Josip Mrzljak

Josip Mrzljak ( born January 19, 1944 in Vukovar, Independent State of Croatia) is a bishop of Varaždin.

Life

Josip Mrzljak attended elementary school and middle school in Krašić. In 1959 he continued his education in the Archbishop High School " Šalata " in Zagreb. There he finished his school career in 1963 with the reach of the baccalaureate. His theological studies carried out on the Catholic Faculty of Zagreb. On 16 November 1969 he received by Archbishop Franjo Kuharić in the Zagreb Cathedral the sacrament of Holy Orders and was incardinated in the Archdiocese of Zagreb. His first Mass he celebrated on November 30th of the same year in Krasić. Subsequently, he worked as a chaplain in the parishes of Sigetec, Hrvatski Leskovac and Koprivnica. Then he was eight years pastor in Ozalj and also oversaw the parish of Vrhovac. From 1980 he was for 18 years pastor in Svesvetski Kraljevac; During this time he played a leading role in the construction of a new parish church. In the summer of 1998, Archbishop Josip Bosanić appointed him to the episcopal vicar and canon, as well as Head of the archbishop's Department of vocations.

On 29 December 1998 by Pope John Paul II appointed titular bishop of Caltadria and auxiliary bishop in Zagreb. He received his episcopal consecration Archbishop Bosanić on 6 February 1999 at the Cathedral of Zagreb; Were co-consecrators emeritus Archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal Franjo Kuharić and Archbishop Giulio Einaudi, Apostolic Nuncio in Croatia. Pope Benedict XVI. appointed him on 20 March 2007 as bishop of Varaždin.

Mrzljak is president of the Croatian Caritas and President of the Episcopal Commission for the Croatian Caritas at the Croatian Bishops' Conference.