Student Restaurant "Manducath" officially opened

The student restaurant “Manducath” at the campus of the Catholic University of Croatia (CUC) was blessed and officially opened for use on Monday, 8 December 2025.

The blessing ceremony and opening were attended by numerous distinguished guests: Msgr Dražen Kutleša, Archbishop of Zagreb and Grand Chancellor of CUC; Prof. Stjepan Lakušić, PhD, Rector of the University of Zagreb; Assoc. Prof. Iva Ivanković, PhD, State Secretary at the Ministry of Science, Education and Youth; Mr Mario Župan, Director of the Student Centre; vice-rectors, department heads and their deputies, deans, vice-deans, academic staff, university employees, and many students of our University.

The gathering was first addressed by the Rector of CUC, Prof. Željko Tanjić, PhD:

“At last, this day has come – and on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Thanks be to God, we now have a student restaurant. Since I became rector – and that has not been a short period of time – not a single conversation or meeting with students has passed without the inevitable question: ‘Rector, when will we get a canteen?’ My answers varied, from ‘Be patient’ to ‘Soon’. Sometimes it was humorous, sometimes dramatic, because we were all aware of how necessary a student restaurant is for students, but also how important it is for the quality and reputation of a developing university, and how decisive the level of student standard is when choosing a place of study. And we truly care about that. Renovated and new facilities, a new university library, and a campus with a student residence currently being equipped — all testify to the importance of the quality of student life at the Catholic University of Croatia, to which this administration gives special attention. And if you asked me what is the most important achievement of all these years and what we awaited the most, without hesitation I would say: this student restaurant and this very day, in the academic year in which we celebrate the twentieth anniversary of our University.”

Mario Župan, Director of the Zagreb Student Centre, emphasized:

“This is the first restaurant that the Zagreb Student Centre has opened on the campus of another university. The cooperation between SC and CUC has been, and remains, excellent, and its first successful result is the opening of this restaurant… Dear students, we are here for you, to provide the highest possible level of service.”

On behalf of the CUC Student Council, its president Pero Josip Maslać addressed the audience:

“If someone had told me five years ago that I would be giving a speech at the opening of the canteen at the Catholic University of Croatia… honestly, I wouldn’t have known how to react. Right now, I feel as if I am dreaming and wouldn’t want to wake up before eating my first meal. Jokes aside, the day has finally arrived — the opening of the student restaurant ‘Manducath’. I would like to thank the Archdiocese, the administration of the Catholic University of Croatia, the Student Centre, and everyone who contributed to making this day possible, as well as my fellow students for their patience.”

In the name of the Minister of Science, Education and Youth, the State Secretary, Assoc. Prof. Iva Ivanković, PhD, spoke and emphasized that this represents another step toward improving the standard of students and higher education in the Republic of Croatia.

The opening ceremony continued with a blessing led by the Archbishop of Zagreb, Msgr Dražen Kutleša, who introduced the rite with the following words:

“The body is the bearer of life force, capable of action and of building the world, yet it is also fragile, transient, and in need of nourishment and care. God gave our body its fragility so that no one might become proud of their own strength. Our need for food reminds us that we are not sufficient unto ourselves, but are creatures dependent on one another and on all of creation. By sharing a meal, we nourish our bodies, but we also nourish our communities and renew our awareness of how much we need the help and closeness of others.”

It should be noted that the restaurant “Manducath” has seating for 250 guests and will be open every working day from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. It is equipped with a modern kitchen and a self-service line, and it will offer students a varied daily menu as well as special meal options within the subsidized student dining system. The price of a subsidized student meal using the popular X-card is €0.86, with the meal price protected by a decision of the Government of the Republic of Croatia. Other guests may purchase meals according to the restaurant’s regular price list.