Book Night at the Catholic University of Croatia: Books That Shape and Connect Us

On Thursday, 23 April 2026, the Alumni Association of the Catholic University of Croatia organised Book Night at the University Library—a special evening dedicated to personal stories, experiences, and books that have shaped the life and professional paths of its participants.

The event was opened by the Association’s president, Filip Hren, PhD, who highlighted the importance of marking Book Night, inspired this year by the poem “Pobratimstvo lica u svemiru” by Tin Ujević, as well as the significance of hosting the event for the first time in the University Library. This long-standing cultural initiative has, for fifteen years, affirmed the book as an essential cultural and civilizational phenomenon.

The discussion featured Assist. Prof. Damir Mravunac, PhD, from the University Department of Sociology, Matea Vidulić, mag. comm., a doctoral candidate from the University Department of Communication Studies, and Klara Pavković, a second-year undergraduate sociology student. The conversation was moderated by Karla Žagi, PhD, from the University Department of Sociology.

The central idea of the event was to reflect on books that connect us in different ways—through personal experiences, professional interests, and the values that shape our worldview. Through anecdotes and professional reflections, participants presented titles that had a significant impact on them, fostering an open and engaging dialogue with the audience.

Among the books discussed were Boundaries by Henry Cloud and John Townsend, Logic by Gajo Petrović, and a new translation of the Bible. These works served as starting points for discussions on connection, personal growth, and contemporary social challenges. The audience, invited to bring their own books, actively contributed with questions and reflections.

Book Night once again affirmed the importance of reading as a space for encounter, dialogue, and shared reflection, as well as the role of the academic community in fostering a culture of reading and the exchange of ideas.