AMERICAN CROATS MARK 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF PILGRIMAGE TO WASHINGTON

WASHINGTON, Sept 10 (Hina) - During the weekend American Croatian Catholics are celebrating the 30th anniversary of their annual pilgrimage to a Marian shrine in Washington, D.C. On the occasion of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary (September 8) every year since 1970 the faithful of the Croatian origins have gone on a pilgrimage to two chapels - the chapel of the Our Lady Bistricka and the chapel of the Queen of Peace - built in the US national Marian shrine in Washington, D.C., and consecrated by the then Zagreb Archbishop, Cardinal Franjo Kuharic. This year's celebration, organised by the Croatian Catholic Association (CCA) members from the United States and Canada, has been enhanced by the arrival of Zagreb Archbishop Josip Bozanic, and the first U.S. Bishop of the Croatian descent, Msgr. Blaz Cupich, the Bishop of Rapid City, South Dakota. The pilgrimage is primarily important for every believer, their families as well as for the community, and here in Washington it is in particular important for the promotion of the American Croats' identity, said the CCA President Melkior Masina. He announced that the association would continue to offer help to Croatian displaced persons and all refugees from Bosnia- Herzegovina in order to facilitate the return process. Pilgrims from all parts of the United States and Canada arrived in the U.S. capital on Saturday. At least 400 of them attended a dinner held in a hotel near the American Congress. On that occasion Archbishop Bozanic, Bishop Cupich and other religious dignitaries addressed the gathered. Present at the dinner was Branko Baricevic on behalf of the Croatian Embassy in Washington, D.C. Zagreb Archbishop, who has been on a pastoral visit to the United States and Canada for about 15 days, toured Croatian Catholic parishes and took part in the New York millennium peace meeting of religious dignitaries who came from all parts of the world. Bozanic also visited the U.S Bishops' Conference in Washington and held talks with Cardinal James Aloysious Hickey. "In the name of Christ the Church gathers people both in the motherland and abroad where it helps emigrants to preserve their cultural and national roots," Archbishop Bozanic said at the dinner. (hina) ms