The area of the church ?Blaženog kardinala (of the Blessed Cardinal) Alojzija Stepinca? in open in the national sanctuary of the Virgin Mary in Marija Bistrica this year also, for the thirteenth time in succession and as always on the first Sunday in October, was literally filled by an army of pilgrims. Croatian soldiers and policemen gathered in the same faith and hope, wanting to renew themselves spiritually, went on pilgrimage again to their celestial mother and protector. The solemn mass that started with the anthem of the Military Ordinariate ?Gospi velikog hrvatskog karsnog zavjeta? (to Our Lady of the great Croatian baptismal wov) was led by Archbishop from Zadar and Vice President of the Croatian Bishop Conference, Mons Ivan Prenđa, with participation of the military ordinary Mons Juraj Jezerinac and military chaplains.
Minister of Defence, Berislav Rončević and Minister of the Interior, Ivica Kirin addressed the faithful gathered in uniforms and all those who visited this sanctuary on the church holiday of St. Rosary. Both ministers reminded that Croats always observed the holiday of the Mother of God through centuries of ordeal seeking from her support, strength, protection and comfort.
?Today, we would also like to thank Mother of God for the freedom we have and that we also obtained by her advocating. She appealed to us to respond with love to hate always fostering peace, tolerance and trust?, Minister Rončević emphasized and thanked our celestial Mother, our hope and consolatrix for everything she has done for salvation of our people.
In an inspired preachment Mons Prenđa also spoke about strength of faith, especially of the Croatian defenders who died so that we could live today. Nowadays we have been all called to face challenges of our time. The Croatian army and police are facing these challenges too. He added that it is necessary to ?do good and avoid evil?always and everywhere because true progress is possible only in this way. In the afternoon pilgrims gathered once again in a procession and went towards the Calvary in Bistrica, praying at Stations of the Cross. This ended this year's thirteenth military-police pilgrimage to this spiritual oasis.

Zahvala Majci nebeskoj koja nas uvijek prati
Okupljenim vjernicima u odori, ali i svima koji su pohodili na blagdan Sv. Krunice ovo svetište, pozdravno slovo uputili su ministar obrane Berislav Rončević i unutarnjih poslova Ivica Kirin, obojica podsjetivši kako su Hrvati kroz stoljeća kušnji uvijek slavili Majku Božju, tražeći od nje potporu, snagu, zaštitu i utjehu.

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