In a weekend of significant milestones, the Diocese of Parramatta joyfully celebrated the 50th anniversary of priestly ordination of St John XXIII Parish, Glenwood-Stanhope Gardens assistant priest Fr Zvonimir Gavranovic.
Fr Zvonimir’s Golden Jubilee was honoured with a Mass celebrated by Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, Bishop of Parramatta, at The Hub at St John XXIII Catholic College, Stanhope Gardens on Sunday 28 August.
Despite his reservations as to whether anyone would attend, The Hub was filled with hundreds of family, friends, teachers, students and parishioners from the dozens of parishes he has graced across the Greater Sydney region.
A view of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Fr Zvonimir Gavranovic at St John XXIII Catholic College Stanhope Gardens. Image: Diocese of Parramatta
“It is a great day of joy for all of us,” parish priest Fr Jolly Chacko told the congregation. “We have been together [at the parish] for the last two years, and it has been a great joy working with such a humble person, a pastor who reaches out to the hearts of others.
“We look up to the Heavens and say thank you to the Lord for the wonderful 50 years of his service to the Diocese and to the Christian Community around Sydney.”
In his opening remarks, Bishop Vincent said, “today, we are filled with gratitude and praise, like the lyrics of the opening hymn, thanking our God for all the blessings He has given us and, in particular, the blessings He has given through the 50 years of priestly service of Fr Zvonimir.
Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, Bishop of Parramatta, speaks during the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Fr Zvonimir Gavranovic at St John XXIII Catholic College Stanhope Gardens. Image: Diocese of Parramatta
“We join Him to thank God and we pray that the Spirit of Christian service that he has endeavoured to live out in his ministry may also be embodied by each of us in our respective stations in life.”
Bishop Vincent: Christ is the centre of our priesthood
In his homily, Bishop Vincent thanked God for the many years of ministerial service and witness that Fr Zvonimir has been able to give to the Church.
“It is fitting for us to use the words of the Magnificat to attribute to God the gift of longevity and fidelity which He has bestowed on the indomitable Fr Zvonimir: ‘My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit exults in God my Saviour; because he has looked upon his lowly servant.’”
“The priesthood flows in and out from Christ. He is the centre, He is the beginning and the end, He encompasses us.
Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, Bishop of Parramatta, delivers the homily during the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Fr Zvonimir Gavranovic at St John XXIII Catholic College Stanhope Gardens. Image: Diocese of Parramatta
“It is the prayers, support, generosity and sacrifice of our family, friends, benefactors and others which sustain us in our priestly service and witness.
“As we give thanks for the golden jubilee of Fr Zvonimir’s priestly ordination, we pray that we become humble servants of one another in the example of Jesus.
Fr Zvonimir ‘bringing the Church alive at Stanhope Gardens’
During the celebration, Dr Peter Webster, St John XXIII Catholic College Principal, said that when staff and students see Fr Zvonimir, they see Jesus.
“Our staff and students adore and respect Fr Zvonimir, a person who cares and loves them unconditionally,” he said.
College Principal Dr Peter Webster speaks during the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Fr Zvonimir Gavranovic at St John XXIII Catholic College Stanhope Gardens. Image: Diocese of Parramatta
“Zvonimir’s dedication and commitment to his vocation allows his passion to flourish and, most importantly, the Good News of the Gospel to come alive.
“As St John XXIII changed the Church with the Second Vatican Council, Fr Zvonimir is bringing the Church alive in Stanhope Gardens.”
Patricia Armao, College Strategic Leader of Mission and Community Partnerships, thanked Fr Zvonimir for all that he has done for the learning community before playing a video presentation with warm wishes from students and teachers.
“Thank you so much for all you do for the faith formation of our community,” one person said.
“Thank you for coming and visiting the Year 1 space. The children love seeing you there and we do too,” another said.
“Congratulations on 50 years of being a priest. I’m so proud of you, the community is proud of you. You are an absolute blessing to our community,” another person said.
Fr Zvonimir Gavranovic poses for a photograph with a parishioner following his Golden Jubilee celebrations at St John XXIII Catholic College Stanhope Gardens. Image: Diocese of Parramatta
Rewatch Fr Zvonimir’s Golden Jubilee celebrations at St John XXIII Catholic College Stanhope Gardens via livestream here.
View images from Fr Zvonimir’s celebrations here or below.
