September 2018 – The birth of a Priory in Croatia
Everything started during a reception the day before the International Solemn Investiture in Malta 2018 when the new Serving Brother Branko Skarec for the first time met Prince
Grand Master, HIRH Prince Sandor Habsburg-Lothringen. Serving Brother Branko told the Prince Grand Master that he is from Sweden but was born in Zagreb, Croatia but as far as he knew there were no Grand Priory Croatia. The Prince Grand Master confirmed that but able said that if there is a driven person who wants to establish an operation in Croatia, that person is welcome to to that, regardless if he or she is a Knight, Dame, Serving Brother or Serving Sister.
Returning back to Sweden and together me (at the moment Prior in St Ansgar in Stockholm) we made the first plans and calls. The Grand Prior of Sweden, the Grand Chancellor and the Prince Grand Master were informed and approved the coming steps.
Several meetings were held in Stockholm examining the possibility in establishing a Commandery or Priory. After discussions with the Grand Chancellor and Prince Grand Master, we agreed upon the fact that we have to be more swift in recruiting the new members but with the same quality as normal. The focus was to find members to the coming leadership, board and Commandery or Priory Officers. A task force was formed with Serving Brother Branko Skarec, Serving Sister Lena Mårdfalk and I. Priory St Ansgar was to become the mentor in this process. The decision was that the new prospects should be members in Grand Priory Sweden and that Grand Priory Sweden was responsible for the establishment.
Serving Brother Branko Skarec and Serving Sister Mårdfalk went to Zagreb and after several meetings reported back that they now had 13 new prospect members to Priory St Ansgar, the coming bricks tones for a Priory. Among the 13 new members there were five members with potential of being board members. Their application form was filled in and left to Priory St Ansgar and Grand Priory Sweden.
The Prince Grand Master, The Grand Chancellor, The Secretary General was informed together with the Grand Prior of Sweden. The Commandery Sveti (Saint) Antun (The Saint for all children) was formed after a decision in Priory St Ansgar and Grand Priory of Sweden. The Commandery was under the guidance of and support from the new Chancellor, former Prior in St Ansgar.
January 2019
After a brief with the Prince Grand Master, we decided to arrange a gathering with dinner in Vienna welcoming the new Sisters and Brothers. In the same brief we discussed a timetable and leadership for the coming Grand Priory. The outcome was to appoint Pro Tempore Officers for Sveti Antun since they are not Knighted and Promoted yet and that the guidance should still be under Grand Priory Sweden. The coming Grand Priory could be lead by a Senior Officer from Sweden for example. I was appointed Chancellor and overall responsible for the establishing of a Priory and coming Grand Priory in Croatia. The Grand Prior of Sweden was fully informed and supported the idea.
February – in Zagreb
Journey by car to Zagreb via a meeting with the Grand Prior of Hungary and Information Officer in Budapest. Participants were Serving Brother Branko Skarec, Serving Sister Lena Mårdfalk and I. We decided to create a bridge between Grand Priory Hungary and Sveti Antun and Grand Prior Árpád will personally support this. Arrival to Zagreb and established a command centre and living area on the ridge of Zagreb for me and other participants from Grand Priory Sweden in the house of new Serving Sister Ewa Engström. Several meetings with the coming board of Sveti Antun in Zagreb. During the stay in Zagreb we briefed the Prince Grand Master, the Grand Chancellor and Grand Prior of Sweden. The First welcome meeting with dinner with the new members in Sveti Antun with information about our history, aim and task as a chivalric Knight Order. We held an initial ceremony for all new Serving Sisters and Brothers with a certificate and pin for each and every one. After the meeting the the new board was formed.
Two proud new board members, the Pro Tempere Prior, Serving Brother Aron Grezela and Pro Tempere Dep. Prior Katica Mihaljevic.
March 2019
After the annual meeting in Grand Priory Sweden in Östersund a short board meeting was held. During the board meeting the decision was taken to upgrade the Commandery into a Priory, Priory Saint Antun, Zagreb
April 2019
A new travel to Zagreb by car and several new meetings in Zagreb ending with a common barbeque at the house of Serving Sister Ewa Engström.
27thof April 2019
The Gathering and Solemn dinner was held in Vienna, hosted by our Royal Protector, HIRH Princess Herta Margarethe Habsburg-Lothringen with support from our Prince Grand Master, HIRM Prince Sandor Habsburg-Lothringen. During the dinner a ceremony for the new Serving Sisters and Brothers were held and the new Sisters and Brothers were welcomed into our Order. A certificate and pin were given all the new Sisters and Brothers. Three honorary awards were also handed over during the dinner to Serving Brother Branko Skarec, Serving Sister Lena Mårdfalk and I.
May 2019
The formal platform for a NGO and non-profit organisation is now established and a bank account is created. There are in total 21 members in Sveti Antun and the efforts in starting the second Priory with at least 12 new members has started.
All this was due to two components. The support from the Prince Grand Master, the Chancellor and the Grand Prior of Sweden and two fantastic new members, Serving Brother Branko Skarec and Serving Sister Lena Mårdfalk.
Author
Chev. Mikael Hagansbo, COSJ Chancellor Grand Priory Sweden