Cirkular 6: Rebuilding Vukovar and Restoring Faith

The sixth issue of Cirkular is defined by one word — action. After years of heartbreak and hope, the Croatian community in Toronto takes a powerful step toward rebuilding what was lost. This issue captures the formation of a new humanitarian organization dedicated to the restoration of Vukovar, the heart of Croatia’s wartime suffering. At the same time, it celebrates faith, culture, and community resilience — both in Croatia and across the diaspora.

“Put Your Money Where Your Heart Is”: A Call from Valentina Krčmar

The issue opens with an emotional editorial by Valentina Krčmar, who recalls her visit to Vukovar in October 1997. Armed with her camera, she describes walking through the city’s ruins — homes turned to dust, streets silent except for the echo of loss.

“For me, houses were not structures, but human cries frozen in time,” she writes.

Krčmar announces the creation of a new humanitarian organization — temporarily unnamed but proposed to bear the title “Siniša Glavašević Foundation”, in honor of the journalist who died during the siege. Its mission: unite all Croatian associations, parishes, and individuals in Toronto into one collective effort to restore one of Vukovar’s 18 key public buildings.

She urges the community to give everything they can:

“If one day we are to face Siniša and the people of Vukovar, let us do so knowing we gave our best — and more.”

Founding of the Committee for the Renewal of Vukovar

A detailed report follows on the founding meeting of the Committee for the Renewal of Vukovar, held on February 12, 1998 at the Croatia Banquet Hall in Toronto. Over a hundred people attended, representing dozens of Croatian organizations.

Croatian Consul Ivan Pićukarić delivered a stirring speech inspired by Siniša Glavašević’s words from Radio Vukovar:

“Who will guard my city? Who will carry Vukovar out of the darkness?”

Pićukarić outlined the staggering losses from the war:

• 2,763 dead, 8,443 wounded, and nearly 100,000 displaced in Croatia’s Danube region.

• Over 162 billion kuna in total war damages nationwide.

• More than 75,000 homes already rebuilt, with Croatian funds accounting for nearly all restoration costs.

He emphasized that rebuilding Vukovar was both a national duty and a moral responsibility, noting:

“We defended Croatia alone, and now we are rebuilding it alone.”

At the end of the meeting, Zvonko Luburić was elected President of the Committee, with a new Executive Board formed to oversee the campaign. The vote was unanimous.

Honoring Siniša Glavašević

In a heartfelt editorial that follows the report, Krčmar calls for the new organization to officially carry Siniša’s name — a tribute to the journalist who chronicled Vukovar’s final days before being taken from the hospital and executed at Ovčara.

“A name like Siniša’s would mean more than just a title. It would give this cause a soul,” she writes.

Faith and Community

A New Cardinal for Toronto

Toronto’s Croatian Catholic community rejoices as Archbishop Aloysius Ambrozic is named Cardinal by Pope John Paul II. Krčmar celebrates the news as an honor for both the Archbishop and the city’s faithful, describing Ambrozic as “a son of Croatian soil whose wisdom and kindness reflect the strength of our people.”

Lika Heritage and Charity

The Society of Croats from Lika announces its annual fundraising dinner, with proceeds going to support children of fallen Croatian soldiers. The Karlovac Society “St. Joseph” in Mississauga similarly prepares its annual banquet dedicated to the patron saint of Croatia and the city of Karlovac.

Both events reflect the ongoing spirit of solidarity linking Croatian heritage to humanitarian work.

Education and Culture

The Canadian-Croatian Congress schedules its annual general meeting for March 29, 1998, at Our Lady of the Croatian Martyrs Parish in Mississauga. A central topic will be expanding Croatian-language courses to York University and McMaster University — continuing progress already made at the University of Toronto.

Meanwhile, Croatian Community Services promotes free computer and job-search programs for adults, encouraging lifelong learning and integration into Canadian life.

A special academic event is also announced: a public lecture by Professor Jasna Šego, Croatian language instructor at U of T, titled “Heaven and Hell of Tin Ujević.”

Culture and Reflection

Poetry in Memory of Croatia’s Soul

The literary section highlights Željko Sabol’s posthumous poetry collection Bez nas (Without Us), edited by Milan Mirić and published in 1997. Krčmar praises Sabol’s visionary writing, describing him as “a poet who sensed Croatia’s coming darkness long before the war began.”

The article retells his tragic story — his persecution during the Croatian Spring, his artistic exile, and his suicide in 1991 — framing his final work as a haunting testament to a nation’s suffering and endurance.

“Od Stoljeća Sedmog” — A Poem of Pride

An anonymous patriotic poem titled “Od stoljeća sedmog” (“Since the Seventh Century”) celebrates the timeless resilience of the Croatian people:

“This is our land — here live the Croats.
What is written on stone cannot be erased.”

Voices from the Diaspora

Reclaiming the Croatian Narrative

The issue reprints a letter to the editor sent to Saturday Night Magazine in response to Patrick Graham’s article “Canadian Warlord,” which criticized Croatian Defence Minister Gojko Šušak.

The letter refutes the article’s claims, asserting that Croatia’s war was not an act of aggression but a defense against Serbian domination. It reminds readers that Croatia’s independence was built on sacrifice, not nationalism, and calls on Canadian media to recognize that truth.

Health, Humor, and Everyday Wisdom

• Dr. Darko Desatyi continues his nutrition series with an article on dietary fiber, explaining its role in heart health and digestion.

• A lighthearted “Regule za lepo ponašanje” (“Rules for Good Manners”) column humorously reminds readers to cover their mouths when coughing and avoid slurping soup too loudly.

• The “Did You Know?” section offers practical household and hygiene tips — from washing hands upon returning home to not clapping after a national anthem.

Editorial Reflection: Unity in the Community

Krčmar ends the issue with a candid reflection on unity among Toronto’s Croatians. She laments that Croatian-owned restaurants and businesses often struggle for support within their own community, despite being the first to step forward during times of need.

“Why do we forget our own until we need them?” she asks.

She calls for solidarity and understanding, warning that division serves only those who wish to weaken the community from within:

“It’s time we listen closely to those around us — and recognize whether their advice builds or breaks us.”

Her closing words blend faith and humor:

“God put me on this earth to accomplish a certain number of things. Right now, I am far behind. I will never die!”

In Summary

Cirkular No. 6 marks a turning point for the Croatian-Canadian community — from remembrance to rebuilding.

It documents the birth of a movement to restore Vukovar, honors faith through leadership and charity, and celebrates the endurance of Croatian identity through art, education, and kindness.

In every story, Valentina Krčmar’s message is clear: unity, compassion, and action will keep the memory of sacrifice alive — not as sorrow, but as purpose.