New Generation of Bachelor’s Graduates of Our University Promoted

On Saturday, 28 February 2026, a ceremonial conferral of degrees was held in the Aula Magna of the Catholic University of Croatia for 203 university Bachelor’s graduates in History, Sociology, Psychology, Communication Sciences and Nursing.

In addition to the graduates and their families, the ceremony was attended by the Rector of the Catholic University of Croatia, Professor Željko Tanjić, PhD; Vice-Rector for Education, Professor Roko Mišetić, PhD; Vice-Rector for Organisation and Business, Professor Gordan Črpić, PhD; Vice-Rector for Science, Professor Roberto Antolović, PhD; Vice-Rector for International Cooperation, Professor Jasna Ćurković Nimac, PhD; and Vice-Rector for Quality, Identity and Mission, Professor Ante Crnčević, PhD; as well as the University Chaplain, faculty members and staff of the Catholic University of Croatia. Representing the Grand Chancellor of the Catholic University of Croatia, the Archbishop of Zagreb, Monsignor Dražen Kutleša, the ceremony was attended by Auxiliary Bishop of Zagreb Monsignor Ivan Šaško, the first Rector of the Catholic University of Croatia.

The graduates were also supported by their Heads of Departments: Associate Professor Mario Kevo, PhD, Head of the University Department of History; Assistant Professor Dragan Glavaš, PhD, Head of the University Department of Psychology; Associate Professor Ivana Brstilo Lovrić, PhD, Head of the University Department of Sociology; Assistant Professor Ivica Matić, PhD, Head of the University Department of Nursing; and Professor Danijel Labaš, PhD, Head of the University Department of Communication Sciences.

The solemn academic ceremony began with a joint prayer led by the University Chaplain, Rev. Branimir Jagodić.

Addressing the graduates, Rector Tanjić emphasised: “We are gathered in our Aula Magna to congratulate you, our Bachelors, with grateful hearts and to thank God for the truth and goodness in which you have grown over three years, through numerous lectures, colloquia, examinations, but also gatherings, conversations and encounters that have led you to this joyful moment of receiving your first – and I am sure for most of you not the last – diploma in your academic journey. I congratulate you wholeheartedly, dear Bachelors, on this day and on your achievement. Behind us is the Holy or Jubilee Year, concluded in the local Churches on the Feast of the Holy Family less than two months ago. At this moment, I find it important to highlight several thoughts that I perceive as strong echoes of the Jubilee of the world of education, that is, the jubilee of university communities. Pope Leo XIV, at an audience with members of the academic community, inspired by the thoughts of St Augustine, emphasised four key points he considers important for Catholic education: interiority, unity, love and joy. These four emphases and pillars – interiority, unity, love and joy – when embedded in our tasks and responsibilities, shape us, and in this way the university can truly be a universitas, oriented versus unum, a step versus unitatem. Thus, academic aspirations and efforts are directed towards the communion of teachers and students in a shared immersion into truth and human knowledge, making all disciplines and all knowledge complementary, building co-responsibility and mutual reliance,” the Rector concluded.

On behalf of the Archbishop of Zagreb, Monsignor Dražen Kutleša, Grand Chancellor of the Catholic University of Croatia, congratulations were extended by Auxiliary Bishop of Zagreb Monsignor Ivan Šaško: “Carissimi promoventuri, dear celebrants, by choosing to study at the Catholic University of Croatia, as you ascend the academic gradus, you have surely noticed that this ascent also requires another direction – descending into depth and discovering the particularity of both your field of study and the University itself. Our University, in every element of its name, shows that it is both old and new, both small and immense. By its founding it marks only twenty years this year, yet it has grown on the branches of a tree whose roots reach centuries back – indeed to the Good News of God who became man… Continue to grow, step by step, joyfully and humbly, and do not overlook the beautiful tension between smallness and immensity. Today this hall is precisely that – a treasury of the mystery of smallness that lives in moments of congratulations, glances and embraces, and reaches far, drawing us with its immensity,” Monsignor Šaško concluded.

The solemn oath on behalf of the graduates from the University Departments of History, Communication Sciences and Psychology was read by Filip Naglić from the University Department of Communication Sciences, while on behalf of the graduates from the University Department of Sociology and the Faculty of Health Studies it was read by Matija Tupek from the Nursing programme of the Faculty of Health Studies, requesting the Rector to confer the Bachelor’s degrees upon them.

Rector’s awards for academic excellence during undergraduate university studies were also presented. The Rector’s award was granted to: Adrijana Kikić (University Department of History), Stella Lukač (University Department of Psychology), Ivana Dramac (University Department of Sociology) and Maja Karolj (University Department of Communication Sciences).

On behalf of the graduates from the University Departments of History, Communication Sciences and Psychology, a speech of gratitude was delivered by Bachelor of History Adrijana Kikić. In her address, she thanked all those who had been part of their academic journey over the past three years. She also referred to the Jubilee Year 2026 and the words of Saint Francis of Assisi – that the Lord may grant us serenity to accept the things we cannot change, courage to change the things we can, and wisdom to discern the difference.

On behalf of the graduates from the University Departments of Sociology and Nursing, Bachelor of Sociology Ivana Dramac addressed the audience, emphasising: “Today we close one chapter, but as we often hear, this day is not an end, but the beginning of new opportunities and responsibilities. The world that awaits us is complex and full of challenges. That is precisely why our knowledge matters. We are called to apply what we have learned and to be a voice of reason, a bridge of dialogue, and drivers of positive change. Let us be proud of ourselves, but also aware that learning is a process that never ends.”