Chicago area Croatians laud Cupich appointment

The Croatian community in Chicago is ecstatic about the naming of a Roman Catholic archbishop who shares their heritage, one of its leaders said Saturday.

Bishop Blase Cupich, of Spokane, Washington, was appointed Saturday to succeed Cardinal Francis George. All four of his Croatian grandparents make their way independently to Omaha, Nebraska, in the early 20th century, finding jobs in the city's meatpacking houses.

"The Croatian community is very ecstatic today," said the Rev. Joe Grbes, head of the Croatian-American Franciscans of North America and a leader in the Croatian community. "After being present in the Chicagoland area for more than 175 years, we have a new archbishop of Chicago who is very proud of his Croatian origins."

The Chicago area is home to more than 250,000 Catholics of Croatian descent, said Maria Dugandzic-Pasic, author of "Croatians of Chicagoland." At least three Catholic parishes in Chicago hold Mass in the Croatian language.​

Cupich, 65, is one of nine children and a native of Omaha, Nebraska, where he was ordained a priest. He holds degrees from The Pontifical Gregorian University and The Catholic University of America. In the 1980s, he worked on the staff of the Vatican embassy in Washington. He was appointed bishop of Rapid City, South Dakota, in 1998, and served there until 2010, when he was appointed to Spokane.