The square of St Lawrence in Cirkovljan has been enriched with another valuable artwork. On Friday, 9 October 2026, the statue 'My Mother' was unveiled and blessed, installed in front of the local primary school.
The statue was donated by Prof. Matija Berljak, with the work created by academic sculptor Josip Marinović. The artwork depicts a mother with a child in her arms, carrying the message of maternal love, tenderness, care, and devotion.
Those present at the ceremony included MP and Mayor of Prelog, Ljubomir Kolarek, Dragutin Glava, President of the Međimurje County Assembly, Prof. Matija Berljak, Prelog parish priest Fr. Dr. Krešimir Kuhar, and the director of the primary school, Ivana Samardžija Berman. The gathering was also attended by members of the local community board, teachers, and many local residents.
Speaking at the beginning of the ceremony, the president of the local community, Božidar Glava, highlighted that the placement of the statue represents the continuation of long-standing efforts to arrange the square of St Lawrence as a recognizable and representative centre of Cirkovljan. In the square of St Lawrence, alongside the church and chapel, there are now a total of thirteen memorial and other significant features. Mr. Glava thanked Prof. Matija Berljak, recalling the contribution of Dr. Ante Mić, who, along with Matija Berljak, had contributed to the arrangement of the square of St Lawrence.
The idea for the 'My Mother' statue came from Prof. Berljak's desire for the artwork to have a permanent place in front of the school in Cirkovljan. The idea was realized through the joint effort of the local community board, the local fire brigade, local craftsmen, and many residents. Prof. Berljak donated the statue itself, funded the material for the pedestal, and designed the inscription on the pedestal.
The preparation and installation of the monument was carried out with the voluntary work, machinery, and expertise of Zvonko Gašpar, Deni Kmeč, Petar Glava, Dominik Hrizman, Damir Rezek, Božidar Vajda, Stjepan Hrizman, Luka Hrizman, Nina Najman, Slavko Rezek, Josip Žvork, Željko Glava, Robert Verli, and August Mesarek. The local government of Prelog also participated in the landscaping, planting flowers and arranging the green areas in front of the kindergarten.
The local community board and local government also expressed their gratitude for the investment in the appearance and layout of the settlement, as well as the content that contributes to the quality of life of its residents. The ceremony was an opportunity to highlight the investment in the local kindergarten, where new children's playgrounds have been installed and additional equipment has been purchased, with plans for the expansion of the school and kindergarten.
The central moment of the ceremony was the unveiling of the monument, which was carried out with the participation of children from the local primary school, along with the donor, Prof. Matija Berljak, and the local community board. After the ceremony, the statue 'My Mother' was blessed by the local priest, Fr. Dr. Krešimir Kuhar. The ceremony was further enhanced by a special program prepared by the students of the local primary school and the children of the local kindergarten, with the help of their teachers, caregivers, and religious educators.
