(ANS, Vatican, 31 May 2017) – In view of the beatification of Fr. Titus Zeman, Salesian Martyr for the Salvation of Vocations – scheduled in Bratislava on 30 September 2017 – the Salesians of Slovakia, led by the Inspector Fr Jozef Ižold, and the Archdiocese of Bratislava , guided by the city’s archbishop, Msgr. Stanislav Zvolenský, have initiated a synergistic collaboration in three areas: the prayers, the knowledge of Don Zeman and his charisma, and the organizational, liturgical and technical preparations. 

The visit of Fr Jozef Slivoň, deputy vice-postulator of the Cause of Beatification and Canonization of Don Titus, took place in the Vatican where he co-celebrated Mass with Pope Francis at the “Santa Marta” building. After Mass, Fr Jozef gave the Holy Father a small relic of the martyr, and a new biography of Don Zeman entitled “Beyond the River to Salvation”, by Lodovica Maria Zanet, an Italian translation of the biography, “Titus Zeman SDB mučeník pre záchranu povolaní”, or Titus Zeman SDB, martyr for the salvation of vocations, by Michal Titus Radošinský.

The Holy Father, joyfully accepting the books, revered the relic and sent his blessing.

ANS, rhsdb, foto © L’Osservatore Romano