date: 29.10.2007.
As a result of the redeployment of the members of the Herzegovinian Franciscan Province of the Assumption of Mary, two new priests were appointed chaplains to Medjugorje: Fr. Miljenko Šteko and Fr. Danko Perutina.
Fr. Miljenko Šteko was born 1969 in Tomislavgrad. On completion of both the elementary and secondary school cycles, he entered the Franciscan Order. After his Novitiate, he studied philosophy in Zagreb (Jesuit Faculty), theology in Bologna (Italy), and post-graduate studies at the Franciscan Antonianum Pontifical University in Rome. He subsequently obtained a doctorate in spirituality at the Teresianum Pontifical University, also in Rome.
He was ordained a priest in 1996 in Frohnleiten (Austria). He served in Humac, Posušje and Zagreb. Within the Province, as Secretary for formation and studies, he was educator of the seminarians, novices and students of theology. For several years, he was president of the Commission for formation and for studies at the Croatian Conference of Higher religious superiors, in addition to his membership of other Councils and Commissions. In April 2007, he was elected Vicar of the Herzegovinian Franciscan Province. He now serves in Medjugorje since his new appointment as parish chaplain in August 2007.
Fr. Danko Perutina was born in 1970 in Sarajevo. On completion of his elementary and secondary schooling, he entered the Franciscan Order in Herzegovina. After his Novitiate, he studied theology in Zagreb.
He was ordained a priest in Norval (Canada) in 1999. He served as chaplain and assistant to the Master of the seminarians in Humac from September 1999 to March 2001, and as chaplain in Medjugorje from March 2001 to October 2002. Then, from October 2002 to October 2005, he studied Mariology in Rome, where he post-graduated from the Marianum Pontifical Faculty of Theology with the theme: “The Virgin Mary in intellectual and spiritual education”. He served as assistant to the Novice master and master of postulants since June 2005, became a member of the Council for education and formation in August 2005, and was also a member of the Administration of the “Merciful Father” Community since May 2006. He currently serves as chaplain to Medjugorje since his reappointment in August 2007.
