaincy in these uncertain times when numbers are declining. The photograph shows our group still in discussion in the cool of the evening. |
||
26 April 2009 - No service today We regret there will be no service today. We look forward to welcoming you as usual next Sunday, on 3 May.
|
||
3 April 2009
On behalf of the congregation, Mark Davies, acting treasurer, is seen here handing a donation of 2,720 kn from the Chaplaincy’s collections to Nikolina Ivanković of World Hope International. The money will be used for the needs of Klaićeva Children’s Hospital in Zagreb. Also in the picture are other members of the Croatian branch of World Hope.
|
||
29 March 2009
Today was the last service with most of the Zimmer family. The previous Sunday we had a farewell lunch for Don Zimmer who left to move to his next post in Vietnam. You can see us tucking in to some giant pizzas and enjoying the fresh air afterwards in the park near Borčaski dom (See the picture gallery). The Zimmer family have been with us for over 18 months. Don has been Treasurer and has also led services. Katherine Zimmer has acted as treasurer whenever Don was away on business and in addition ran the Sunday School. We wish Don and Katherine, and the children, Alex, Donny, and Jennifer, all the very best on the next stage of their travels. We can't replace them, of course, but we live in hope that we can fill the roles that they handled with such skill and enthusiasm.
|
||
22 February 2009
Today we celebrated Eucharist conducted by Rev Aileen Hackl. Aileen is Assistant Chaplain of Christ Church Vienna (http://www.christchurchvienna.org/) with oversight of the Anglican Chaplaincy in Zagreb. Since today was the Sunday next before Lent, refreshments called for traditional fare. This was Swedish “semla” prepared by Elisabeth Vahlquist, a member of the congregation from Sweden. Semla is a sweet bun filled with almond paste and whipped cream, enjoyed here by Rebecca, Aileen, and Kathy.
|
||
21 February 2009
This evening we held a bible study at the flat of John, our chairman, and Liz Powell. The Rev Aileen Hackl led discussion on the Psalms, particularly Psalm 50 which would be part of the service the next day. In the photograph you can see Aileen (in white) deep in discussion with Danijel Berković. Also in the picture are Mark Davies, Fredrik Vahlquist (with bible) and Janet Berković |
||
8 February 2009
Today we welcomed to the service two representatives of World Hope International, Nikolina and Kruno Ivanković (seen here during refreshments after the service). The Croatian branch of World Hope International is an organisation though which the Church has over the last year been providing financial support to purchase equipment for a children's hospital in Zagreb. Other initiatives of World Hope International to be conducted in Croatia this year, apart from regular donations to Klaićeva hospital, will focus on promoting blood donations and conducting drives in school to promote a future without drugs. |
||
30 January 2009
The Anglican Chaplaincy in Zagreb presented a Scan Pump to the Hospital for Paediatric Diseases in Vjekoslava Klaića, Zagreb. The pump is used by children to self-administer pain relief.
|
||
18 January 2009
Today, the youngsters in the congregation outnumbered the older generation. At an average age of about 22, we must be among the youngest congregations ever! Click here to see the youngest members of our congregation.
|
||
21 December 2008
Our carol service was held today followed by mulled wine and mince pies. This was the last service of the year. The next service will be held on Sunday 11 January 2009 at 10 am, led by Janet Berković
|
||
14 December 2008
Today we held our toy and gift service when the children donated gifts to the disadvantaged. Twenty-two gifts were given to Zagrebački Bokci (Zagreb's Poor People). As part of our Advent service, three Swedish carols were sung today (two in Swedish!), led by three of our Swedish congregation.
|
||
7 December 2008 A Eucharist was held on this second Sunday in Advent, led by the Venerable Patrick Curran, Chaplain of Christ Church, and Archdeacon of the Eastern Archdeaconry, seen here talking to Elisabeth and Fredrik Vahlquist. |
||
5 December 2008 The December/January edition of Crossways, the magazine of Christ Church in Vienna, is hot off the press. It presents an interview with the Venerable Patrick Curran, Chaplain of Christ Church, and Archdeacon of the Eastern Archdeaconry, who serves our congregation in Zagreb. There is also a Christmas message from Bishop Geoffrey of Gibraltar in Europe, our Bishop. Read here.
|
||
30 November 2008 Esther Davies, aged 11, lit the first of the four Advent candles today. “The churches in Sweden are full of people on this First Sunday in Advent, perhaps more so than on any other Sunday of the year. The previous Sunday, the one before Advent, is called Judgment Sunday. It is a very severe day, and is the end of the church year. Then comes the new church year, with all the expectations of Christ’s arrival. People think that “Christmas time” starts now. In our church, music is very important. In the big churches we normally have very good organists and choirs, and the parish really expects something extra on this day, often with organ and trumpets. That is the reason why the churches are full. Then, in December, there are usually several concerts in every church. For instance in my church you can listen to Bach’s Christmas Oratorio (all 6 parts) which takes 3 hours – although there is an interval where refreshments are served!” To find out about some of Croatia’s Advent and Christmas customs, read here.
|
||
23 November 2008 A Eucharist service was held on Sunday 23 November led by the Rev Clair Ullmann.
|
||
15 November 2008 - Letter from Johannesburg. Tocher Mitchell, former treasurer and stalwart of the Chaplaincy in Zagreb, writes from Johannesburg.
We have been living now in Johannesburg for 5 months. South Africa is completely different from Croatia. It has ten times the population and land area of Croatia (HR). Greater Johannesburg alone has at least 10,000,000 people, twice that of all of HR. The crime rate is much higher in Joburg. We live in a limited access housing estate. Basically a woman would never go out alone at night. It's not like you live in constant fear of crime, but you do have to be careful. Lastly, public transportation is practically non-existent, so you really have to rely on a private car to get around, or taxis, which fortunately are cheaper than in HR. Despite those drawbacks SA is an interesting, dynamic and exciting place. And of course when we get the chance we will explore the country's famous animal parks more. We've already been to Kruger Nat'l Park once. It was great. Take a look at three of our pictures.
We're still looking for a church. We've tried three so far. The first is a rather low Anglican church close to where we live. All Saints is a big parish that's been in existence for a decade. The liturgy is pretty similar to what we had in Zagreb, but they mix traditional hymns and contemporary music. They have their own sanctuary but there are no pews, just plastic chairs. The pastor, a coloured (this is a politically correct term in SA) guy, is cordial, erudite and a good preacher. The 7:30 service is relatively sedate and about 90% of the 100 or so attendees are white. By contrast, the 9:30 service is about half white and half coloured/black. The church is filled to overflowing for the second service; it's a bit zooey with little kids running around all over the place. I think we could be happy there. Rosebank Union Church is even bigger. Their modern sanctuary is gigantic - kinda reminds me of the ones you see on televangelist broadcasts. They have at least 400 attendees and a very contemporary service, along the lines of the Baptist Church on Radiceva in Zagreb. One of Brenda's Zagreb bible study buddies who moved to Jo'burg about a year before us introduced us to Rosebank. The members also are a mixed bag racially, and friendly. The big drawback of this church, however, is that it's 13 km from our house. Takes rather long to get there. We've also attended Lonehill Methodist Church a couple of times. They use a local college prep school auditorium for their services, which are even more contemporary than Rosebank's. No organs there, only a Christian rock band, complete with electric guitars, electric flutes, drums, keyboard, etc. The program includes a section with an outline of the sermon, on which people are encouraged to take notes. The pastor is a very good preacher. The congregation here is really big, too, about the same size as All Saints. About 5 km from our housing estate. We're kind of torn. In Zagreb we used to complain a bit about our little parish's lack of critical mass. On the other hand, here we kind of miss the intimacy we had in Zagreb! We might keep looking. Jo'burg is a huge city with lots of worship choices. Ben is attending the American International School of Johannesburg, whose program is quite similar to AIS in Zagreb. AISJ, however, is located on the outskirts of the city and they start their classes early, so Ben's school bus comes at 6:20 every day! This means we all get up at 5:30! Brenda is running our household capably, as always. She may look for part time work later. |
||
9 November 2008 - Poppy Appeal A total of 775.50 kn was collected for the Poppy Appeal during our Remembrance Day service. The sum was donated to the Royal British Legion through the British Embassy in Zagreb
|
||
|
Todd Becker, an active member and reader in the Anglican church in Zagreb has been honoured with a human rights award from the Croatian Helsinki Human Rights Organisation (HHO), the oldest and largest human rights organisation in Croatia.
The award was presented by the Prime Minister of Croatia, Dr Ivo Sanader, in recognition of Mr Becker’s seven years as Deputy Head of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s Mission to Croatia to promote and protect human rights in the country. Mr Becker’s work involved furthering and supporting the development of governmental and non-governmental offices, institutions and organisations to ensure human rights development. He also worked extensively to strengthen the legal framework for human rights, particularly minority rights, in Croatia. “The award, given to me for my personal work also reflects the extensive successful work of the OSCE Mission as a whole in all of these areas,” he said. “The guiding principle for all my work is the life and teachings of Jesus.” Mr Becker was born in Washington DC but has lived in Europe for most of his adult life, working for a total of 43 years in the United States diplomatic service and the OSCE. He is also involved in the Diocese in Europe as reader in St Boniface Anglican Church in Bonn, Germany, the Anglican Church in Athens, Greece, where he was reader in charge of Kifissia chapel. For the past eight years, he has served as reader in St. Joseph’s Chapel, Zagreb, Croatia - part of the chaplaincy of Vienna. The Zagreb congregation meets at St Joseph’s Chapel in the Jesuit Training Academy and is primarily made up of English speaking ex-patriots, diplomats and businesspeople. |
||
"CHURCH TIMES"
|
Today we were due to welcome Rev. Aileen Hackl to lead our service, arriving from Ljubljana where she had presided over the Morning Service earlier in the day. However, Aileen’s train was held up for well over an hour so we had to hold our service without her and were even on the refreshments when she eventually arrived. Not at all downcast or distressed by her delayed journey or missing the service proper, she entered with a warm smile and said what a perfectly appropriate sight was before her, since this Sunday was otherwise known as “Refreshment Sunday”. Opposite you can see our specially baked Simnel cake with eleven marzipan balls to represent the true disciples of Jesus, without Judas. Rev. Aileen Hackl invited us back into the chapel for Holy Communion. This all goes to show how things often work out just fine in the end! 
There were 29 adults and 13 children who joined together to celebrate the story of the coming of Jesus through well-known carols and readings. St Joseph's chapel hasn't for a long time assembled so many people from the English-speaking community who were in fine voice to sing in celebration of our miraculous story.
 |
I was a diplomat with the US State Department for 34 years, involved with conflict resolution and peace-making. When that job came to an end, I gave my friend, the Viennese Ambassador, a call to see if there was any work going, and was asked to go to Croatia with OSCE [the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe] for a year. That was seven years ago. I retired recently, and spent three months with my family in the US, before unexpectedly being asked to the OSCE in Kiev. I draw energy from people, from the work I do, leading worship, and being with people who are seeking. I’ve just received an award from the Croatian Helsinki Human Rights Organisation, the first non-Croatian ever to do so. The real honour is for those Croatians who have done their part in transforming their society. Mine is more the joy of having been a part of it all. The Croatian people themselves made the changes, by institutionalising, internalising, and putting into practice a way of respecting each other and honouring the decency and dignity of their fellow human beings. My role was to encourage them, mentor them, and give them courage to stand up against groups and forces who sought to hold them down. I’m not an expert in Croat, though I learned enough to understand and communicate, and that’s helping now in the Ukraine. A lot of business is done in English. Croatia is not Nirvana, but it’s a step in the right direction. It’s hard to talk about a country in the collective, but the experience of Croatia in the last few years offers neighbouring countries something to learn from. The Prime Minister, Dr Ivo Sanader, has set an example of Christ-like forgiveness in welcoming back the Serbs, who were the enemies of the recent past. For several years I have worked with a Croatian organisation, Renewing Our Minds. It has been very successful in reconciling former enemies in the Balkans by introducing the principles of Jesus to young leaders — believers, non-believers, Christians, and Muslims alike. It demonstrated to me in very practical and surprising ways the validity of Jesus’s message in the world today. I have been away from our five children and grandchildren for nearly 17 years. I would like to be with them more, and I would like to do more teaching and mentoring a new generation dedicated to peace-making and conciliation. You cannot help but be uplifted by the divine beauty and human achievements along the Balkan coast, and cast down by the broken interior, ravaged by a war of hatred and violence for which both sides are responsible. I became a Reader while working in the Anglican chaplaincy in Bonn, Germany, in the late 1970s. I have been a Reader in Athens; in Zagreb for seven years; and now in the archdeaconry of the East, which stretches all the way to Vladivostok. Now that the Priest-in-Charge at Christ Church, Kiev, is absent, I will be helping out there, too. St Joseph’s Chapel, Zagreb, is a mixture of English, Americans, Chinese, Welsh, Swedes, and Germans. Most are non-resident expatriates working in embassies or business or as advisers to the Croatian government. We have some English-Croatian resident families. It is lay-led, with active participation by everyone, young and older. Every one is present virtually every Sunday. Books have been near the centre of my life for more than 60 years. Among Christian thinkers, C. S. Lewis stands out. I still use him today when preaching and teaching. Alan Paton was also important: his wonderful set of reflections on the prayer of St Francis, Instrument of Thy Peace. As I was growing up, my nuclear family was at the centre of my life, and my parents were the most important formative figures for me. Travelling around the world has created a different type of extended family, however, made up of friends and colleagues from the many places in the world where my wife and I have lived. I’d like to spend more time teaching and playing with my children and grandchildren, and working in the garden, growing veggies so I can cook with totally fresh produce. The most important choice I made was to become active again in my life in the Church, following a fallow period from young adolescence to early adulthood. It was a gradual process, leading me into active participation in worship and leadership, and over time into a growing integration of the teachings and model of Jesus into my life and my work. My biggest regrets are very trivial things, very human. Several times, I fell just short of setting a record, or winning an individual sporting event, or achieving an academic honour. I’d like to be remembered for opening the first American Consulate General in the former Communist world, in Leipzig, after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Long ago, St Francis influenced me; now, Archbishop Desmond Tutu. And, because they all speak the voice of God to me, Mozart, Bach, Brahms, Beethoven, and many, many other composers. In the Bible, my favourite parts are the Gospel of St John, Job, and Jonah — what a marvellously human prophet! I don’t agree with the Deuteronomist. I last got angry with my computer. It crashed on me when I was just completing a long and complicated report. It’s hard to say what causes me to feel God’s presence, but singing is often one of our most immediate forms of conversation. I don’t know if I could name just one person I’d like to get locked in a church with. I would want a crowd. |