“On the path of God. My little catechism” is the title of the bilingual catechism published by the Committee of the Croatian Bishops’ Conference for pastoral activities among the Roma, presented in Zagreb in recent days. Written in two Romany dialects, Lovar and Bayah, and edited by Sister Karolina Miljak, this is the first catechism dedicated to the Romany gipsies present on Croatian soil. The result of many years’ pastoral experience and born from the collaboration between pastoral workers in the sector, catechists and experts in Romany languages, “the catechism was conceived for the use of families and children” says the chairman of the aforesaid committee, Msgr. Marko Culej. The vicar general of the archdiocese of Zagreb, Msgr. Vladimir Stankovic, expressed the hope that the little book would meet with “a warm welcome in Croatia” and “a kind reception in the rest of the world”. Stankovic also summed up the organization of pastoral care among the Romany population. “One of the most important aspects of Romany culture is the telling of stories; the fusion between the real and unreal, the humdrum and the extraordinary, is typical of Romany tradition. The religious, liturgical and pedagogical contents of the catechism – observed Ivica Pazin, who heads the national office for catechism -, accompanied by the vividness of the illustrations, link the faith with the culture of the Roma, and with the religious culture of Croatia”. “Furnishing Romany children with a handbook of religious knowledge, to be used either alone or with their parents”, and adapting it to their own culture, as is characteristic of the faith and of the Church: these, concluded Sister Miljak, are the motivations that led to the preparation of the catechism.
