Published: April 15, 1998
View the Original Newsletter: cirkular-8.pdf
About this Issue:
The April 1998 issue of Cirkular continues the mission of uniting Croatians at home and abroad through reflection, remembrance, and renewal. With spring came both hope and uncertainty. The war had ended, but the struggle for truth, justice, and restoration continued. This issue is rich with heartfelt editorials, religious reflections, community updates, and letters that reveal a people still rebuilding their hearts as they rebuild their homeland.
Easter Reflections: Faith in Renewal
The issue opens with Valentina Krčmar’s Easter editorial, a deeply spiritual meditation on renewal for individuals, families, and the nation.
She reflects on Easter not only as a religious celebration but as a symbol of Croatia’s resurrection after years of darkness. Just as Christ rose again, she writes, so too must Croatians rise from the ruins of war with forgiveness, faith, and gratitude.
“To forgive is not to forget. It is to choose to live again.”
Her tone is gentle and wise, reminding readers that the work of healing begins within families and communities.
Rebuilding Vukovar: The Next Steps
A major portion of the issue is devoted to updates from the Committee for the Renewal of Vukovar, founded in Toronto earlier that year.
The committee had begun gathering donations from local parishes and community organizations, with plans to adopt and restore a specific public building in the city, one of eighteen prioritized by the Croatian government.
Reports note growing support from Croatian Canadians, including schools, women’s associations, and church groups. Krčmar thanks all donors and volunteers while emphasizing that the project is about moral restoration as much as physical reconstruction.
“When we rebuild Vukovar, we rebuild ourselves.”
Voices of Compassion and Memory
The issue features several powerful letters and reflections from the Croatian diaspora.
One comes from Vukovar survivor Marija Sentić, now living in Canada, who describes returning to her destroyed home for the first time and finding only “a single piece of a curtain, fluttering in the wind.”
Another letter expresses gratitude from Croatian war veterans in Osijek, thanking Toronto’s Croatian community for their continued humanitarian support.
A brief tribute to journalist Siniša Glavašević, whose words from Radio Vukovar continue to inspire the rebuilding effort, reminds readers that “you must not be afraid of the truth. You must only be afraid of silence.”
The Power of Women: Mothers for Peace
This issue pays special tribute to the women who organized and sustained the Mothers for Peace (Bedem Ljubavi) movement during the war.
Krčmar recounts their role in rallying humanitarian aid, advocating for prisoners of war, and organizing protests that reached global audiences.
She writes that these women—mothers, grandmothers, and daughters—carried Croatia through its darkest hours with courage that often went unrecognized.
“They were not soldiers, yet they fought. Not with weapons, but with hearts that refused to give up.”
The article calls on younger generations to remember and continue their legacy of compassion and activism.
In Memoriam: Remembering Dr. Franjo Tuđman’s Leadership
A short piece reflects on President Tuđman’s New Year address, emphasizing his message of peace, reconciliation, and national progress.
Krčmar interprets his words as a call for citizens, especially those abroad, to play a role in Croatia’s ongoing development. She encourages the diaspora not to lose touch with their roots.
“We live in Canada, but our hearts speak Croatian.”
Croatian Community Life in Canada
As always, Cirkular shines a light on the Croatian-Canadian community.
The Croatian Women’s Society “Katarina Zrinska” hosts a charity luncheon in Etobicoke, raising funds for scholarships and humanitarian aid.
The Karlovac Society “St. Joseph” celebrates its annual feast day with music, folk dance, and a packed banquet hall.
The Canadian-Croatian Congress reports ongoing discussions to expand Croatian language instruction at Canadian universities, following the successful launch of the course at the University of Toronto.
Announcements for youth events, church gatherings, and folklore performances remind readers that community is not just heritage, but a living, growing force.
Faith and Heritage
The Message of the Cross
A short theological reflection by Fr. Josip Gjuran explains that the Cross is not a symbol of suffering but of endurance and victory. He compares Croatia’s pain to Christ’s passion, writing that “our scars are not shame, but proof that we endured.”
Music and Identity
A cultural piece highlights the importance of traditional Croatian music as a carrier of identity, especially for children born abroad. It encourages parents to teach folk songs and hymns, calling music “the first language of love for one’s homeland.”
From the Homeland: News Highlights
A series of updates from HINA and Croatian news outlets rounds out the issue.
UNTAES formally concludes its mission in Eastern Slavonia, marking the full reintegration of Croatia’s territory. Reconstruction in Vukovar, Ilok, and Osijek accelerates with new housing and infrastructure projects underway.
Elections in Kosovo draw international concern as regional tensions rise. Meanwhile, Croatian athletes, artists, and scholars continue to gain international recognition, symbolizing a country regaining its voice in the world.
Editorial Closing: The Gift of Gratitude
In her final note, Krčmar returns to her favorite theme—gratitude.
She thanks every volunteer, donor, and supporter of Cirkular, writing that even the smallest act of kindness strengthens the community as a whole.
Her parting words remind readers that rebuilding a nation is not measured only in money or material progress, but in the love people show one another.
“Croatia will not be rebuilt by money alone. It will be rebuilt by love—love for one another, and for our homeland.”
In Summary
Cirkular No. 8 captures the renewal of spirit that arrived with spring. It honors the women who fought with compassion, the citizens who gave selflessly, and the faith that carried a nation from war into healing.
Through personal reflection and community pride, it stands as both a record of its time and a timeless reminder that Croatia’s greatest strength has always been the heart of its people.
