(ANS – Roma) – Fr Pejo Orkić has been appointed the  new Superior of the Salesian “Saint John Bosco” Province of Croatia. The decision was taken on Thursday 22 December by the Rector Major with the3 agreement of his Council. Fr Orkić will assume office in June 2012.

Fr Pejo was born on 19 January 1966 at Kopanice, in the north of Bosnia, the second of five children. In 1989 he entered the Salesian novitiate in Podsused, and on 15 August 1990 he made his first profession. Having completed his studies of philosophy he did his practical training in Rijeka and in Chieri, Italy. Between 1993 and 1996 he studied Theology at the Salesian Pontifical University in Rome, making his perpetual profession in 1995. He was ordained priest on 19 July 1997 at Kopanice, in Bosnia.

Having worked for two years in the novitiate of Lanuvio, he returned to Crozia, where he was in charge of the formation communities in Rijeka and then in Zagreb. During the three year period 2001-2003 he was Rector of Podsused and between 2003 and 2009 he was Youth Ministry Delegate. In 2008 he became Rector and parish priest in Knežija, giving special attention to youth ministry.

The current Provincial Fr Ivan Marijanović, reponded to the appointment of his successor with these words: “Ii is my prayer that Fr Pejo will provide a good service to the confreres and to the Province for the  glory of God and for the benefit of the confreres, the Salesian Family and all those to whom we are sent, under the protection of Mary Hep of Christians and be accompanied by the abundant blessings of the Lord.”

Published 27/12/2011