After returning from Rome, he was a lecturer at the Cathedra of Theology at the University of Rijeka (1996–2010), student chaplain in Rijeka (1996–2000) and parish priest of the Parish of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Rijeka (1997–2000). He was the Vicar General of the Diocese of Gospić-Senj from 2000 to 2004, and then the dean of the Parish of the Holy Cross in Ogulin from 2004 to 2012. From 2012 to 2016, he was dean of Udbina and Podlapača, and director of the National Shrine of Croatian Martyrs in Udbina. He has been a member of the Council of Counselors and the Presbyteral Council of the Gospić-Senj Diocese and a canon of the Senj Chapter since 2012 until 2016.[1]