The 26^th Pilgrimage of the Croatian Army, Police and Homeland War Veterans commenced with a solemn procession in the National Shrine of St Mary of Marija Bistrica on 7^th October. 3500 pilgrims, among whom were 900 members of the Croatian Armed Forces, took part in the event.

Members of Guards Battalions “Gromovi” (“Thunders”) and “Tigrovi” (“Tigers”) set off on the Military Pilgrimage from the barracks in Petrinja on 5^th October and walked to Marija Bistrica.

Alongside members of deceased and injured Homeland War veterans, the pilgrimage was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Defence Damir Krstičević and his associates, the Minister of Croatian Veterans Tomo Medved, the Minister of the Interior Davor Božinović, the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces General Mirko Šundov, General Police Director Nikola Milina, representatives of the Military Ordinariate of Croatia, the Military Vicar of Bosnia and Herzegovina Željko Čuturić, representatives of Homeland War veterans’ associations, etc.

The commander of the 26^th Military Pilgrimage was the Commander of the Croatian Air Force Brigadier General Mato Mikić.

Minister Krstičević met with family members of deceased Homeland War veterans and recalled all individuals who selflessly sacrificed their lives so that peace may reign over Croatia today.

“Today is a special day for our victorious Croatian army, our police and our Homeland War veterans, whose sacrifice brought peace and freedom to the people of Croatia. I am glad to see us joint in prayer. We pray that God give us strength to fulfil the demanding tasks ahead of us”, Minister Krstičević said.

Minister Medved pointed out that the feast day of Our Lady of the Rosary is an occasion on which we ought to recall that Homeland War veterans wore rosaries around their necks while they formed the independent Republic of Croatia.

The military Bishop of the Republic of Croatia Msgr Jure Bogdan presided over the concelebrated mass. In his sermon, he emphasized that family was one’s greatest treasure as well as a proof of God’s immeasurable love towards humans.

“Let us recall on this occasion Pope Francis’ saying that the Church can be understood as a family of families and that a man is blessed to procreate through marriage, which is the foundation of each family. We pray to Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, the soul of a family’s soul and the patroness of spouses’ fidelity, which is the cradle of life, that she protect us and bless us”, said Bishop Bogdan.

The mass was followed by The Way of the Cross, which marked the ending of this year’s Pilgrimage of the Croatian Army, Police and Homeland War Veterans.