by Elizabeth Lukic and Valentina Zuzic
A reassignment can happen on paper overnight. In a parish, it echoes for months.
It is hard to put into words the sense of loss that comes when someone who has become part of the very fabric of your parish is suddenly moved. There are priests who serve faithfully, and then there are priests who change you — those who shape a community in ways that will be felt for years to come.
Father Saša Ilijić is one of those priests.
Father Ilijić, who arrived at Most Precious Blood Church in Astoria in 2020, serving first as parochial vicar and then as administrator, knew the members of the parish not just by name, but in heart. He recognized the quiet struggles behind polite smiles. He rejoiced in victories that others might overlook. He made each person feel seen and heard.
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What made Father Ilijić especially remarkable was his gift for working with the youth. He drew them in with an attitude that was honest, attentive, and rooted in the Gospel. His homilies made the faith livable. He reminded young people that the Church is not only a building they visit, but a home where they belong.
He didn’t only draw young people in; he formed them. Over the years, Father Ilijić gathered dozens of young adults weekly for prayer. We learned to pray with Scripture, understand its historical context, and share what the word of God was stirring in our hearts. In a world that regularly pulls in the opposite direction, that group became an anchor — formation and friendship, lived faith, and prayer practiced together.
However, his reach extended far beyond one generation.
Our parish is beautifully diverse — a tapestry of languages, cultures, and traditions, including the 55-year-old Croatian apostolate. Sometimes diversity can unintentionally create distance. Yet Father Ilijić was the bridge.
He honored each community’s heritage but also reminded us that we are one body in Christ. He attended cultural celebrations, learned the customs, spoke our languages, and welcomed every expression of faith with respect and joy. Because of him, barriers softened, friendships began, and a deeper unity formed.
Perhaps nowhere was Father Ilijić’s heart more evident than in the rectory. It wasn’t merely where he lived — it was where people came: the grieving, the confused, the lonely, young adults looking for direction, and families under strain. No appointment, no performance. Just a door that opened, and a priest who listened.
He baptized our children. He prepared our couples for marriage. He sat with us in the hospital. He heard our confessions and reminded us of God’s mercy. He walked with families through unimaginable sorrow and stood beside them in moments of profound joy. In all seasons, he was a calm and reassuring presence.
That is why his sudden move feels so heavy. Change is part of the life of the Church, and obedience is part of the priesthood. We understand this. But understanding does not make the farewell easier. It does not quiet the ache of an empty chair in the rectory, or the silence where his voice once echoed.
We will miss his laughter. We will miss his guidance. We will miss the way he could gently challenge us to grow while making us feel deeply loved. Most of all, we will miss knowing that our shepherd was always just a phone call or a knock away.
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For the Croatian community, the grief is layered. Continuity matters: language, traditions, and a priest who understands the community from within. For 55 years, the Croatian Apostolate at Most Precious Blood has been sustained by priests from the Diocese of Krk, Croatia. Father Ilijić was part of that gift.
Even in sadness, we are grateful for the years we were given, and for the unity and renewal he helped awaken in our parish, especially among the young.
We will miss Father Ilijić dearly, but we will carry forward what he taught us: to welcome boldly, to love generously, and to remain united in Christ.
Wherever he is sent next, another community will soon discover that they have been given someone very special.
Thank you, Father Ilijić, from all of us at Most Precious Blood in Astoria.
Elizabeth Lukic and Valentina Zuzic are lifelong parishioners of Most Precious Blood Church in Astoria.