First Marian Shrines Spiritual Heritage Congress Held in Sinj
Ante Žižić In addition to the congress part and presentations, a tour of the city of Sinj was organized for all participants with tourist guide Ivan Vuleta, a concert by the Brodosplit City Choir, and a trip to Vrlika with a history lesson by Miroslav Katić near the Church of the Holy Salvation.
The organizer of this congress for tourism and preserving sacred heritage was the Sinj Tourist Board, with the support and cooperation of the Shrine of Our Lady of Sinj and the Christian Business Club from Zagreb.
Representatives of Croatian Marian shrines attended the congress, but also representatives of Marian shrines of the Croatian people from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. After the introductory prayer of the host, Fr. Ante Čova, guardian and manager of the Shrine of the Miraculous Lady of Sinj, there were welcoming speeches by Miro Bulj, Mayor of Sinj, Stipe Čogelja, Deputy Mayor of Split-Dalmatia County and Gordana Nakić, Minister of Science, Education, Culture and Sports of Hercegbosna County.
Speakers at the first congress: the host, Fr. Ante Čovo, guardian and manager of the Shrine of the Miraculous Lady of Sinj, Rev. Domagoj Matošević, Rector of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Bistrica, Fr. Krunoslav Kocijan, Guardian of the Shrine of Our Lady of Trsat, Monsignor Antun Sente Jr., Rector of the National Shrine of St. Josip in Karlovac, Rev. Ivan Ereiz, manager of the Shrine of Our Lady of Voćin - Voćin, Rev. Ivo Čorić, manager of the Shrine of Our Lady of Mercy from the Bay of Kotor (Montenegro), don Jerko Vuleta, - manager of the Shrine of Our Lady of Zečevo - Nin and Mario Matijević, who represented the Shrine of Our Lady of Otok from Solin. Fr. Gabrijel Jurišić from Croatia, editor of the Kačić Proceedings, spoke about the connection between Marian shrines and the work of the Croatian Mariological Institute. All concluded that they are not afraid for the future of Marian shrines because Our Lady's beauty and love are never forgotten, and her help and protection remain woven into the hearts of pilgrims. Thus, both during the Covid pandemic and the earthquake, many people, gladly and with great faith, came to these shrines and sought the intercession of the Heavenly Mother.
Zdravko Tuba, guardian and pastor of the Parish of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Molve and national spiritual assistant, stressed that the development of religious tourism within the sanctuary requires the necessary supporting infrastructure.
In addition to representatives and managers of Marian shrines, the congress was attended by representatives of tourist boards. Joško Stella, Director of the Split-Dalmatia County Tourist Board, Matea Dorčić, Head of the Split-Dalmatia County Tourism and Maritime Office, Rujana Bušić Srpak, Director of the Vukovar-Srijem County Tourist Board, Jelena Stupalo, director of TZG Solin, Marija Dejanović, director of TZG Nin and Morena Smoljan Makragić, director of TZG Vodnjan, who addressed the participants through presentations and roundtables. The following representatives of fraternities and pilgrims shared their experiences in organizing pilgrimages: Fr. Domagoj Runje, who organizes a monthly a walk along the Path to Our Lady of Sinj together with Fr. Božo Vulet, Krešimir and Jelena Čeko from the Marjan Vow for the Homeland and Marija Pražen from Putevi Sv. Jakova-Camino Croatia.
Miroslav Katić, director of the Museum of Croatian Archaeological Monuments, Ante Jurčević, director of the Split Archaeological Museum, and Lino Ursić, from the Office for Tourism and Maritime Affairs of the Split-Dalmatia County, spoke about the sacral heritage. There was also Rev. Fr. Tomislav Korov, from the Đakovo-Osijek Archdiocese, who received his doctorate on the topic "Model of strategic management of religious tourism destinations," and Rev. Anđelko Katanec, Commissioner for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Tourists of the Zagreb Archdiocese.
Stipe Božić, the famous alpinist, representative, and longtime member of the Croatian Mountain Rescue Service, especially emphasized the value of themed trails, such as how the Our Lady of Sinj trail connects different destinations.
The Congress was moderated by: Fr. Domagoj Runje, Rev. Anđelko Katanec, Ph.D. Branimir Romac, Monika Vrgoč and Krešimir Prevendar.
The Marian Shrine Spiritual Heritage Congress - Sinj 2022 was held under the auspices of Split-Dalmatia County, the Croatian Tourist Board, City of Sinj, Split-Dalmatia County Tourist Board, Alkar Knights Society, Vrlika Tourist Board, Museum of Croatian Archaeological Monuments in Split, Municipalities of Dicmo, Municipalities of Hrvace, Municipalities of Otok, City of Vrlika and Hotel Alkar.
