Homilies of
the Apostolic Nuncio
H.G. Archbishop Petar Rajič
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| The Apostolic Nuncio (Holy See) - Most Rev. Petar Rajič |
"Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding."
-- Romans 14:19
MOST REV. PETAR RAJIC, TITULAR ARCHBISHOP OF SARSENTERUM
FORMER APOSTOLIC NUNCIO TO KUWAIT, YEMEN, BAHRAIN, QATAR & UAE
AND FORMER APOSTOLIC DELEGATE TO THE ARABIAN PENINSULA
TERM OF OFFICE: 2 DECEMBER 2009 - 15 JUNE 2015
"Christus Dominus nos liberavit"
Personal Data
- Name: Petar Rajič
- Date / Place of birth: 12 June 1959. Toronto, Canada.
Education
University: 1978 – 1982 Urban Studies Faculty, at the University of Toronto, Bachelor of Arts completed in 1982 1982 – 1987 Philosophy and Theology at the Interdiocesan Seminary of Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina. Graduated in 1987 1989 – 1993 Faculty of Canon Law at the Pontifical Lateran University, Rome. Licence 1991 and Doctorate 1993 Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy - Final exam 1993
Ordination
Diaconate: received on 30.11.1986, in the Major Seminary church of Sts. Cyril and Methodius in Sarajevo, through the imposition of the hands of the Archbishop of Sarajevo Marko Jozinovic. Presbyterate: received on 29.06.1987, in the Catherdal church of Mary Mother of the Church, in Mostar, through the imposition of the hands of the Bishop of Mostar-Duvno and the Apostolic Administrator of Trebinje-Mrkan Msgr. Pavao Žanic. Episcopate: received on 23.01.2010, in the Catherdal church of Mary Mother of the Church, in Mostar, through the imposition of the hands of Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Secretary of State. The co-consecrators were Cardinal Vinko Puljic of Sarajevo, and Bishop Ratko Peric of Mostar-Duvno and Apostolic Administrator of Trebinje-Mrkan.
Priestly Ministry / Professional Activities
- Associate Pastor at Our Lady Queen of Croatia parish in Toronto 1987-1989
- Post-graduate studies in Rome 1989-1993
- Doctorate in Canon Law at the Pontifical Lateran University, Rome, 1993
- Secretary of the Apostolic Nunciature in Iran, July 1993- October 1996
- Secretary of the Apostolic Nunciature in Lithuania, October 1996- May 1998
- Official of the Secretariat of State, May 1998-2009
- Prelate of the Pontifical Antechamber 2003-2009
- Official of the Prefecture of the Papal Household, 2007-2009
- Appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Apostolic Delegate to the Arabian Peninsula on 2 December 2009
- Appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Yemen and the United Arab Emirates on 27 March 2010
- Appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Angola and Sao Tome and Principe on 15 June 2015
Besides English, the Archbishop is conversant in Croatian, Italian and French.
Coat of Arms
The Episcopal shield of the Archbishop is in the form of a chalice and is similar in style to that of Pope Benedict XVI who appointed him. The predominantly red background symbolizes God's great love towards mankind and the world. The two red fields to the left and right are a stylized form of the Canadian flag with its two red borders at the sides. In the center is part of the Croatian checkerboard shield, hence, in the background are found symbols of the country of birth as well as origin.
All of the symbols are coloured in gold. In the very centre there is the Christogram, the first two letters of the name of Christ in Greek, which refer to Christ as the center and goal of our faith. In the upper left field (the heraldic right) there is an eight-pointed star which symbolizes the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of Jesus and our spiritual Mother, also known as the Morning Star. In the right field (the heraldic left) there is a shell in the shape of a heart, taken from Pope Benedict's papal shield, which reminds us that we are all pilgrims in this world on our way towards the Heart, to eternity.
The motto for the Archbishop's Episcopal shield is taken from the Letter of St. Paul to the Galatians, 5:1 "For freedom Christ has set us free". The Latin text is "Christus Dominus nos liberavit", in which are found three names that are personally significant to the Archbishop: Christus - Christ the Lord, and then Dominus (Archbishop Petar's mother's name is Dominika) and liberavit (his father's name is Liberan). The motto expresses the spiritual desire that every person has and wishes to achieve in one’s life – responsible freedom! Spiritual freedom is a gift from God, that liberates one from the influence of any evil, whether sin or anything else that can lead a person to spiritual or corporal slavery. Christ has set us free for this type of freedom through His sacrifice on the cross and has enabled us to live as free children of God; to serve Him "without fear" (Lk 1:74), with joy and dedication, faithful and grateful to Him all the days of our lives for the great gift of salvation we have received "from his fullness" (Jn 1:16).
SEE ALSO:
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With Deep Gratitude for Your
Faithful and Loving Service to the Church
God Bless You Abundantly And
Farewell, Beloved Archbishop Petar Rajič!
Your Grace, the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia bids you a fond farewell as you leave us to take up your new appointment as Apostolic Nuncio to Angola, São Tomé and Príncipe. We, the Clergy and Faithful, wish to express our immense gratitude for your joyful witness and preaching of the Gospel and for your loving pastoral service as Apostolic Nuncio to the Arabian Peninsula. May the Lord reward you with many blessed & happy years in His Vineyard!
Goodbyes are not forever, goodbyes are not the end;
They simply mean we'll miss you, until we meet again!
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1 January 2015
His Grace Archbishop Petar Rajič's Message to the Faithful for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
and World Day of Peace
« BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL »
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ ... As we begin a new calendar year, the Church celebrates the great mystery of the arrival of the promised Saviour who is Christ the Lord, born of the Virgin Mary. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us ""God sent forth his Son", but to prepare a body for him, he wanted the free co-operation of a creature. 
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1 January 2014
His Grace Archbishop Petar Rajič's
Message to the Faithful for the New Year
and World Day of Peace
FRATERNITY IS THE 'FOUNDATION' OF PEACE
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ ... The Church rejoices throughout the world during the Christmas season due to the celebration of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ who was born of the Virgin Mary. The Blessed Virgin Mary has been venerated for centuries as the Mother of God and it is only fitting therefore, that we begin the New Year by seeking the Lord’s blessing while invoking the powerful intercession of Mary the Mother of God, who we venerate in the entire region of the Gulf as Our Lady of Arabia.
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19th March 2013
Solemnity of St. Joseph
Holy Family Cathedral, Kuwait City
Homily of the Apostolic Nuncio
His Grace Archbishop Petar Rajič
at the Eucharistic Celebration in Commemoration of the
Inauguration of the Pontificate of Pope Francis
Please click here for the full text of the Nuncio's homily
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1 January 2013
His Grace Archbishop Petar Rajič's
Message to the Faithful for the New Year
"FAITH GIVES MEANING TO LIFE AND
LEADS TO LASTING PEACE"
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ ... The New Year begins during the Christmas liturgical cycle and our thoughts and prayers are still focused on the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ. This joyful mystery, made possible through the divine action of the Holy Spirit and the humble obedient faith of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is one of the basic truths of our Catholic creed. The eternal Word of God became flesh so that thus we might know God's love: "In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him" (1 Jn 4:9) (CCC 458). The joy all Christians live by is found in this fact: God loves us, he is in our midst and comes to us in his Son Jesus, who remains forever our Emmanuel, meaning "God-with-us". Having commenced the Year of Faith last October, we recall that all the faithful have been invited by the Holy Father to an authentic and renewed conversion to the Lord during this holy year. Only through believing does faith grow, giving life true meaning, which leads to lasting peace.
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23 April 2012
Third Monday of Easter
Holy Family Cathedral, Kuwait City
Homily of the Apostolic Nuncio
His Grace Archbishop Petar Rajič
at the Eucharistic Celebration in Commemoration of
the 7th Anniversary of the Election of Pope Benedict XVI
Please click here for the full text of the Nuncio's homily
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1 January 2012
His Grace Archbishop Petar Rajič's
Message to the Faithful for the New Year
"YOU SHALL BE MY WITNESSES" (Acts 1:8)
 Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ ...
During the Christmas season, the Church celebrates the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ with great joy, praise and thanksgiving to God. In his infinite mercy towards mankind, the Lord came down from heaven and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man (Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed). God was born unto the world as a man, similar to us in our humanity yet always maintaining his divinity. Jesus Christ, the only Son of the Father and eternal Word of God, became flesh for us in order to save us by reconciling us with God, who "loved us and sent his Son to be the expiation for our sins" (CCC 457).
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25 April 2011
Easter Monday
Holy Family Cathedral, Kuwait City
Homily of the Apostolic Nuncio
His Grace Archbishop Petar Rajič
at the Eucharistic Celebration in Commemoration of
the Anniversary of the Election of Pope Benedict XVI
Please click here for the homily
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In Commemoration of
The Beatification of Venerable John Paul II
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His Grace Archbishop Petar Rajič's Message for New Year 2011
Welcome Speech of H.L. Bishop Camillo Ballin, mccj,
at the Concelebrated Mass on 19th March 2010 at the Holy Family Cathedral, Kuwait City
==[ Please note that this page is no longer being updated ]==
PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR CURRENT INFORMATION
ABOUT HIS GRACE ARCHBISHOP PETAR RAJIC
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His Grace Archbishop Petar Rajič very kindly agreed to an interview exclusively for the vicariate web-site. In a candid conversation with Sr. Carmel Ann A.C., His Grace was everything one could expect him to be - gracious, articulate and straightforward! He strikes a deep chord within us as we learn more through the interview about his family, his vocation as a priest and his new ministry as Apostolic Nuncio to the Arabian Gulf States.
