EPISCOPAL ORDINATION OF NIKOLA NINO KEKIC, CROATIAN BYZANTINE CATHOLIC CHURCH

"On Saturday, July 4.2009, Nikola Nino Kekić, the newly appointed bishop of the Greek Catholic Eparchy of Križevci, was ordained in the Greek Catholic cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Križevci. The consecrator was Msgr. Slavomir Miklovš, the apostolic administrator of the Eparchy of Križevci. The co-consecrators were the archbishop and metropolitan of Zagreb, Cardinal Josip Bozanić, and the apostolic nuncio in the Republic of Croatia, Archbishop Mario Roberto Cassari, who read the bull of appointment at the beginning of the ceremony."


An excerpt of Information regarding the Cheirotonia, or Laying of Hand, of His Grace Most. Rev. Nikola Kekic and below is a Cited excerpt from the Principal Co Consecrator Cardinal Josip Bozanic, Latin Rite Roman Catholic Archbishop of Zagreb:


"Addressing Bishop Kekić, Cardinal Bozanić noted that the motto he has chosen, "God is Love," expresses the Christian image of God in a concise and very clear manner. Since God first loved us, Christian love is not a commandment but rather a response to the gift of love. The cardinal urged Bishop Kekić as a good shepherd to assemble his scattered and small flock of Greek Catholic Croats, Rusyns and Ukrainians in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia, to strengthen them in Catholic faith and encourage them, although they are small in number, to be proud of their Church heritage.

Cardinal Bozanić urged the new bishop of Križevci to safeguard and build the community of presbyters, religious and Christ's lay faithful throughout the entire eparchy, Bishop Kekić thanked everyone who has accompanied him thus far on his path of life. He thanked Pope Benedict XVI who appointed him as the thirteenth bishop of Križevci, and the twenty-ninth in the series of bishops of Marča-Križevci, as well as the co-consecrators. On his own behalf as well as on behalf of the priests and faithful of the Eparchy of Križevci, he particularly thanked Msgr. Slavomir Miklovš, who had led the diocese for 26 years, including the war years. Bishop Kekić greeted the assembled clergy with special joy. He urged the faithful to pray fervently for the clergy that they may rise above mediocrity, to be holy bishops and holy priests. He suggested that Croatian families should spend more time together. Let us find time for each other, despite the devastating tempo of life that tramples every person and his dignity, said the bishop."

And some of the Taken Pictures in the Episcopal Ordination see here below: