A Mass was held in Lima in honour of Saint Blaise, the patron saint of the Croatian community in Peru

The celebration took place at the Parish of St. Leopold Mandić and the Croatian Pastoral Vicariate in the Peruvian capital. Reporting for Glas Hrvatske, Peruvian entrepreneur of Croatian descent Franjo Kurtović said the liturgy brought together members of the local Croatian community and clergy.

The Mass was concelebrated by Monsignor Drago Balvanović and Fr. Marko Jukić. In his homily, the priest recalled the life and martyrdom of Saint Blaise, highlighting his dedication to serving others and his enduring significance for the Croatian people.

The Croatian choir San Leopoldo, made up of members of the Croatian community in Lima, accompanied the celebration with hymns sung in Croatian. The ceremony concluded with the traditional Blessing of the Throats, a rite closely associated with Saint Blaise.

Saint Blaise is widely venerated as the patron saint of the Croatian community in Peru, where generations of Croats and their descendants have preserved their cultural and religious heritage.

Among those in attendance were representatives of the board of the Croatian Society Jadran, members of two Croatian associations operating in Lima, community members and local officials.

Following the Mass, attendees gathered in the parish hall for a cocktail reception and socialising. The event was also attended by several young Croats currently living in Croatia who are spending time in Lima during the southern hemisphere summer holidays.

According to Kurtović, a young doctor surnamed Rendulić and the Guerović sisters shared their experiences of life in Croatia, encouraging other young members of the diaspora to consider reconnecting with their ancestral homeland.