CRO SOLDIERS AND POLICEMEN MAKE 7TH PILGRIMAGE TO MARIJA BISTRICA

MARIJA BISTRICA, Oct 3 (Hina) - The seventh annual pilgrimage of Croatia's military and police was held on Sunday in the national Marian Shrine "Marija Bistrica", outside Zagreb. A Mass was said by the Ordinary, Msgr. Josip Jezerinac. About 3,500 soldiers and policemen made a pilgrimage to Marija Bistrica on this occasion. Before the service, Defence Minister Pavao Miljavac and a Deputy Interior Minister, Zlatko Gledec, addressed the gathered. Recalling the first pilgrimage of this kind in 1993, Defence Minister Miljavac said rosary beads around Croatian soldiers' necks during the Homeland War was a distinguishing mark and a sign of their just struggle. "Today's gathering of us around Croats' Queen conveys a message that we can become an army and police of peace for the third millennium," Miljavac stressed. Speaking on behalf of Interior Minister, his deputy Gledec said that during the Homeland War, Croatian soldiers sought solace in the Virgin Mary and prayed that she could prevent them from taking revenge and help them to persist in the just struggle until the final victory. Today, they have come to thank God as they won and returned to their families and homes, Gledec said. During the sermon, Msgr. Jezerinac reminded the present that Pope John Paul II had called on everybody to become a builder of peace in Europe which is in a unification process. This process, however, cannot be based solely on economic interests but it must also be inspired by Christian values from which Europe's oldest original roots have stemmed. The Roman Catholic dignitary added that they would like that Jesus Christ may lead all responsible people of Croatia in the decision making in politics, economy, culture and social welfare for the benefit of each human being and the entire country. (hina) ms