On the occasion of 200th anniversary of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood, the Croatian Mission organized all-day spiritual program which was held in the church of the Holy Mother of Freedom, which preserves the memory of the fallen soldiers in the Homeland War of 1991-1995, in Zagreb on Saturday, October 17.
The program was composed of several different events. First, Sister Viktorija Košak, ASC presented history and expansion of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood. Also, Dr. Don Ivan Bodrožić also spoke about the significance of the Blood of Christ in the Holy Scripture and in the Early Church. He explained the sacrificial and redemptive character referring to St. Ignatius of Antioch (+107) who was the first proponents of the devotion of the Blood of Christ.
Hundreds of members of the Union of the Blood of Christ from Croatia gathered to pray and celebrate, together with the Adorers of the Blood of Christ, and Missionaries from other units of the Congregation. Joining the celebration were V.Rev. Wojciech Czernatowicz, the Provincial Director of the Polish Province, V.Rev. Andreas Hasenburger, C.PP.S., the Provincial Director of the Teutonic Province, and Rev. Emanuele Lupi, C.PP.S., the Vice Moderator General from Rome.
The central event of this celebration was the Eucharist, led by Archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal Josip Bozanić. In his sermon, he placed this event in the context of beginning of the Jubilee of Mercy. During the liturgy the relics of St. Gaspar del Bufalo were processed in and venerated and at the end of the Mass, Rev. Ilija Grgić, C.PP.S., the Director of the Croatian Mission, said that God has blessed their Community many times during this jubilee year; with two ordinations, an increase in vocations, increasing membership in the lay Union of the Blood of Christ and finally, the presence of Cardinal Bozanić at the celebration.
During the afternoon, a short film about the Missionaries of the Precious Blood titled “The Dream Continues” was presented to the participants of the celebration, followed by time for eucharistic adoration and several witness talks.
The Missionaries have been present in Croatia for 27 years. Currently in Croatia there are three priests, one deacon, two seminarians and two postulants. Much of their ministry is directed towards promoting the spirituality of the Blood of Christ and working with the Union of the Blood of Christ lay movement.
Article and photos provided by Rev. Illija Grgić, C.PP.S.
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