Marian Devotion and Social Integration: The Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Olovo
Marian Devotion and Social Integration: The Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Olovo

Summary/Abstract: Marian pilgrimages in Bosnia and Herzegovina serve as a key mechanism for reinforcing community ties among local and diaspora Croatian Catholics. This study explores the Marian shrine in Olovo, focusing on how the annual pilgrimage around the Feast of the Assumption (15 August) serves as a ritual of communal renewal and social integration. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork, media analysis, and historical sources, this research examines the pilgrimage as a platform for reconnecting Croatian Catholic communities within Bosnia and across the diaspora. The study also investigates the complex interethnic and interreligious dynamics surrounding the shrine. Historically, the sanctuary has been a site of contestation and coexistence between local Catholic and Muslim populations, illustrating the multifaceted role of religion in both intra-community solidarity and intergroup relations. By situating this case within broader discussions, this research highlights the interplay of religious practice, migration, and collective memory. It demonstrates the ongoing relevance of Marian devotion in shaping cultural and social belonging and thus contributes to understanding how religious practices function as socio-political and identity-forming mechanisms.

• Details
• Contents