The Croatian Navy Klapa "Sveti Juraj" spent a week in Chicago, with the highlight being the jubilee procession in honor of Our Lady of Sinj, a tradition cherished by the diaspora for over a century.
Members of the Croatian Navy Klapa "Sveti Juraj" have returned from the United States, where they participated in the celebration of the 120th anniversary of the procession dedicated to Our Lady of Sinj at the invitation of the Croatian Parish of St. Jerome. The visit lasted from August 11 to 19, 2026, during which they held two concerts and led the singing at the vigil Mass for the Assumption and on the feast day itself during the solemn procession.
The key moment occurred on Saturday, August 15, when the jubilee 120th anniversary of the procession was celebrated. This tradition was started by Croatian immigrants in Chicago back in 1906, celebrating the feast of the Assumption of Mary, also known as Velika Gospa. Six years later, in 1912, this strong religious community gave rise to the Croatian Parish of St. Jerome.
More than a century later, the same city streets still echo with Croatian song and faith, and flags wave, testifying to a community that has managed to preserve its roots thousands of kilometers from the homeland.
The klapa's leader, Marko Bralić, emphasized how much the invitation from parish priest Fra Antonio Musa and chaplain Fra Ante Begić meant to the members.
"We are extremely honored by the invitation from parish priest Fra Antonio Musa and chaplain Fra Ante Begić to be their guests on the occasion of this great jubilee of Croats in Chicago and to witness how they have preserved their Croatian identity and faith over so many years," Bralić said.
He added that they were particularly moved by the procession itself and the fact that not only Croats participate in it.
"For 120 years, Croatian Catholics have proudly carried the image of Our Lady of Sinj through the streets of Chicago, accompanied by Croatian tricolors, which particularly impressed us. Other nations join the procession as well, Italians, Irish, Mexicans, and many others," Bralić said.
The stay of the "Sveti Juraj" klapa in Chicago thus became much more than a simple concert tour. It was an encounter with a Croatian community that, for generations, far from the homeland, nurtures faith, tradition, song, and the memory of its origins.
The sight of Our Lady of Sinj surrounded by Croatian flags on the streets of Chicago once again confirmed how vibrant the Croatian identity is beyond Croatia's borders.
