Slika/Photo by Fr Bozo Ancic

Kad covjek želi osnovati obitelj, prva mu je misao kako doći do vlastitog doma. Može neko vrijeme živjeti i kao podstanar, svjestan da će njegova obitelj pravo zaživjeti tek u vlastitom domu. Stoga usmjeruje sve svoje snage kako bi došao do krova nad glavom. U taj posao čovjek utroši mnogo svojih snaga i vremena. Ako mu se posreći da mu netko priskoči u pomoć, mnogo će brže ostvariti svoje snove…

Hrvatska zajednicu u San Jose-u pokušala se okupiti i prije službenog osnutka. Za pocetak je prihvatila podstanarstvo, s mišlju na vlastiti dom. Mislilo se i tražilo. A onda zajednici se posrećilo da se u njezinu krilu nalazila osoba izuzetne dobrote i vjerske izgradenosti, osoba koja je svoje imanje zeljela iskoristi na dobro: “BOGU I MOME HRVATSKOM NARODU.” Pogađate, riječ je o Ani Pavličević-Seli. Kako je ljubila svoj hrvatski narod i domovinu Hrvatsku, Sele je uvijek imala na misli kako pomoći svom hrvatskom narodu. Htjela je u to uložiti cijelo svoje imanje. Sreća da se tu našao fra Petar Topić kojeg su mučile iste misli: Kako okupiti Hrvate u južnom dijelu Bay Area. Sretna okolnost je također sto se u to vrijeme na kormilu Provincije Presv. Otkupitelja u Splitu nasao covjek koji je dobar dio svog života proveo izvan Hrvatske, pa su mu bile poznate sve muke i stradanja hrvatski ljudi i svećenika. Bio je to Dr. fra Petar Čapkun. Odmah je uskočio u “igru” i zajednicki sa Selom i fra Petrom pronašao sretno rješenje: Fratri su otkupili od Sele zgradu i parkiralište, a sve ostalo Sela je poklonila. Tako je ovoj zajednici osiguran krov nad glavom.   

Sele reče da je šezdeset godina molila da se njezino imanje pretvori u crkvu i posluži Hrvatima ovih prostora. Zato je uvijek ponavljala: "Bogu i mome hrvatskom nardou!" Kad je ta ideja išla prema ostvarenju, nitko nije bio sretniji od nje.

Selina dobrota očitovala se u tome što je mnoge dovela u Ameriku i pomogla da se snađu. Dala im je posla u svom restoranu. Neki od njih su joj javno zahvalili položivši ružu na njezin lijes. Posebnu pricu o Selinoj dobroti ima Ana Pulizevich kojoj je Sele bila druga mati.

Ana  Pavličević je rođena u mjestu Orašac nedaleko Dubrovnika, 23. studenoj 1891. godine. Kao djevojčica od 11 godina došla je sa svojim ocem Vicom u San Jose, na samom pragu 20. stoljeca. Otac je uskoro kupio voćnjak i Ana je od 1906. godine sve do svoje smrti proboravila na gradskom prostoru Willow Glen gdje se sada nalazi nasa crkva. Nakon očeve smrti Ana je sama upravljala voćnjakom, a 1949. godine sagradila je dvoranu za drustvene aktivnosti, poznatu pod nazivom Mary-Anne Gardens. Ana Pavličević-Sele preminula je 28. ožujka 1985.

Zbog Seline dobrote spomen na nju živjet će dokle bude živjela ova zajednica. A nadamo se da ce to biti dugo, dugo. 

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When a person wants to start a family, a primary concern is how to acquire one's own home. One can only live as a tenant for so long, always aware that a family will flourish more readily in its own house. Thus all of one's energy is directed toward establishing that proverbial roof over one's head, an accomplishment that requires time and effort. If, by chance, someone comes to assist in that undertaking, the dream will be realized sooner...

The Croatians of San Jose had tried to create a community even before the dedication of the Parish. In the beginning, they settled for being tenants but always wished for their own home. While planning and searching they came upon  a piece of good fortune: one of their own, a person with great generosity and deep faith, wished to leave her legacy to a good cause: "For God and for my Croatian people "for the benefit of her community. This woman was none other than Ana Pavlivevic, known to the community as "Sele". Sele loved her people and the Croatian homeland so deeply that she always thought of ways to help the Croatian cause. To that end, she bequeathed everything she owned. Fortunately, Father Petar Topic was there with a parallel plan - how to bring together all the Croatians of the southern Bay Area. Another advantage at the time was the fact that Rev. Dr. Petar Capkun was at the helm of the Province of the Most Holy Redeemer in Split. He was a man who had spent most of his life outside of Croatia and was therefore familiar with the trials and difficulties encountered by Croatian people and clergy abroad. He immediately became involved, and together with Sele and Father Petar, he worked out a favorable solution: the Friars purchased from Sele the building and the parking area, and Sele donated all the rest of the land to them. Thus, the Croatian community now had a roof over its head.

Sele said that she prayed for 60 years that her estate be turned into a church and that it would serve the Croatians of this area. For that reason, she always repeated, "For God and for my Croatian people!" When that idea approached realization, no one was happier than she. 

Sele's benevolence manifested itself in many other ways. She brought several Croatians to America, assisted them when they got here, and even hired some at her restaurant. Many of these people gave her public praise, laying roses on Sele's body at her funeral. One story about Sele's kindness was told by Ana Pulizevich, to whom Sele was a second mother. 

Ana Pavlicevic was born in Orasac, north of Dubrovnik, on November 23, 1891. As a child of 11 years old, Ana came to America with her father, Vice, and settled in San Jose, at the dawn of the 20th century. Her father soon bought an orchard, and from 1906 until her death, Ana lived in the Willow Glen area where our church is now located. After her father's death, Ana tended the orchard herself, and in 1949, she built a hall for community activities, which was known by the name of Mary Ann Gardens. Ana Pavlicevic died on March 28, 1985. 

Because of her kindness and caring spirit, Sele will be fondly remembered for as long as this community continues to exist. And we hope that will be a long, long time.