“The family as a source of life and joy” – this is the title of the third National Meeting of Croatian Catholic Families that will take place in Split and Solin on 15-16 September. Preparation days are currently underway featuring a vast range of conferences and events. The meeting is sponsored by the National Council of Croatian Catholic Families in cooperation with the Archdiocese of Split-Makarska and regional authorities. Thousands of families and pilgrims from all over the country are expected to attend, including pilgrims from Bosnia and Herzegovina and other Croats from abroad. “We want to encourage families, especially now that the family is in crisis – Mgr. Marin Barisic, Bishop of Split-Makarska, said – by telling them that they are not alone, that they are important and have a future”. In his opinion, the economic and moral situation is not favourable to the family. “But if the family is not happy, ours will not be true joy”, he added. The programme will culminate with a Eucharistic celebration in Solin on Sunday, 16 September, during which a message specifically written by Pope Francis for the occasion will be read out.