Catechetical Initiatives of Croatian Jesuits in Zagreb during the Second Half of the 20th Century

Abstract

Since 1951 the Jesuits of the Basilica of the Heart of Jesus in Zagreb have had a great influence on the youth of the city through the sacrament of confession, through spiritual retreats, systematic Sunday homilies, Lenten conferences and, later, religion lectures adapted to the student population. Among the most prominent priests involved in this work were Egon Josip Scheibel, Mijo Škvorc, Filip Johler and Ivan Kozelj. Religion lectures for the student population at «Palma» have been under their systematic guidance since 1963, and were recently enriched by the significant innovations introduced by Fr. Luka Rađa through his founding of SKAC (Catholic Centre for Students), the internet-café and the summer project «Modrave» since 2003.
At the Jordanovac Street location, the Philosophical – Theological Institute and the catechetical group «Jordan» were founded in 1968, the latter being distinguished by quality. In a class by himself is Stanko Weissgerber who was one of the initiators of the Catechetical Summer School (1967), of the first catechetical plan (1967), the Catechetical Council of the Bishops' Conference of Yugoslavia (1970) and author of the first contemporary Croatian catechetical manuals for young people entitled «With Christ through Youth» and «With Faith into Life» (1972).