Thousands of Youth Join Antunovski Walk in Zagreb for Faith and Renewal

Thousands of young people gathered in Zagreb this Saturday for the 8th Antunovski Walk, a spiritual pilgrimage dedicated to St. Anthony of Padua. Under the motto "If you have God, you have everything," participants began their journey around noon outside the Monastery of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Dubrava neighborhood. The event serves as both a physical trek and a spiritual renewal, drawing large crowds of youth eager to deepen their faith.

A Journey of Faith and Trust

The pilgrimage kicked off with spiritual songs and a message from Zagreb Archbishop Dražen Kutleša. He urged the attendees to view the walk not merely as covering kilometers, but as a path of faith. Kutleša emphasized praying, singing, and witnessing that Christ is alive and present, continuing the legacy left by St. Anthony of Padua for 800 years. He encouraged every step to bring them closer to Christ, urging them to make the day’s motto a lifelong program.

During the central Eucharistic celebration in the afternoon, Father Stjepan Brčina delivered a powerful homily. He called on the youth to surrender their hearts to God, handing over every emotion—fear, sadness, sin, and worry. "God, who is Love, wants to renew us," Fr. Brčina said, hoping the pilgrimage would mark the beginning of soul purification. He reminded the crowd that God’s love can cleanse any heart, regardless of how they feel in the moment. The key, he argued, is trusting God and returning Him to the center of life.

Finding Joy in What We Have

Fr. Brčina warned against focusing on evil or what is missing. "If evil seems strong, it can do nothing to you if your heart is with God and pure," he stated. He compared the human tendency to focus on lacks to Eve’s curiosity, noting that people often chase what they don’t have while failing to appreciate what they already possess. He urged the young pilgrims to enjoy their relationships, family, and friends, thanking God for these gifts. "Enjoy what you have, and don’t think only about what you lack, because if you have God, you have everything," he concluded.

Expressing joy at seeing so many young faces, Fr. Brčina called their presence a good sign of desire to return God to the center of life. "We are all here today to deepen our relationship with God. Bravo youth, because we are going against the current of this world," he said. After the mass, pilgrims proceeded toward Ban Jelačić Square for a program filled with song, prayer, and evangelization. The walk concluded around 19:30 at the St. Anthony of Padua Basilica with Eucharistic adoration and veneration of St. Anthony’s relics.

The 8th Antunovski Walk was organized by Fr. Stjepan Brčina, alongside the Center for the Promotion of Spiritual Vocations OFMConv., in cooperation with the Parish and Basilica of St. Anthony of Padua and the Evangelization Community Holy Spirit.