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s2smodern

Fr. Antun Cvek lived for the poor and in most cases, with the poor. He was caring them in his heart and in his mind. He got his nickname “the good ghost of Zagreb”” since he would usually work day and night for the poor, sick, needy and the neglected elderly of Zagreb for over 40 years. News of his death spread like wildfire trough Croatian religious and secular media as he was regarded as an extraordinary man and priest.

Fr. Cvek was born in Zagreb, Bizek, February 10, 1934. After completing primary school in Vrapče, he enrolled in the School of Economics, where he studies the carmaker's craft. Subsequently, when he was already an employee of the Zagreb Electric Tram (ZET), he enrolled and completed his secondary economic school. In those years he reminisces that he was far from faith, but God has not parted from him. After an intense experience of Christ's presence, he realized that Christ is the purpose of life and that his own vocation is in the religious and priestly life. Thus, in 1967, at the age of 33, he joined the Society of Jesus' novitiate, then studied philosophy and theology in Zagreb at Jordanovac, and in 1974 was ordained a priest by the hands of Archbishop Franjo Kuharić.

In 1968 he founded a small group with his fellow Jesuits to visit the old, sick and neglected people. Later, in 1975, as a chaplain at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Zagreb he also included parishioners to this group. He soon established a Community of Christian love as a spiritual and prayer support for field work of his charity. In 1990. from this apostolate, together with his closest associates, he formed a Catholic Association " Kap dobrote" (A drop of goodness). In 2002 he was a founding member of the Bishop Josip Lang Foundation. For years, regardless of weather conditions, fr. Cvek visited the neediest old and poor people who eagerly awaited him. He would visit them often on his bicycle, which became his staple, together with his “proverb” – “The most human needs, is a human”. With material help, he also carried Christ to the poor through the sacraments of reconciliation and the Eucharist, which he considered to be his most valuable contribution. On the way, he did little repairs, using the knowledge he had acquired as a car bodyworker in ZET.

He spent most of his religious life as a member of the Jesuit community in Palmotićeva, and last year as a member of the community at Fratrovac in Zagreb. He has presented his work and spirituality in four books: "The Social Way of the Cross", "From the Journal of Discarded", "I Live, yet I do not Exist", "Remember Me". For his work, and contributions to the people of Zagreb he won numerous awards, witch include; "City of Zagreb Award" (2003 and 2012), the annual award of the Association for the Promotion of Courage, Humanity and Honor "Pride of Croatia" (2008), the Republic of Croatia Award for Life Work in the Field of Humanitarian Work (2012), the annual Red Cross award "Merciful Samaritan" (2013). Croatian Radio and Television broadcasted in 2001 a documentary film about his life and work. He was buried on Thursday, May 30, at Zagreb's Cemetery Mirogoj.

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s2smodern