HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESOLUTIONS - 03121996 - 96-96 v �
qM BOAOW OFStkFERVISOqU
OT CONM COSTA COV9M
In the Matter of PpoCution No.96/96
(Proclaiming Sunday, 911arch 17, 1996, as
"Father Louis Wovich Day"in
Contra Costa County
%NMT,EAS, Father Louis Da6ovich was 6orn on Fe6ruary 23, 1921, in Kostanjica, Tugoslavia. He studied at the
9Kinor Seminary in Split, Tugoslavia,from 1933 to 1939, and at the (Propagation of the Faith CoQege in Vatican
City,from 1939 to 1947 He was ordained a priest on 91farch 17, 1946 and received the Benemerenti Wedalfrom
Pope john Pau[II on Decem6er 8, 1985;and
'G AMP,,EAS, Father Wovich was awarded a Doctoral Degree in Sacred gliieoCogy in 1947. He served as Croatian
Language Broadcaster for Vatican radw from 1946 to 1948. As a young seminarian, Louis Da6ovich was sent to
study in lame in 1939. World'War II closed the 'Yugoslavian border, 6arring his return to his smalr village of
xostanjica. Following the aQsedvictory, the communist government of Tugoslavia fisted the priest as a personna non
grata"6ecause of his 6roadcasts in the Croatian language over Vatican Free Radio. Again, he was 6arred from any
reunion with his fami y. Tu career as a priest 6rought him ultimately to America, and he was not to see his parents
for almost 29 years when his father's deathbed wish was granted, and the son was at last reunited with his family
6ehind the Iron Curtain;and
14,91M �W, Father Wovich arrived in San Francisco, CaC:fornia, in October 1948, and 6ecame a citizen of the
VnitedStates ofAmerica on 5Vovem6er 11, 1954;and
WMT,�W, he served as Associate(Pastor of the Church of the Nativity in San Francisco from 1948 to 1957, of St.
Leander's Church in San Leandro from 1957 to 1962, of St. Bede s Church in Hayward f om 1962 to 1963, and of
SacredHeart Church in Oaklandfrom 1963 to 1965;
WY ET7S, Father Da6ovich is named the founding Pastor of the Church of the Good Shepherd of TPitts6urg in
1965. The parish first fathered in a converted furniture store in the Shopping Heights Center. On August 17, 1969,
ground was broken for a church and rectory on the former V.S.Army site, Camp Stoneman. On Septem6er 6, 1970,
the 6uddzings were dedicated 6y Bishop Floyd L. Begin, 0.0. and the Good Shepherd Parish Hall was dedicated 6y
Bishop john S. Cummins, D.D., onApril12, 1980;and
IV,hST�W, Father Wovich served as a judge on the Oakland Diocesan 94arriage 7ri6unaC as a Senator on the
Oakland Diocesan Priests'Senate, as a Woderator of the East Contra Costa Deanery of the National Council of
Catholic'Women, as a BoardWember of the CathoCu Voice, as a BoardWember of the Stoneman ViMge Senior and
Mandicapped&sidentiat Community in(Pittsburg.
NOW, qM j TOS BE I7 WOL'G+M, that the Board of Supervisors sors of Contra Costa County does hereby
proclaim Sunday, 91farch 17, 1996, as `Father Louis Wovich Day in Contra Costa County" on the occasion of the
50th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood and in grateful recognition of Father Dabovich s dedicated
service to the community.
4>,kM0 6y unanimous vote of the Board9Kem6ers present on this 12th Day of9Karch, 1996.
1 hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of an Order entered on the minutes of said Board of Supenisors on
the date aforesaid.
'Witness my MandandSealof the
Board of Supervisors affixed on
this 12th Day of91larch4 1996
Introduc 6y:
0000
tf7L B OAR,C kof
/ t urs in' a
By:
Supervisor Tom 7oda4on, District Five Deputy