ZAGREB, 23 March (Hina) - The Archbishop of Zagreb,  Dražen Kutleša, has appointed Rev. Andrew Bayala, a member of the Missionary Society of St. Vincent de Paul, as the chaplain for the Filipino community in this Catholic archdiocese, according to a press release issued by the Archdiocese of Zagreb on Friday.

The dignitary met with Filipino priest Bayala in his office at Kaptol in Zagreb.

Welcoming him to Croatia, the Archbishop wished Bayala an abundance of God's blessings in his new role, as stated in the press release.

The Commissioner for Migrant and Tourist Pastoral Care of the Archdiocese of Zagreb, Anđelko Katanec, told Hina that Mass for the Filipino faithful will be held for some time at 9 AM in the Church of St. Vincent de Paul in Frankopanska Street, and at 5 PM in the Parish of St. Barbara in Gornje Vrapče.

Katanec also noted that Andrew Bayal is the first priest to serve the Filipino community permanently, after four priests who temporarily served them in the Archdiocese of Zagreb.

Andrew Sebial Bayal is a priest from the Philippines. He arrived in Croatia on 8 March, and his main task is pastoral care for the Filipino community in the Archdiocese of Zagreb.

In October 2024, Croatia and the Philippines signed a memorandum of understanding on labour cooperation. Addressing a conference organised by the Croatian Employers' Association on the recruiting of Filipinos by Croatian employers, Croatia's officials said that the memorandum is aimed at making the import of foreign workers safer and better, without any grey zones.

An estimated 10,000 Filipino workers are in Croatia.