Bruno Zorica “Zulu” honoured with Cardinal Stepinac Croatian of the Year Award 2024

Bruno Zorica ‘Zulu’ honoured with Cardinal Stepinac Croatian of the Year Award 2024

Only a couple of days after the protests on St. Mark’s Square in Zagreb, in stark contrast, a dignified and respectful ceremony took place, also on St. Mark’s Square, honouring a true patriot and war hero, the late Bruno Zorica “Zulu”, who was posthumously awarded the fourth annual Cardinal Stepinac – Croatian of the Year Award.

The ceremony was again held in the law office of Don Markušić, situated across from the Croatian Parliament, with a live video connection abroad.   

Bruno Zorica – “Zulu” left Croatia after the 1971 Croatian Spring. He returned to Croatia in 1991 at the outset of the Homeland War and helped organise and train the nascent Croatian defence forces, based on his skills and experience that he acquired in the French Foreign Legion. He formed and trained the first commando unit known as the Frankopan Battalion.

Some of Bruno Zorica – “Zulu’s” brothers in arms were at the Award ceremony and said how he lead them like a father through the biggest storms, always certain of final victory and how “He was the first to carry the cross so that he could bring us along the proud paths of our forefathers, honourably and with our heads held high, to the very altar of our Homeland.”

Similarly, Stepinac bore his cross and continues to guide us with his example and values.

Bruno Zorica – “Zulu” fulfils all of the criteria for the Cardinal Stepinac Croatian of the Year Award, and in particular Stepinac’s values of patriotism, faith, righteousness, truth, love, courage, loyalty, perseverance and determination. 

The Cardinal Stepinac Croatian of the Year Award honours outstanding Croatians from the Diaspora whose selfless dedication and contribution has enhanced the advancement of Croatia and the unity of Croatians living in our Homeland and abroad.

Monsignor Juraj Batelja, Postulator for the canonisation of Blessed Alojzije Stepinac, presented the award to Bruno Zorica -“Zulu’s” widow and daughter who were proudly accepted it on behalf of their late husband and father. 

The Cardinal Stepinac – Croatian of the Year Award is yet another way of connecting our Croatian diaspora with our Homeland, which this year’s recipient exemplifies.

Previous recipients of the Cardinal Stepinac – Croatian of the Year Award include Marko Franović (2021, Australia), the late Miljenko Mike Grgich (2022, USA) and (Fra. Vuk Buljan, Germany, 2023).    

The Cardinal Stepinac – Croatian of the Year Award is organised by “Hrvatski Domoljubi” whose founding members are Ante Mihaljević (Sydney), Pater Ike, Marinko Šušak and Don Markušić.