Although the numbers—around 20,000 participants—show the growth and strength of this unique spiritual renewal and street evangelization event, what truly makes this march special are the faces: smiling, enthused, and open to God and others. On Saturday, June 7, 2025, the St. Anthony Youth March, once again showed its strength. For the seventh consecutive year, it brought together a multitude of young people and their supporters.
The 7th Annual St. Anthony Youth March gathered thousands of faithful from Croatia and abroad. Guided by faith and the spirit of communion, the marchers undertook the 16 kilometer (10 mile) procession from the Parish Church of St. Anthony of Padua in Sesvetska Sela (Croatia) to the Basilica of St. Anthony of Padua in Zagreb (Croatia). Among the marchers was “Toma” from Australia, who was participating for the first time: “I have always been an open-hearted believer and when I heard about the Way of St. Anthony, I had to join. Today, the most beautiful experience for me was when we all walked joyfully and sang non-stop in this heat. Why shouldn’t we young people come here when God is sung to and glorified so beautifully?”
This unique event was organized as a spiritual march in honor of St. Anthony of Padua, a saint whose life of service, and love for those most in need, has inspired others for centuries. The march was jointly organized by the Conventual Franciscan Vocation Center of the Province of St. Jerome in Croatia; the Basilica of St. Anthony of Padua in Zagreb; the Parish Church of St. Anthony of Padua in the Sesvetskim Selima neighborhood of Zagreb; and the Evangelization Community.
The meeting began with a morning pre-program and Mass in Sesvetske Selima. That generated the first spark of unity, which was then rekindled during the march. The journey was punctuated with songs, prayers, various intentions and conversations that developed into a deep spiritual renewal.
During the procession, the order and safety of the participants was entrusted to 110 guards and eighty-five medical personnel with three ambulances. They were located along the entire pilgrimage route. Their presence allowed this year’s march to take place peacefully, with dignity and in an orderly fashion. A cross containing the relics of St. Anthony of Padua led the procession. Many letters were brought containing the prayers and thanks of the faithful who were unable to participate. The procession stopped at the Friars Minor Friary and Church of the Immaculate Conception in Dubrava, where the participants enjoyed a break that included refreshments and an entertainment program.
At the Ban Josip Jelačić Square in downtown Zagreb, a special prayer and evangelization program took place, creating a space for faith testimony, which showed that the city can be transformed into a place of prayer and encounter with God.
The sound of musical instruments, words of support, and a short film, lifted spirits and gave everyone additional strength for the final leg of the march. A video on spiritual vocation was also shown, which detailed the life and activities of the current Conventual Franciscan seminarians of the Province. At a certain point, everyone knelt down for a moment of prayer. It was the culminating and central moment of the entire march, and was augmented by vocation animation content. In this special atmosphere, the square was transformed, and a moment of deep personal and communal prayer was created.
The marchers finally reached the Basilica of St. Anthony of Padua in the evening, thus concluding the march. They took part in Eucharistic Adoration and venerated the relics of St. Anthony. Although physically exhausted, they felt spiritually fulfilled and grateful, singing and asking for the intercession of St. Anthony, for whom the march was named.
At the end of the evening, Friar Stjepan BRČINA, the organizer and leader of the pilgrimage, invited everyone to attend next year’s march, which is scheduled for June 6, 2026. Finally, he thanked all the participants and all those who contributed in any way to the planning and realization of this event.
Friar Zlatko VLAHEK, Provincial Secretary
