Articles for author: Mark Plavetich

21 veljače, 2025

Mark Plavetich

Croatian History Series explores Croatian myths and legends on 4th webinar

On Saturday, February 8th, the National Federation of Croatian Americans Cultural Foundation hosted a captivating webinar hosted by Judi Zivic, Chair of the Croatian History Series’ Committee about Croatian Legends with guests, Vjera Zeljka Vugrin and Katarina Balen Kufner. The Croatian Legends will be the fourth episode of the Croatian History Series Committee.  The Croatian Legends webinar was seen by over 28 participants and both Vjera and Katarina shared their knowledge and passion for the Croatian history and folklore that have inspired and captivated Croatians of all ages for generations. Vjera introduced the webinar by thanking NFCA for allowing her

15 siječnja, 2025

Mark Plavetich

Kelce brothers’ Croatian heritage has deep Gorski Kotar roots

After sharing their recently discovered Croatian heritage with WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark on Saturday, January 4th, the news of Travis and Jason Kelce has spread like wildfire in the Croatian diaspora media. “We found out recently we’re Croatian. We didn’t even know! That’s why I was so excited when you said Croatia…” Jason said, responding enthusiastically after Caitlin shared her love for Croatia while visiting both Italy and Croatia. Travis also responded, “Yes, I got some (Croatian) blood!”  On Facebook, an article posted by Croatia Week shared a clip of Caitlin Clark’s interview on the Kelce brothers’ podcast, New Heights.

14 siječnja, 2025

Mark Plavetich

Milanovic wins Presidency and how Croatian Americans can vote

President of Croatia, Zoran Milanovic, has won a second term for the office of the Presidency and will be reelected President of Croatia. The preliminary round counted 98.65% of votes at the polling stations in Croatia. Milanovic of the Socijaldemokratska partija Hrvatske (SDP), after winning the first round with 49% of the votes, led the landslide win for the Presidency with 74.68% of the votes. His opponent of the Hrvatska demokratska zajednica (HDZ), Dragan Primorac, won 25.32% of the votes. Croatia’s overall turnout after the polling stations closed was 44.18% out of the 3,496,283 registered voters. “Thank you, Croatia!”, said

22 prosinca, 2024

Mark Plavetich

Movie Review: The Conversation is a Masterful Recreation of the Meeting that Shaped Croatia Forever

WARNING: This article contains some movie spoilers! The Conversation is a powerful Croatian film directed by Dominik Sedlar originally released in 2022 and finally released in the U.S. and Canada on December 6 on-demand via stream platforms including fandango and is available online to purchase on DVD. The movie can be rented for $5 via streaming in English with Croatian subtitles. The Conversation is an historical drama that recreates the only recorded meeting between the General Secretary of Yugoslavia, Josip Broz Tito (played by Caspar Phillipson) and the Archbishop of Zagreb and the Head of the Croatian Catholic Church, Blessed

2 prosinca, 2024

Mark Plavetich

Croatian American Wins House Seat for Alaska

On November 20, Businessman Nick Begich III, endorsed by President-elect Donald Trump, won the sole seat of the House of Representatives for the Republican party, defeating Representative Mary Peltola after completing her first term in office. After unofficial rank choice voting tabulations were calculated, Begich won 51.3% of the votes from Congresswoman Peltola with 48.7% of the votes during the second round. Begich’s victory demonstrates a flip in the House from Democrat to Republican where they now lead by 219 seats in the House as the majority and the Democrats are the minority with 213 seats. “Together, we will tackle

25 studenoga, 2024

Mark Plavetich

Vukovar seen through the eyes of young Croatian American today

By Mark Plavetic November 18th and the 20th are days of painful memories for Croatians around the world where 33 years ago Vukovar, a port city on the edge of Danube in the Srijem region in Slavonia, was captured by the JNA and Serbian paramilitary forces comprised of Chetnik extremists. At least 1,739 people were killed, mainly civilians and 2,500 wounded, over 22,000 non-Serbs forcefully displaced and more than 1,700 are still missing during the 87-day siege which started a bloody war that will test the Croatian resilience for independence. On November 18, the memory of the dead is still

30 listopada, 2024

Mark Plavetich

11 Athletes of Croatian descent inducted into the Croatian American Sports Hall of Fame in Pittsburgh PA

On Saturday, October 26th, the National Federation of Croatian Americans Cultural Foundation (NFCACF) presented its 2024 Croatian American Sports Hall of Fame (CAS-HOF) Induction Ceremony and Dinner at the Pittsburgh Marriott City Center in downtown Pittsburgh. This banquet celebrated the extraordinary achievements of twelve incredible athletes of Croatian descent who made an indelible mark in the world of sports. The ceremony sold out with 330 dinner guests and family members and friends of the athletes with all the NFCACF delegates in town with another 100 plus Croatian Fraternal Union members. The weekend began with an evening reception on October 25th at the

24 listopada, 2024

Mark Plavetich

Six Western PA Sports Legends To Be Honored at Sold Out Croatian American Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvanians are well represented as the Croatian American Sports Hall of Fame Committee who welcomes eleven new members this Saturday evening on October 26th at the Pittsburgh Marriott Center City Hotel downtown. Pitt legends, Bill Fralic, Ralph Cindrich, and Tim Grgurich will be joined by Penn State football star Jim Laslovic of Etna, Pittsburgh softball star Paul Tomasovich and boxing world champion Fritzie Zivic who grew up in Lawrenceville highlight the impressive class of 2024. Along with Laslovic, is Georgia Bulldog football star Frank Sinkwich of Youngstown, Ohio, who won the Heisman Trophy in 1942, making him the

14 rujna, 2024

Mark Plavetich

The Holiest Croatian Marian Chapels in the Nation’s Capital

Washington DC- On Sunday September 8th, about 100 Croatians attended an annual mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception for the celebration of Mala Gospa (the Nativity of the Virgin Mary). This celebration was organized by the Hrvatska Katolička Misija Sv. Blaža (Croatian Catholic Mission of St. Blaise) and was celebrated in the Croatian language by Fr. Maurus Dolčić at the Crypt Church. in the largest Catholic church in United States and one of the 10 largest churches in the world. Croatians came from various counties and cities, including Frederick, Maryland; Richmond, Virginia; King George,

18 kolovoza, 2024

Mark Plavetich

Velika Gospa in Croatia and the United States

August 15th marks the Feast of  Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary or Velika Gospa, a national holiday in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. At least tens of thousands of Catholics embarked to pilgrimages to at least 20 Marian sites devoted to the Blessed Mother, including 50,000 reported at the Shrine of Marija Bistrica. The national holiday marks the day that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was ascended into heaven with both her body and soul, which honors her royal status in heaven and in the presence of God. The veneration of Mary dates to the early Christian communities and