Fr. Ilija Puljic
Fr. Ilija was born in Kamena, Herzegovina on July 26, 1941, Fr. Ilija completed grade school in his home town and then finished high at the Franciscan Seminary in Visoko. His completed his studies of philosophy and theology in Sarajevo. He was ordained a priest on July 26, 1969 in Frohnleiten, Austria. That same year he arrived in the United States and studied English at Dayton, Ohio. Fr. Ilija became assistant pastor at St. Mary's in Steelton where he spent five years. He then went to Assumption Parish in Thunder Bay and became their first pastor (1976-1980). After this he was appointed pastor at St. Leopold Mandić in London, Ontario (1980-1982), St. Anthony's in Sharon (1982-1984), Sacred Heart in Milwaukee (associate pastor 1984-1985, pastor 1985-1986), SS . Cyril and Methodius in New York (1986-1989) and St. Leopold Mandic in London, Ontario (1989-1994). For a short period of time he was at Sacred Heart in Chicago after which he was named pastor of St. Mark's in Sudbury in 1995 where he served until 2001.  For the next two years he was pastor of St. Nicolas Tavelic Parish in Montreal.  In May 2003, he returned to Sudbury where he serves today as assistant pastor for St. Mark's and Trinity parishes.