# Catholic events in Bosnia and Croatia > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/catholic-youth-gatherings-in-croatia-and-bosnia > Updated: 2026-08-03T17:57:33.000Z. Sources: 35. Developments: 14. The summer of 2026 saw a dense programme of Catholic gatherings across Bosnia‑Herzegovina and Croatia. Early May featured the Croatian Catholic Youth Meeting in Daruvar, Dežanovac and Pakrac, drawing thousands of young believers and including Masses celebrated by Archbishop Tomo Vukšić and Bishop Vlado Košić. The Archdiocese of Vrhbosna’s 55th Youth Day at the Marian shrine in Komušina (29‑30 May) and a youth encounter in Rijeka (28 May) continued the focus on youth formation. June pilgrimages led by Bishops Milan Stipić and Željko Majić visited the shrines of Saint Šarbel in Križevci and Saint John the Baptist in Štivor, while communal walks marked Saint John’s feast in Široki Brijeg and a three‑day festival in Dajla. The Podmilačje sanctuary hosted an open‑air liturgy for the birth of St John, attracting tens of thousands and underscoring inter‑faith reverence. Diaspora‑focused celebrations in Ravska and Graberje highlighted post‑earthquake reconstruction. Pilgrimages to the national shrine of Our Lady of Bistrica continued, with way‑points in Križevci and a large Goričani procession. The “Marian Vow for the Homeland” pilgrimage linked faith with remembrance of Croatian war veterans. In Bosnia, the Bilska Misa was added to the intangible cultural heritage list, while Croatia’s Vrana shrine drew over 10 000 pilgrims for Saint Nediljica’s feast. August saw the Sljeme parish launch a three‑day preparation for the Our Lady of Sljeme feast, and Križevci youth travelled to Assisi for the 800th anniversary of St Francis, before undertaking the traditional foot pilgrimage to Marija Bistrica. Throughout, reconstruction of war‑damaged sites and heritage projects proceeded alongside these liturgical and cultural initiatives. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-03: Križevci Pilgrims Journey to Assisi and Marija Bistrica Križevci youth pilgrimaged to Assisi for Saint Francis’s 800th anniversary, while local faithful walked the 291st traditional pilgrimage to the Marian shrine in Marija Bistrica. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/krievci-pilgrims-journey-to-assisi-and-marija-bistrica ### 2026-07-31: Croatian Armed Forces, Police and Veterans Conduct 12th Provincial Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Sinj On 31 July 2026, Croatia’s armed forces, police, veterans and firefighters held the 12th provincial pilgrimage to the Our Lady of Sinj shrine, led by General Boris Zdilar and Monsignor Jure Bogdan. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/croatian-armed-forces-police-and-veterans-conduct-12th-provincial-pilgrimage-to-our-lady-of-sinj ### 2026-07-19: Goričani Pilgrimage to Marija Bistrica Attracts Hundreds of Faithful Hundreds of Goričani parishioners walked to Croatia’s Marija Bistrica shrine, continuing a yearly pilgrimage of prayer, community and tradition. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/goriani-pilgrimage-to-marija-bistrica-attracts-hundreds-of-faithful ### 2026-07-19: Bishop Milan Stipić Baptizes Children During St. Sharbel Pilgrimage in Križevci Bishop Milan Stipić led a St. Sharbel pilgrimage and baptized five children in Križevci, while Križišće installed three new church clocks funded by local authorities. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bishop-milan-stipi-baptizes-children-during-st-sharbel-pilgrimage-in-krievci ### 2026-07-15: Sljeme Parish Launches Three-Day Pilgrimage Ahead of Our Lady’s Feast Croatia’s highest parish on Sljeme mountain begins a three‑day pilgrimage (16‑18 Aug) leading to the feast of Our Lady of Sljeme on 19 Aug, with multiple Masses and a 93rd‑anniversary celebration. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sljeme-parish-launches-three-day-pilgrimage-ahead-of-our-ladys-feast ### 2026-07-13: Bishop Milan Stipić visits Byzantine spiritual centre in Salzburg, Austria Bishop Milan Stipić visited the Byzantine Spiritual Centre in Salzburg on July 11‑12 2026, leading liturgies and announcing the Križevci eparchy’s 250th anniversary for 2027. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bishop-milan-stipi-visits-byzantine-spiritual-centre-in-salzburg-austria ### 2026-07-05: Hundreds of pilgrims gather at Bosnia’s Bilska Misa and Croatia’s Vrana shrine Hundreds gathered at Bosnia’s Bilska Misa, now on a heritage list, while over 10,000 pilgrims attended Croatia’s Vrana celebration of Saint Nediljica. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/hundreds-of-pilgrims-gather-at-bosnias-bilska-misa-and-croatias-vrana-shrine ### 2026-06-29: Croatian pilgrimages gather believers at Bistrica shrine and Križevci waypoint Pilgrims gathered at Marija Bistrica shrine on 27 June and at Križevci on 28 June, joining religious devotion with veteran remembrance in a nationwide Marian pilgrimage. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/croatian-pilgrimages-gather-believers-at-bistrica-shrine-and-krievci-waypoint ### 2026-06-27: St. John the Baptist celebrations draw diaspora to Ravska and Graberje villages St. John the Baptist festivals in Ravska (Bosnia) and Graberje (Croatia) gathered diaspora and revived local traditions after post‑earthquake rebuilding. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/st-john-the-baptist-celebrations-draw-diaspora-to-ravska-and-graberje-villages ### 2026-06-22: Podmilačje holy site draws tens of thousands for St. John feast Tens of thousands gathered at Podmilačje on 24 June for St John’s feast, with a mass led by Bishop Miro Relota and political figures attending, showcasing interfaith unity and ongoing church reconstruction. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/podmilaje-pilgrimage-for-st-john-draws-tens-of-thousands-of-believers ### 2026-06-21: Bosnia and Croatia host Saint John festivities in Široki Brijeg and Dajla Široki Brijeg and Dajla host Saint John celebrations, featuring a communal walk with a bonfire in Bosnia and a multi‑day festival with mass, music and sports in Croatia. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bosnia-and-croatia-host-saint-john-festivities-in-iroki-brijeg-and-dajla ### 2026-06-20: Bosnian bishops lead major June pilgrimages in Križevci and Štivor Bishops Milan Stipić and Željko Majić led June 20 pilgrimages and celebrations in Križevci and Štivor, Bosnia, drawing local faithful and Italian guests. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bosnian-bishops-lead-major-june-pilgrimages-in-krievci-and-tivor ### 2026-05-28: Catholic dioceses in Bosnia and Croatia hold youth gatherings in late May 2026 Catholic dioceses in Bosnia (Vrhbosna) and Croatia (Rijeka) held youth events in late May 2026, focusing on spiritual renewal and creative faith expression. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/catholic-dioceses-in-bosnia-and-croatia-hold-youth-gatherings-in-late-may-2026 ### 2026-05-04: Croatian Catholic Youth Meeting draws thousands of young believers to Daruvar, Dežanovac and Pakrac Thousands of Catholic youths gathered in Daruvar, Dežanovac and Pakrac for Masses, commemorations and cultural events. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/croatian-catholic-youth-meeting-draws-thousands-of-young-believers-to-daruvar-deanovac-and-pakrac --- Cite as: Catholic events in Bosnia and Croatia. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/catholic-youth-gatherings-in-croatia-and-bosnia