BishopAccountability.org
	Former Portland Pastor Dies Catholic Sentinel March 31, 2000 SAN JOSE, Calif. - Franciscan Father Joseph Mikulich, former pastor of St. Stanislaus Parish in North Portland, died March 15 at his home here. He was 101. Father Mikulich was pastor of St. Stanislaus Parish in North Portland from 1962 to 1982, soon after which he moved to California to retire. He was drafted in World War I and was a chaplain in World War II. A native of Croatia, he was one of only 53 priests to survive the exodus from the country in 1945. The exodus brought him to Oakland, Calif., where he served as a chaplain to the Franciscan Missionary Sisters there, and to Poor Clare Sisters who had fled China. From Oakland, he went to Los Angeles where he worked as a chaplain for unwed mothers. He then moved to Roy, and later to Portland to help out his cousin, Father Milan Mikulich. Father Milan Mikulich was also administrator of St. Stanislaus Parish alongside him from 1957 to 1964. Father Milan was administrator of the historic St. Patrick Church in Northwest Portland from 1972 to 1985 - and the first pastor of St. Birgitta Parish in Northwest Portland. Father Joseph Mikulich was born April 3, 1898, in Prolozak, Imotski, Croatia. He worked as a shepherd before leaving home at age 12 to study for the priesthood. At 17 he professed Franciscan vows and was ordained in Croatia in 1922. His first assignment as a priest was as a teacher in the Franciscan seminary at Sinj. He was then sent to the monasteries at Sibenik and Omis where he served the surrounding communities by traveling on foot, horseback and small boat before coming to the United States. He is survived by his niece Patricia Litaker of Oregon; and nephews John Mikulich, Kansas City, Mo.; and Zlatko Pulic of Germany. His body was transported back to Croatia for burial.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.