September 18, 2019 – Pittsburgh, PA – Her Excellency Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, President of the Republic of Croatia, will be visiting the city of Pittsburgh, home to the headquarters of the Croatian Fraternal Union of America (CFU), in honor of the Society’s 125th Anniversary Celebration. The visit, scheduled for this Sunday, September 22, 2019, will begin with a Jubilee Mass held at St. Nicholas Church (Millvale), a distinguished Shrine Church of Croatian heritage, followed by a gala anniversary banquet at the Wyndham Grand Hotel Pittsburgh. The Anniversary Celebration falls on the eve of the 25th Quadrennial Convention of the Society.
“This will be one very special weekend celebration and we are so pleased to have so many prominent Croatian diplomats, Croatian Americans and American officials, attending our Sunday banquet on September 22nd, says Edward Pazo, National President of the Croatian Fraternal Union.
Distinguished guests for the Anniversary Celebration include: His Eminence Cardinal Blasé Cupich, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Chicago, IL and His Excellency David A. Zubik, Bishop of Pittsburgh. Dignitaries representing the Republic of Croatia include: His Excellency Gordan Grlić-Radman, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia, Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia Andrej Plenković; Pjer Šimunović, Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to the United States; and Zdravka Bušić, State Secretary for Political Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign & European Affairs; Mijo Maric and Mirjana Piskulic representatives of the Croatian Homeland Foundation.
National and local dignitaries attending will include: U.S. Congressman Mike Doyle, representing the 18th Congressional District of the U.S. House of Representatives and a founding member of the House Congressional Croatian Caucus; Mayor William Peduto of the City of Pittsburgh; and Rich Fitzgerald, Allegheny County Executive.
The CFU is the largest Croatian organization outside of Croatia and in its 125th year of existence. Headquartered in Wilkins Township, PA, CFU has more than 30,000 members in Southwestern Pennsylvania and nearing 50,000 members globally. It is a fraternal benefit organization based on a program of benevolence, service to its members and the communities in which they live.
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