Croatian Catholic Youth Meeting draws thousands of young believers to Daruvar, Dežanovac and Pakrac

The second day of the Croatian Catholic Youth Meeting took place on 3 May in Daruvar, with thousands of young participants from Croatia, Bosnia‑Herzegovina and abroad attending a Mass celebrated by Archbishop Tomo Vukšić. After the liturgy, the pilgrims walked to the town’s war‑heroes monument for a commemoration, then enjoyed cultural performances and a communal lunch in the local community centre.

In the nearby village of Dežanovac, a separate programme featured a Mass led by the local parish priest, followed by hospitality from the host families. The event continued on 2–3 May in Pakrac, where 170 youths were accommodated by local families, visited historic sites such as the Spahijski cellar and the war museum, and took part in a Mass celebrated by Bishop Vlado Košić. Both locations highlighted local hospitality, cultural activities and the shared religious spirit of the gathering.