CLINTON PRAISES AMERICAN CROAT PILGRIMS FOR THEIR FIRM FAITH

WASHINGTON, Sept 10 (Hina) - The annual pilgrimage to the Marian shrine in Washington, D.C., is the confirmation of the steadfast faith demonstrated by the American Croat community, read a letter which U.S. President Bill Clinton forwarded to participants in this year's pilgrimage to the Marian shrine in the U.S. capital. 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. I congratulate to all participants and organisers from the Croatian Catholic Association on your perseverance and commitment to cherish your religious and cultural heritage and share it with new generations, President Clinton wrote in the letter which read out at a dinner organised for some 400 pilgrims in a Washington hotel on Saturday night. The 21st century brings many challenges for us but I am confident that believers like you can give to our society the necessary source of stability and continuity in this rapidly changing world, the US President added. On his own behalf and on behalf of his wife Hillary, he welcomed all Croatian pilgrims who have come from Canada and all parts of the Unites States to attend the 30th pilgrimage in the U.S. capital. 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 organiser of the event maintains that at least 2,000 Croatian immigrants will attend Sunday's Mass. (hina) ms