- Published: 23.09.2019.
FM attends marking of CFU 125th anniversary
Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman, on behalf of the Croatian prime minister, attended a ceremony marking the 125th anniversary of the establishment of the Croatian Fraternal Union (CFU) in Pittsburgh
Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman, on behalf of the Croatian prime minister, attended a ceremony marking the 125th anniversary of the establishment of the Croatian Fraternal Union (CFU) in Pittsburgh. The main guest of the ceremony was Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović.
The CFU is the oldest and largest fraternal benefit society of the Croatian diaspora in the US. Since its inception, it has played an important role among Croats employed primarily in the mining and steel industries. It is dedicated to the preservation of the Croatian language, culture and identity, as well as helping the motherland.
Grlić Radman congratulated Edward CFU President Pazo on this important anniversary, stressing that Croatia would never forget the help the CFU had extended during and after the Homeland War.
“You contributed to the building of the modern Croatian state and society, and are responsible for our joint success. The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs will continue to be a partner to the CFU and our expats, while the doors of our embassies and consulates will remain open for any assistance in nurturing our relations – the strengthening of the Croatian patriotic spirit and love for your and our Croatia,” said Grlić Radman in his address and inviting the expats to business cooperation with Croatia, exclaiming: “Let’s unite our hearts into one big Croatian heart!”
The ceremony also included a mass at the St Nicholas Church led by the Archbishop of Chicago, Cardinal Blaž Čupić, with the concelebration by the Bishop of Pittsburgh Allen Zubik and several priests. Grlić Radman visited the mural by Maxo Vanka and the Bernard M. Luketich Museum of Croatian Culture, home to one of the largest collections of Croatian cultural heritage abroad.
During his stay in Pittsburgh, Grlić Radman also met with National Federation of Croatian Americans Steve Rukavina.