Ceremonial promotion of university bachelors in history, sociology, psychology, communication studies and nursing

On Saturday, March 1, 2025, the promotion of 174 university bachelor's degrees in history, sociology, psychology, communication studies, and nursing was held in the Great Hall of the Catholic University of Croatia.
 

The ceremonial promotion, along with the bachelors and their families, was attended by the rector prof. Željko Tanjić, PhD, Vice-Rector for Education, prof. Roko Mišetić, PhD, Vice-Rector for Organization and Business, prof. Gordan Črpić, PhD, Vice-Rector for Science, prof. Roberto Antolović, PhD, Vice-Rector for International Cooperation, prof. Jasna Ćurković Nimac, PhD, and Vice-Rector for Quality, Identity and Mission, prof. Ante Crnčević, PhD, the University Chaplain, the Secretary of the University, professors and employees of the University. The ceremonial promotion on behalf of the Grand Chancellor of our University, Archbishop of Zagreb, Msgr. Dražen Kutleša, was attended by the Auxiliary Bishop of Zagreb, Msgr. Ivan Šaško, the first Rector of the Catholic University of Croatia.
 

Promovents were also supported by their Department heads, assoc. prof. Mario Kevo, assoc. prof. Dragan Glavaš, Assoc. prof. Ivana Brstilo Lovrić, Assoc. prof. Ivica Matić, and prof. Danijel Labaš.

The ceremonial academic act began with a joint prayer led by the university chaplain, Rev. Branimir Jagodić.

 

The Rector, in his speech addressed the gathered graduates, emphasizing: "You, our dear bachelors, are those who are called to be witnesses and signs of hope to all those to whom you have been gifted in life. Do not be discouraged, do not lose your enthusiasm and youthful joy. Saint Bonaventure wrote that the movement of hope is similar to the flight of a bird that must completely spread its wings to fly and uses all its strength to move its wings, making itself a movement and thereby reaching heights. Hope is flight and requires radical commitment from us. I pray to the Lord to always give you strength and be a source of hope on all your life paths so that you can fly for a long, long time with your wings spread and be a sign of hope that does not shame us all. Be persistent and I am already looking forward to all your and our joint achievements filled with hope."

On behalf of the Archbishop of Zagreb, Msgr. Dražen Kutleša, Grand Chancellor of the Catholic University of Croatia, the Auxiliary Bishop of Zagreb, Msgr. Ivan Šaško, offered his congratulations. Speaking in his congratulatory message about the ceremonial academic act of promoting university bachelors, Bishop Šaško said that it reminded him of the Garden of Hope. "In the Jubilee Year, permeated with contents that peek through and are built on the mystery of (Christian) hope, the image of the Garden full of hope somehow seems most attractive to me. Generally speaking: teaching and learning, research and discovery, the days of every teacher and student, as well as the common life at the University, are soaked in hopes, with a view towards horizons wider than transience."... and added: "The image of a garden points to both strength and tenderness. It shows what wealth is and what poverty can do; it alleviates hunger, preserves memories, awakens nostalgia and new strength; it can be fenced off and open. Even if it is neglected, it retains an invisible strength within itself. For this reason, both at this University of ours and as Catholic university students outside it, we need to care for gardens of hope, and this is easiest if we pay attention to: modesty, humility, detachment from earthly things; if we do not burden our hearts with some false wealth that prevents us from meeting our neighbors; if we do not cover up the hunger within us with a satiety that slows down love; if we do not accept the hardness that would not allow us to cry; if we are not afraid of being ostracized from some space of apparent security, so that somewhere 'outside' we can create new gardens of hope."
 

The solemn oath on behalf of the candidates from the University Department of History, the University Department of Communication sciences and the University Department of Psychology was read by Hrvoje Crnogaj from the University Department of History, and on behalf of the candidates from the University Department of Sociology and the University Department of Nursing by Antonio Pehar from the University Department of Sociology, asking the rector to award them their bachelor's degrees.
 

Rector's Commendations were also awarded for academic excellence during graduate university studies. The Rector's Commendations were received by: Luka Mihanović (University Department of History), Lara Rako (University Department of Psychology), Antonio Treppo (University Department of Sociology), Iva Gligora (University Department of Communication), Ana Marija Golub (University Department of Nursing) and Hrvoje Pili (University Department of Nursing).
 

On behalf of the undergraduates from the University Departments of History, Communication Studies and Psychology, the acceptance speech was given by the university's undergraduate psychology student Lara Rako. In her speech, she thanked the University and its staff, families, and professors for their authoritative approach, but also their warmth in challenging moments, which helped them persevere in their studies. She also reflected on all the new friendships that have been formed over the years, emphasizing that by simply looking around, each of the graduates certainly knows that they have colleagues, and more than that - friends.

On behalf of the bachelors from the University Departments of Sociology and Nursing, the university bachelor of nursing Hrvoje Pili addressed the students, who emphasized: "I believe that the last three years of studying have passed quickly for all my colleagues, filled with quality experiences. In other words, there have been ups and downs from which we have all learned something. In all those moments, I can truly confirm that the professors and staff of the University have been there for us. I would like to thank you for selflessly sharing your knowledge and skills, for your patience during our doubts and demands, but most of all, thank you for teaching us and guiding us on the right path in building our professional and personal identity. Knowledge is the key that allows us to think critically and to ask ourselves questions and seek answers. It is inalienable and carries with it responsibility. With knowledge, we are responsible to ourselves and our colleagues, our sociologist colleagues are responsible to society, and we in nursing, most of all, to patients, sick or healthy, on whom our profession is based. "We all must act ethically in our professions and make evidence-based decisions because society as a whole and our patients deserve well-being above all else. Therefore, let us be aware of the knowledge and strength we possess and I encourage you to continue working on yourself, to learn and to research."

The academic ceremony was enhanced by the Ivan Goran Kovačić Folklore Ensemble with performances of the Croatian national anthem, the Slavonian folk song "Three Sisters-In-Law Harvested Wheat" and the academic anthem "Gaudeamus Igitur".