| B.
Our Beloved Deceased
1.The Franciscan burial site
in Holy Sepulchre cemetery in Chicago
The industrialized
society in which we live is filled with agony and has
distanced us from our mother, the earth. A pervasive feeling
that we are lost or unwelcome exists in this modern and
post-modern era. At the same time within each of us there is
a desire for belonging, at store of memories and a sense of
safety in home and hearth. In former times one's identity
was determined by property and the question of whether or
not one owned a piece of land. The theme of possessing land
is central in the biblical narrations. Land was a physical
manifestation of prosperity and life; a place from which to
garner hope and regain strength. All forms of life on this
planet including humanity are tied to the earth. The earth
does not belong to people. Rather we belong to the earth.
Ultimately the earth is a place where humans naturally
belong as we await the fullness of resurrection in Christ.
Croatians since their origins have carried within themselves
a feeling of worth and respect for the land. Like the
ancient Israelites, the Croatians were long a nation without
a homeland. Croatia arose as a nation of strangers, nomadic
peoples and travelers.
Because of this we should not be
shocked by the sensitivity of the Croatian people, whether
at home or abroad, in regard to territory. Croatians dreamed
and sang about their homeland, and they sacrificed their
lives to preserve their ideals. They sang like the great
Kranjcevica: "Ja domovinu imam, tek u srcu je
nosim." ("I have a homeland, as long as I carry
her in the heart.") Throughout the United States and
Canada plots of land were purchased and named "Hrvatsko
Zemljiste." One of the most sensitive issues in their
lives was their future burial. They wanted to be buried in
their homeland but were relegated to being buried in a
foreign country; this naturally led to discussions
concerning home, freedom and return to their native land. In
this context we also talk about the burial site for the
Croatian Franciscans. We talk of a place for the earthly
remains of those friars who devoted their lives to the
service of others and the good of their native land. They,
like their patriarch St. Francis of Assisi, awaited death as
a gift and sister. They lived with Christ, and they died in
Christ. The earth, like a gift and mother, has communion
with the baptized body and so prepares itself for the
celebration of resurrection. Thoughts of purchasing land for
a Franciscan burial site originated in the 1950's. Fr. Leo
Medić was buried in Mount Olivet cemetery in Chicago in
1951. The friars then began to consider the purchase of a
cemetery plot so that those who worked together could be
interred together. Fr. Dominic Mandić purchased a plot of
land in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery (section number 20, block 1,
parcel 12, located at 6001 W. 111 St. Worth, Il., near
Chicago, on November 5, 1952. The plot of land is located in
one of the most beautiful areas of the cemetery not far from
the entrance. The earthly remains of Fr. Leo Medic were
transferred there fifteen days later on November 21st. After
four years on July 9, 1956, Fr. Ferdinand Skoko bought
additional land at this same burial site which was roughly
the same size as the original purchase. The total area
measured 3,140 square feet or 291 square meters or enough
land for 97 graves. Presently there are 33 friars buried at
this site. It is important to remember that six friars of
the community are buried elsewhere; Frs. Veren, Zrno,
Kordic, Lasic, Vištica and Primorac are buried in Croatia
and Fr. Feysz is buried in Calvary cemetery in Milwaukee,
Wi. After the purchase of the burial site and the burial of
a few friars, discussions began concerning the desire for a
memorial for the deceased friars.
The famous Croatian artist
of the twentieth century, Ivan Meštrovic, began preliminary
drawings for a work of art in 1961. The great Croatian
sculptor depicted St. Francis of Assisi lying on mother
earth and encircled by his brothers as he awaited sister
death. The monument began as a plaster mold into which the
bronze would later be poured. The work of art was taken to
Sacred Heart Church in Chicago where it was displayed until
1982. Fr. Steve Raich was so enthralled by this sculpture
that he initiated the transfer of this work of art to the
Franciscan burial site. Located in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery,
today it can be described in this way. On one side are three
texts; the words of St. Francis of Assisi, "All praise
be yours, my Lord, through sister death," also the
words, "Croatian Franciscans - Custody of the Holy
Family," and the artist's name, "Ivan Meštrovic." On the other side is an imprint of the St.
Francis the peacemaker, a dove in his hand, and the text of
his "Prayer for Peace."
2. The Friars Who Died in
the Service of the Lord
Fr. Hugolin (Alojzije) Feysz
Fr. Hugolin was born on May
20, 1886 in Cakovec, Croatia. He finished grammar school in
his hometown and high school in the Hungarian town of
Nagykanizsa. He entered the Franciscan P Province of St.
John Capistrano in Hungary on September 3, 1901 in Pécs. He
studied philosophy and theology in Baja. He was ordained on
September 22, 1908. After his ordination he served at Bartf,
and he came to America on March 6, 1924. For the next seven
years he was a missionary at various parishes until 1931 at
which time he was accepted into the Croatian Franciscan
Commissariat. He served at several Croatian parishes
including St. Augustine in West Allis, and parishes in
Portland, Oregon and Chicago. After serving at these
Croatian parishes, he served at St. Emeric Hungarian parish
in Milwaukee, WI, where he passed away on March 3, 1944. He
is buried at Calvary cemetery in Milwaukee.
Fr. Leon (Josip)
Medic
Fr. Leon was born on October 3, 1873 in Kaštel Novi,
Croatia. As a child he lived at the Franciscan Friary in
Dubrovnik. He entered the Franciscan Order on February 1,
1891. He received his entire education at his Franciscan
province of St. Jerome. He was ordained on August 22, 1897
in Dubrovnik. After his ordination he served as military
spiritual director in Kotor for the Croatian soldiers and
also served at his province. He came to the United States in
May of 1912 and he founded a number of Croatian parishes:
St. Jerome in Chicago (1912), Mother of God in Lackawana, NY
(1915) and St. Anthony in Sharon (1924). He served as pastor
at several Croatian parishes: in New York, Steelton, St.
Louis, Milwaukee, Ambridge and Chicago (St. Jerome). He died
in Chicago on November 22, 1951 at the age of 79. He is
buried at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Chicago.
Fr. Clement (Nikola) Veren
Fr. Clement was born on
December 5, 1887 in Murska Sobota, Slovenia. He entered the
Franciscan Order in 1905, as a member of the Franciscan
province of St. Cyril and Methodius in Zagreb. He completed
his philosophical and theological studies in Zagreb and was
ordained on August 13, 1911. For the next twelve years he
served at various parishes in Croatia, and in the summer of
1923 he came to the United States. Upon his arrival he
became pastor of St. Joseph's Parish in Bethlehem. In 1926
the Croatian Franciscan Commissariat was founded, and Fr.
Clement was named the first Commissary. At the same time, he
continued his work as pastor of St. Joseph's Parish. Due to
his poor health, he returned to his homeland in 1929 where
he served at various parishes. He died on August 27, 1954 in
Cakovac at the age of 66. He is buried at the Franciscan
cemetery in Cakovac.
Fr. Bono (Mate)
Andacic
Fr. Bono was born on February
16, 1882 in Hamzici, Herzegovina. He finished high school at
Široki Brijeg, and he entered the Franciscan Order on
October 4, 1900 in Humac. He studied philosophy and theology
in Mostar and in Parma, Italy where he was ordained on April
22, 1905. After his ordination he served as assistant at
parishes in Bukovica and Gradnici and then as pastor as
Gradnici, Seonica, Rakitno and Blizanci. He came to the
United States on January 1, 1922 and worked in New York for
a few years. He was pastor at several parishes: Sacred Heart
in Chicago, SS.Cyril and Methodius in New York, Holy Trinity
in Ambridge and St. Joseph's in St. Louis. He also spent a
few years ministering Croatians in California. He died at
St. Anthony Friary in Chicago on July 2, 1955 at 73 years of
age. He is buried at Holy Sepulchre in Chicago.
Fr. Franjo (Josip) Cuturic
Fr. Franjo was born on
October 27, 1885 in Rastovaca, Herzegovina. He finished
grammar school in Posušje and high school in Široki
Brijeg. He entered the Franciscan Order on August 1, 1905 in
Humac. He studied philosophy and theology in Mostar and
Paderborn, Germany where he was ordained a priest on April
7, 1911. He served as pastor in Humac, Široki Brijeg,
Gabela, Capljina and Posušje. He came to the United States
in November of 1922, but by 1924 he was already back in
Posušje. After two years he once again came to the States,
and he immediately became pastor of SS. Cyril &
Methodius Parish in New York. He stayed there until 1933
when once again due to illness he returned to his homeland.
One year later he came to the States for the third time. He
was named pastor at Holy Trinity Parish in Ambridge and then
at St. Jerome's in Chicago. When the Franciscans bought
their first friary on Drexel Blvd. in Chicago, Fr. Franjo
was appointed the first Guardian. While holding this
position he also served at parishes in Ambridge and Sharon.
He died on February 3, 1959 in Lemont Il.near Chicago.. He
was buried on February 7 in Holy Sepulchre in Chicago.
Fr Leonard (Steve) Medjugorac
Fr. Leonard was born on January 1, 1932 in West New York,
New Jersey. He went to the seminary in September of 1945,
entered the Franciscan Order on July 4, 1951 and was
ordained on June 24, 1958. He was still completing his
theological studies when on April 19, 1959 he was killed in
an automobile accident near Effingham, Illinois. He was only
27 years of age. He was buried on April 23 at Holy Sepulchre
Cemetery in Chicago
Fr.
Blaz (Petar) Jerkovic
Fr. Blaz was born on April 16, 1880 in Vidovici near Mostar.
After he completed grammar school in Gradnici he attended
high school in Široki Brijeg. He entered the Franciscan
Order on the Feast of St. Francis, October 4, 1895. He
studied philosophy and theology in Mostar, Parma and Rome.
He was ordained in 1902. After his ordination he became a
professor at the high school in Široki Brijeg until 1911.
He then served as pastor of the parishes in Konjic, Roško
Polje, Rasno, Široki Brijeg, Humac and Gorica. He came to
the United States on December 5, 1927. He assisted at St.
Jerome's Parish in Chicago for a short time and then was
appointed pastor. In 1929 he was named Commissary of the
Croatian Franciscans in America while continuing as pastor
of St. Jerome's
Parish. After six years of holding these positions, he was
named pastor at St. Augustine's in West Allis where he
served from 1936 to 1955. During those years he built the
church, school and rectory. He died in Milwaukee on February
23, 1960 at the age of 79. He is buried in Holy Sepulchre
Cemetery in Chicago.
Fr. Ignacije (Stanko)
Jurkovic
Fr. Ignacije was born in
Bjelonici, Herzegovina on April 27, 1890. As a child he lost
his mother so the Franciscans took him in as an orphan at
Široki Brijeg. He put on the Franciscan habit for the first
time on August 19, 1916 at Humac. He studied philosophy and
theology in Mostar and Fribourg, Switzerland where he was
ordained on December 15, 1912. He received his doctorate in
theology in Switzerland and then was named professor at the
theological seminary in Mostar. At the same time he was the
editor of the weekly publication Narodna sloboda (National
Freedom), the director of the Franciscan press and taught
catechism. During the war he was named vicar of the
province, but as early as 1946 he left his homeland. In July
of 1946 he came to the United States. During his first six
years he was guardian of St. Anthony Friary in Chicago where
he also assisted many of the nearby parishes. He died on
February 14, 1961 at the age of 66, and he was buried on
February 18 at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Chicago.
Fr. Bonaventure (Ante)
Bilandzic
Fr. Bonaventure was born on
June 22, 1897 at Kruševar near Sinj. He attended grammar
school in his hometown and in Solin. He came to the United
States as a young boy in the summer of 1910 and lived in
Chicago where he also attended high school. He entered the
Franciscan Order on November 7, 1927. He studied philosophy
and theology in Butler, N.J. and Washington D.C. He was
ordained on June 12, 1943. He served as assistant pastor of
several parishes including Sacred Heart in Chicago, St.
Augustine in West Allis, St. Mary's in Steelton, Sacred
Heart in Milwaukee and St. Joseph's in St. Louis. He was
pastor at Holy Trinity in Ambridge. He spent his last year
at St. Anthony Friary in Chicago where he died on May 3,
1964. He was buried on May 6 in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in
Chicago
Fr. Oton (Andrija)
Knezovic
Fr. Oton was born in Cerno by
Ljubuški on January 27, 1890. He finished grammar school in
Ljubuški and high school in Široki Brijeg. He entered the
Franciscan Order in Humac on August 12, 1910. He studied
philosophy and theology in Mostar where he was ordained on
June 28, 1915. He began his pastoral work in Široki Brijeg,
and then he went on to study Slavic languages and Croatian
history in Zagreb. He received his doctorate in 1920 and
became professor at the high school in Široki Brijeg. He
remained there as a professor until the end of the war in
1945 when he fled to Italy. For a short time he taught at
the high school in Grottmare, Italy. He came to the United
States in 1950. Fr. Oton tirelessly wrote a variety of books
on Croatian literature and history. For a short time he
served at Sacred Heart Parish in Chicago and at St. Joseph
Parish in St. Louis. After residing at St. Francis Friary in
Gulf Breeze he returned to St. Anthony Friary in Chicago
until his death on October 19, 1964 at the age of 74. He was
buried on October 21 at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Chicago.
Bro. Alojzije (Ante) Soldo
Bro. Alojzije was born on
January 12, 1891 in Veliki Ogradjenik, Herzegovina. He
attended the grammar school in Cerno. As a young boy he came
to the United States in April of 1910. He worked and lived
in Pittsburgh, Bethlehem and New York. After twenty years of
hard work he decided to join the Franciscans. He entered the
Order on the feast of his patron Saint Aloysius, on June 21,
1930 in Paterson, NJ. Bro. Alojzije wanted to spend his time
serving his Franciscan brothers. For twelve years he was
cook at St. Jerome Parish in Chicago (1932-1944). He
provided the same service at other parishes in New York and
St. Louis. After this he retired at St. Anthony Friary in
Chicago. He died in Chicago at the Monticello Reconvalescent
Home on February 26, 1965. He was buried on March 2 at Holy
Sepulchre Cemetery in Chicago.
Fr. Tugomir (Jakov) Soldo
Fr. Tugomir was born on
January 3, 1911 in Dragicina, Herzegovina. After he
completed grammar school in Cerno, he attended the
Franciscan seminary in Široki Brijeg. He entered the
Franciscan Order on August 3, 1929 at Humac. He studied
philosophy and theology in Mostar and Rome where he was
ordained on July 28, 1935. After his ordination he served in
many parishes, notably in Capljina (1939-1944). After the
war he fled to Hungary in 1947, then to Austria and then to
Italy where he served as spiritual director for the students
in the seminary at Grottamare and Rome. He came to America
in June of 1952. He first worked at the Franciscan printery
in Chicago, and then he took care of Croatian immigrants in
various Croatian parishes. He was killed in a car accident
on May 17, 1965 near Toledo, Ohio. He was buried on June 20
at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Chicago alongside his recently
deceased cousin, Bro. Alojzije.
Fr. Kruno (Stjepan)
Pandzic
Fr. Kruno was born on
December 8,1912 in Drinovci, Herzegovina. He finished
grammar school in his hometown and high school in Humac and
Široki Brijeg. He entered the Franciscan Order on August 3,
1930 in Humac. He studied philosophy and theology in Mostar,
and he was ordained on June 14, 1936 in Kotor. After his
ordination he continued his studies in Fribourg,
Switzerland. This is where he issued the publication Croatia
Press. His writings were controversial as he spoke the truth
about his homeland. Due to the request of the the Yugoslav
ambassador and the Swiss government, Fr. Kruno had to leave
Switzerland. He then went to Freiburg, Germany where he
continued with his studies. He became a doctor of philosophy
in Ljubljana on December 31, 1942. Fr. Kruno then returned
to his province and taught philosophy and theology at the
seminaries in both Humac and Mostar. After the war he
survived death camps and communist prisons. In 1948 he fled
to Austria and on December 25, 1949 he arrived to the United
States. For a year he edited the weekly publication Danica
and then later the Croatian Catholic Messenger. He assisted
in many Croatian parishes in America and Canada. In 1965 he
was named professor of philosophy in Sudbury, Ontario, but
due to illness he had to decline. He died the same year on
August 29 at the age 52 at Holy Cross Hospital in Chicago.
He was buried in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery Chicago.
Fr. Ambro (Stjepan)
Mišetic
Fr. Ambro was born on
December 14, 1882 in Grabovnik, Herzegovina. He finished
grammar school in Ljubuški and high school in Široki
Brijeg. He put on the Franciscan habit on the feast of St.
Francis, October 4, 1900. He studied theology in Mostar and
Fulda, Germany where he was ordained on June 29, 1905. He
did pastoral work for seventeen years at various parishes:
Nevesinje, Seonica and Kongora in Herzegovina. In 1922 he
came to the United States. In Portland, OR he took on the
responsibility of caring for the Croatian immigrants. After
two years he went to Sacred Heart parish in Chicago. He then
went on to work at Croatian parishes in St. Louis, Milwaukee
and Steelton. He died at St. Anthony Friary on February 23,
1966 at the age of 83. He was buried on February 28 at Holy
Sepulchre Cemetery in Chicago.
Fr. Patrick (Joseph)
Cigic
Fr. Patrick was born in the
United States in Kansas City, Kansas on June 24, 1918. He
finished grammar school there and attended high school in
Westmont, Il. He entered the Franciscan Order on August 12,
1939 in Teutopolis, Il, studied philosophy in Cleveland,
Ohio and theology in Teutopolis. He was ordained on June 20,
1946 in Teutopolis. He worked at various Croatian parishes
after his ordination; first as assistant in St. Louis,
Steelton, Bethlehem and Sharon and then as pastor in
Ambridge and New York. He spent five years as the superior
of St. Francis Friary in Gulf Breeze. After spending a few
years at St. Joseph's in St. Louis as assistant pastor, he
died at St. Anthony Hospital in St. Louis on November 10,
1969 at the young age of 51. He was buried on November 17 at
Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Chicago.
Fr. Zvonko (Ivan)
Manduric
Fr. Zvonko was born on June
22, 1898 in Citluk near Posušje, Herzegovina in a family
with 16 children. He finished grammar school in Posušje and
high school in Široki Brijeg. He received the Franciscan
habit on May 16, 1916 in Humac. He studied theology in
Mostar and Paderborn, Germany. He was ordained in Mostar on
July 14, 1923. For four years he did pastoral work in
Tomislavgrad, Mostar and Blagaj in Hercegovina until 1928..
Then he departed for Canada where he worked as a missionary.
Fr. Zvonko was the first Croatian priest and spiritual
director in Canada. After two years he came to the United
States and worked as pastor at several Croatian parishes
including St. Augustine's in West Allis, Portland, Oregon,
SS. Cyril and Methodius in New York, Sacred Heart in
Milwaukee, and St. Jerome's in Chicago. Fr. Zvonko also
served as guardian of St. Anthony Friary in Chicago at two
different times. He died in Chicago on December 21, 1970 at
the age of 72.. He was buried on December 23 at Holy
Sepulchre Cemetery in Chicago.
Fr. Vendelin (Franjo) Vasilj
Fr. Vendelin was born on May
27, 1909 in Medjugorje where he also finished grammar
school. He finished high school in Široki Brijeg and
entered the Franciscan Order on June 29, 1926 in Humac. He
completed his theological studies in Mostar and was ordained
in the same city on December 11, 1932. In 1933 he went to
study in Paris and there he received his doctorate in both
law and sociology. In 1938 he returned to Mostar where he
was a professor at the theological seminary. At the same
time he served as secretary to Bishop Alojzije Mišic of
Mostar. Under his leadership, the monthly publication Kršcanska obitelj (Christian Family) was again issued. Fr.
Vendelin also founded a society for miners as well as the
Catholic youth group, "Soldiers of St. Anthony".
In February of 1945 he went to Zagreb where he took care of
refugees. After being imprisoned by the partisans, he fled
to Austria and Italy. A year later, in April of 1946, he
came to the United States. After staying in Chicago for a
short time, he went to St. Mary's Parish in Steelton. A year
later, in 1949, he was named Commissary of the Croatian
Franciscans in America. At the same time, he was editor of
the Croatian Catholic Messenger as well as the Croatian
Almanac. He wrote many articles for these publications.. In
1952 he was named guardian of St. Anthony Friary in Chicago.
He served as pastor at several parishes: Sacred Heart in
Milwaukee, St. Augustine in West Allis and Sacred Heart in
Chicago where he died on January 2, 1971 at the age of 62..
Fr. Vendelin served as Commissary of the Croatian
Franciscans for three terms (1949-1952 and 1961-1967). He
also served on the Custodial Board three times (1952-1955,
1958-1961 and 1967-1970). He was also at various times
director of the Croatian Franciscan Press. He was buried on
January 6, 1971 at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Chicago.
Fr. Dominic (Andrija)
Mandic
This well-known Franciscan
was born on December 2, 1889 in Lise near Široki Brijeg. He
finished grammar school and high school in Široki Brijeg
and entered the Franciscan Order on August 19, 1906 in
Humac. He studied philosophy and theology in Mostar and
Fribourg, Switzerland where he received his doctorate in
theology. He returned to his homeland and together with Fr.
Didak Buntic dedicated himself to holding classes in
teaching people to read and write. Also they both took care
of the children who were moved to Slavonia. He became
secretary of the Province in 1916 and professor at the
seminary in Mostar. That is also when the weekly publication
Narodna sloboda (National Freedom) began in Mostar Fr.
Dominic was founder of the "Society of the Tobacco
Growers of Herzegovina" in order to protect the people
from the injustice of the government. In 1918 he was founder
of the publication, Suvremena pitanja (Modern Issues). Ten
years later he became the provincial in Mostar. Six years
later he became director of the Franciscan high school in
Široki Brijeg. In the spring of 1939 he was elected a
member of the General Curia of the Franciscan Order in Rome.
Along with this position he was named Procurator of the
Franciscan Order. After the fall of the Croatian government
in 1945, he helped in saving innumerable Croatian refugees.
In Grottamare, Italy he founded a high school for orphaned
Croatian students. Along with all these projects he also
built a new Franciscan Curia in Rome on the Gelsomino hill
as well as a church decorated with Croatian ornaments and
dedicated to the Mother of God. He came to the United States
on November 5, 1951, and a year later he was elected
Commissary of the Croatian Franciscans. The same year he
founded the publishing house "Croatia" where books
in both Croatian and English were printed. After he was
relieved from his responsibility as Commissary he dedicated
his time to researching Croatian history. His works were
helpful in making that nation and its history better known.
He died at St. Anthony Friary in Chicago on August 23, 1973
at 84 years of age. He was buried at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery
in Chicago.
Fr. Anzelmo (Cvitan)
Sliškovic
Fr. Anzelmo was born May 12,
1898 in Grljevici, Herzegovina. He finished elementary
school in Široki Brijeg. He became a Franciscan June 7,
1915 in Humac. He studied philosophy and theology in Mostar
and Vienna. He became a priest on December 8, 1922. He
served in the parishes of Humac and Veljaci until his
departure to America in May of 1930. He worked among
Croatians at St. Jerome's in Chicago as assistant pastor. He
was pastor at St. Anthony's, Sharon and SS. Cyril and
Methodius in New York. Fr. Anzelmo was also the director of
the Croatian Franciscan Press for three years from 1947-1950. He resided in St. Francis Friary in Gulf Breeze
from 1961 until his death in March 3, 1974 at the age of 75.
He was buried on March 7 in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in
Chicago.
Fr. Ljubo (Mate)
Cuvalo
Fr. Ljubo was born February
29, 1908 in Proboj, Herzegovina. After finishing elementary
school in Vitina, he attended the high school in Široki
Brijeg. He became a member of the Franciscan Order on June
29, 1926 in Humac. He studied philosophy and theology in
Mostar and Breslau, Germany, and was ordained a priest in
Mostar November 5, 1933. The following year he went to
England to study English in preparation for work among the
Croatians in America. He arrived in America in November
1935. He worked among Croatians in New York, St. Jerome's in
Chicago and Vancover, British Columbia and for seven years
in Portland, Oregon. He was pastor at Holy Trinity in
Ambridge., Sacred Heart in Milwaukee and Sacred Heart in
Chicago. Fr. Ljubo was the first editor for the weekly
Danica when the Croatian Franciscans purchased it from Mr.
Ivan Krešic. He also in later years edited the Croatian
Catholic Messenger and Croatian Almanac and in Chicago was
very active in various social and religious activities. Fr.
Ljubo was on Custodial Board from 1949 to 1952. After a
brief illness, he passed away in a Chicago hospital January
24, 1975 at the age of 66. He was buried January 28 in Holy
Sepulchre Cemetery in Chicago.
Fr. Špiro (Mate)
Andrijanic
Fr. Špiro was born February
25, 1897 in Grude, Herzegovina. He attended elementary
school in Grude and the high school in Široki Brijeg. He
became a member of the Franciscan Order on July 6, 1915 in
Humac. He studied philosophy and theology in Mostar, Vienna
and Innsbruck. He was
ordained a priest on September 13, 1923 and for four years
worked as a parish assistant in Široki Brijeg. He came to
the United States on May 8, 1928. He was assistant pastor at
Sacred Heart in Chicago and St. Mary in Steelton. He served
as pastor at St. Anthony in Sharon (1929-1931), Sacred Heart
in Chicago (1931-1947) and St. Joseph in St. Louis (1947-1968). In September of 1968 he went into retirement at
St. Frances Friary in Gulf Breeze where he passed away on
March 26, 1979 at the age of 82. He was buried in Holy
Sepulchre Cemetery in Chicago.
Fr. Charles (Ivan) Pleše
Fr. Charles was born in Kansas City, Kansas on June 24,
1915. After finishing grammar school and high school Fr.
Charles joined the Franciscan Order on August 19, 1934. He
went to Mostar where he completed his philosophical and
theological studies. He was ordained a priest on June 16,
1940 and next year returned to America the next year. He
served as assistant pastor at St. Mary's in Steelton (1941-1944 and 1945-1949) and as pastor (1950-1952).He
served as asistant at St. Jerome's in Chicago (1944-1945 and
1952-1957), St. Augustine's in West Allis (1959-1962),
Sacred Heart in Milwaukee (1962-1964), St. John's in Kansas
City, Kansas (1968-1970), SS. Cyril and Methodius in New
York (1972-1973), and frequently resided in the friaries in
Chicago, Beaver Falls and Gulf Breeze where he gave
spiritual retreats. Fr. Charles was on Custodial Board from
1964 to 1967. He passed away on June 21, 1979 at the
Vincentian Nursing Home in Pittsburgh, Pa. at the age of 64
and was buried at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Chicago..
Fr. Celestin (Vidoje)
Raguz
Fr. Celestin was born on
January 30, 1915 in Domanovici, Herzegovina. He finished
elementary school there and high school in Široki Brijeg.
He received the Franciscan habit on July 3, 1934. He studied
philosophy and theology in Mostar where he was ordained a
priest on June 16, 1940. He served as assistant in the
parish of Capljina during the war, and following that he
departed for Austria where he ministered to the Croatian
refugees at St. Gertrude. In June of 1946 he left Austria
and went to the United States. For two months he lived in
Cleveland, Ohio. He spent the remainder of his life in
Chicago where for over 30 years he was director of the
Croatian Franciscan Press. At the same time he helped in the
surrounding parishes. He was on the Custodial Board from
1964 to 1967. He passed away in Chicago on July 31, 1979 at
the age of 64. He was buried in Chicago in Holy Sepulchre
Cemetery.
Fr. Vitomir (Karlo)
Naletilic
Fr. Vitomir was born January
16, 1915 in Lise near Široki Brijeg. After finishing
elementary school and high school in Široki Brijeg he
entered the Franciscan Order on June 29, 1932 in Humac. He
studied philosophy and theology in Mostar and Rome. He was
ordained a priest on June 12, 1938 in Mostar. In 1941 he was
named secretary of the Procurator in the Franciscan Curia in
Rome. He held that post for 11 years until 1952. He arrived
to the United States February 2, 1954. He served at St.
Joseph's in St. Louis as assistant pastor (1954-1955) and as
pastor (1972-1976), as assistant pastor at St. Jerome's in
Chicago (1955-1958) and as pastor from (1960-1965), as
pastor of SS. Cyril and Methodius in New York (1967-1972).
He was on the Custodial Boaard from 1973-1976, and and also
served as Procurator and director of St. Anthony's Fund and
Franciscan publications. Death took him at at St. Joseph's
Parish in St. Louis on November 16, 1979 at the age of 64.
He was buried in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Chicago.
Fr. Franjo (Lovro)
Radišic
Fr. Franjo was born August 7,
1913 in Grljevici, Herzegovina. He finished elementary
school in Rasno and attended high school in Široki Brijeg.
He bacame a Franciscan on June 29, 1932. He finished his
philosophical and theological studies in Mostar and was
ordained a priest on February 21, 1937. Since his youth he
had wanted to be a missionary, and shortly after being
ordained he went to the missions in China. He arrived in
Beijing in the summer of 1938. Immediately after his
arrival, he dedicated himself to learning Chinese. After a
year he was sent to Hunan province, where he did his
pastoral work for 13 years and directed an home for the
elderly. In 1950, because of the communist government, he
was expelled. From China he went to Italy. On December 28,
1953 he traveled to America. He did pastoral work in the
parishes of St. Joseph's in St. Louis, St. Jerome's, Chicago
and St. Joseph's in Bethlehem. For several years he lived in
the Franciscan friaries in Gulf Breeze and Beaver Falls. The
last years of his life were spent at St. Anthony Friary in
Chicago, where he passed away on June 19, 1980 at the age of
66. He was buried at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Chicago .
Fr. David (Mile) Zrno
Fr. David was born in Duvno
on September 30, 1896. He finished elementary school in his
birthplace and high school in Široki Brijeg. He studied
philosophy and theology in Mostar and Vienna, where he was
ordained a priest on August 28, 1921. After being ordained
he returned home, and became a professor in Široki Brijeg
for two years. He then continued post-graduate studies at
the University of Vienna and received his doctorate in 1926.
He spent the next four years until 1930 as a professor at
the seminary in Mostar. He arrived in the United States on
the feast of St. Anthony, June 13, 1930. He spent several
years as a missionary and preached in many cities in
America. In 1935 he was named Commissary of the Croatian
Franciscans in the United States. He remained at that post
for a full fourteen years until 1949. During that time the
community was strengthened, and St. Anthony's Friary in
Chicago was opened as the administrative center of the
community. He established a cultural center and began the
Croatian Catholic Messenger, Croatian Almanac and Danica
(Morning Star). It is important to mention that he in fact
began the Croatian Franciscan Printery. At Fr. David's
request the Franciscan plot was bought in Holy Sepulchre
Cemetery in Chicago. After serving as the head of the
community, he was pastor of St. Anthony's in Sharon (1949-1958). He then returned to St. Anthony's Friary in
Chicago as Guardian and served as Procurator of the
community from 1961 to 1976. He was on the Custodial Board
from 1952-1955. While on vacation in his homeland he died on
August 17, 1984 in Split at the age of 88. He was buried on
August 20 in Karaula Cemetery in Tomislavgrad.
Fr. Silvije (Silvestar)
Grubišic
Fr. Silvije was born April 8,
1910 in Sovici, Herzegovina. He finished elementary school
in his birthplace and high school at Široki Brijeg. He
accepted the Franciscan habit on August 3, 1929. He finished
his philosophical and theological studies in Mostar where he
was ordained on May 16, 1935. He came to the United States
on June 8, 1938. He was named the assistant pastor, and
later the pastor (1957-1961), of St. Mary's in Steelton.
From 1941 to 1949 he resided in Chicago as editor of the
Croatian Catholic Messenger and Croatian Almanac and began a
foundation of St. Anthony for devotional matters. He was
named the pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Milwaukee (1949-1950), SS. Cyril and Methodius in New York
(1965-1968), in Sault Ste. Marie (1969-1970) and
St.Anthony's Parish in Sharon. Fr. Silvije was guardian of
St. Anthony's in Chicago, superior of St. Francis Friary in
Gulf Breeze and Procurator of the Custody. He was the editor
of the Croatian Almanac (1955-1957). He was a recognized
Biblical scholar and translated books of the Old Testament
from the original language into Croatian. He published the
following translations: Petoknjizje, Psalmi, Prvi Proroci,
Velike Proroci, Poruka Progranika, Dvanaest Proroka and Tuzaljke, Ruta, Job, Upute za
zivot, Velepjesma, and
Predsjedatelj. Fr. Silvije also wrote two very important
works: Pripovijest o Bibliji, and Od Domovine do Pradomovine
(Croatian Franciscan Press, 1979). His translation of the
Five Books of Moses was a part of the Bible published by
Kršcanska Sadašnjost in Zagreb in 1977. In 1982 Fr.
Silvije became assistant pastor in St. Augustine Parish in
West Allis where he passed away on May 12, 1985 at the age
of 75. He was buried in Holy Sepulche Cemetery in Chicago.
Fr. Trpimir (Grgo) Musa
Fr. Trpimir was born in
Rasno, Herzegovina on March 4, 1899. He finished elementary
school in his birthplace and high school in Široki Brijeg.
He entered the Franciscan Orderon Maay 10, 1916 in Humac. He
studied philosophy and theology in Mostar and was ordained
on March 25, 1928. After being ordained he spent the next 15
years (1928-1943) in the parish of Konjic. During the war he
went to Zagreb where he was superior. Prior to the end of
the war he fled the Communists by going to Italy. Shortly
thereafter he became the director of the high school in
Grottamare. He served in this capacity until the high school
closed in 1950. From 1950 to 1953 he held the post of
economist at the Franciscan International College in
Grottaferata near Rome. He arrived in the United States on
November 18, 1953, and he immediately took over the duties
of the director of Franciscan Publications in Chicago. In
1960 he became the assistant pastor of St. Augustine's in
West Allis, Six years later in 1966 he returned to St.
Anthony's Friary in Chicago where he passed away on July 13,
1986 at the age of 87. He was buried at Holy Sepulchre
Cemetery in Chicago.
Fr. Ferdinand (Stjepan) Skoko
Fr. Ferdo was born September
24, 1907 in Grab, Herzegovina. He entered the Franciscan
Order June 29, 1926. He studied philosophy an theology in
Mostar and Teutopolis, Il. He was ordained a priest on
December 11, 1932. He arrived to the United States after
being ordained a priest in July of 1933. In 1934 he was
named assistant pastor of St. Jerome Parish in Chicago for 2
years. After that he served at the following parishes as
pastor: Holy Trinity in Ambridge for 7 years and St. Jerome
in Chicago for 15 years. After serving at St. Jerome he was
chosen twice as Commissary of the Croatian Franciscans (1955-1961). He was on the Custodial Board twice (1952-1955
and 1961-1964). . He was pastor of Sacred Heart in Milwaukee
from 1961-1967. Then he was guardian of St. Anthony's Friary
in Chicago (1967-1973) . He was named pastor of St. Francis
in Windsor, when in 1973 the Diocese of London gave the
parish to the Croatian Franciscans. In July of 1976 he was
again named guardian of St. Anthony's Friary in Chicago. He
held that position until 1982 when he was named pastor of
Sacred Heart Parish in Milwaukee. He remained there for
three years until 1985, when he was again appointed guardian
of the friary in Chicago. There he passed away on April 28,
1987 at the age of 79 and was buried at Holy Sepulchre
Cemetery in Chicago.
Fr. Gracijan (Grgo)
Raspudic
Fr. Gracijan was born
February 25, 1911 in Lipno, Herzegovina. He finished
elementary school in Cerin and high school in Široki
Brijeg. He entered the Franciscan Order on June 29, 1928. He
studied philosophy and theology in Mostar and at the
University of Vienna. Fr. Gracijan was ordained a priest in
Vienna on August 26, 1934. He went then to Lyon, France
where in 1938 he received a doctorate in theology. After his
studies he went to Rome where he studied the works of the
Franciscan scholar Duns Scotus. A year after that he
returned to the Province where he became a professor of
theology at the Franciscan Seminary in Mostar. Fr. Gracijan
accompanied and cared for many of Croatians who had gone to
Germany. At that time, he was a resident of the Croatian
Embassy in Berlin. In September of 1945 he left Germany for
Italy, where he again became a professor of theology at the
College of Tropei in Northern Italy, and subsequently at
high school in Grottamara, where he was a director and
professor. After the closing of the high school he moved to
Madrid where he dedicated himself to studying the Sacred
Scriptures. He translated the entire New Testament into
Croatian. His New Testament was published in Croatia by Kršcanska Sadašnjost in Zagreb and the Teološka
Biblioteka in Sarajevo in 1987. For a while he was a
professor at the theological school in Onteniente near
Venice. On August 20, 1957 he arrived in the United States.
He was named assistant pastor at St. Jerome's Parish in
Chicago, St. Anthony's in Sharon (1958-1959) and Sacred
Heart in Chicago (1960-1963). He resided for the following
six years at the Franciscan residence in Gulf Breeze and
again dedicated himself to scholarly work. He wrote several
important works in the field of literature: Djevojka Drina,
Za stolom od kamena and Braca Golemci. Fr. Gracijan was a
distinguished linguist. From 1969 he worked at St. Anthony's
Friary in Chicago. He edited the Croatian Catholic Messenger
for almost 20 years until his death. He passed away at St.
Anthony's Friary on May 7, 1989. He was buried at Holy
Sepulchre cemetery in Chicago.
Fr. Anthony (Jerome) Dukich
Fr. Anthony was born June 22,
1928 in Chicago of Croatian parents who died while he was
very young. He attended the seminary in Westmont, Il. and
accepted the Franciscan habit on July 5, 1950. He studied
philosophy in Cleveland, Ohio and theology in Teutopolis,
Il. where he was ordained a priest on June 24, 1957. After
being ordained he worked as assistant pastor at St. Jerome's
Parish in Chicago. In 1962 he was assigned to St.
Augustine's in West Allis where he spent fourteen years; as
an assistant pastor (1962-1968) and as pastor (1968-1976).
Fr. Anthony was pastor of St. Jerome in Detroit. He remained
there until 1985 when due to illness he moved to St. Anthony
monastery in Chicago. Fr. Anthony was on the Custodial Board
from 1970-1973. He passed away June 10, 1986 at the age of
57. He was buried in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Chicago.
Fr. Berto (Bartol)
Dragicevic
Fr. Berto was born May 7,
1910 in Medjugorje, where he attended elementary school. He
finished high school in Široki Brijeg and completed his
philosophical and theologucal studies in Mostar. He joined
the Franciscan Order on August 3, 1930, and was ordained a
priest on June 14, 1936 in Kotor. He did most of his
pastoral work in Rakitno. Prior to the end of the war he
fled the Communists and went to Austria where he helped
refugees. Fr. Berto arrived to the United States on
Christmas Day in 1949. After briefly studying English Fr.
Berto was named as assistant pastor at St. Jerome's in
Chicago (1950-1953) and after that at Sacred Heart in
Chicago (1953-1958). He briefly did pastoral work in two
parishes in Pennsylvania: St. Anthony in Sharon and Holy
Trinity in Ambridge. After that Fr. Berto went to Canada. He
first served as a spiritual leader for Croatians in Sudbury
and Elliot Lake. He then went to Sault Ste. Marie where he
organized the Croatian community and established a parish.
In 1969 he again went to Sudbury where he cared for the
local Croatians.. He remained there until 1980. After that
he went to the Queen of Peace Center in Norval where he
passed away on February 15, 1990 at the age of 79. Fr. Berto
served on the Custodial Board from 1967-1970. He was buried
in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Chicago.
Fr. Mladen
Cuvalo
Fr. Mladen was born April 21,
1939 in Proboj, Herzegovina. He finished elementary school
in Vitina and high school in Split, Sinj and Visoko. He
entered the Franciscan Order July 14, 1959 in Humac. He
completed his philosophical and theological studies in
Visoko and Sarajevo, where he was ordained a priest on July
10, 1966. He arrived to the United States on March 16, 1967.
After studying English in Washington DC, Fr. Mladen was
named assistant pastor at SS.Cyril and Methodius parish in
New York, and as pastor in 1972. During that time the the
parish was relocated to the new and more adequate building
and Croatian Highland in New Jersey was purchased . He
remained as pastor until 1979. After that Fr. Mladen spent
some time in Beaver Falls, Norval, Cleveland, Ohio and
Fronhletain, Austria. He passed away September 7, 1991 in
Chicago. He was buried in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in
Chicago.
Fr. Slavko (Martin)
Luburic
Fr. Slavko was born June 22
1898 in Rašljani, Herzegovina. He finished elementary
school in his birthplace and high school in Široki Brijeg.
He entered the Franciscan order on May 10, 1916. Fr. Slavko
completed his philosophical and theological studies in
Mostar and Paderborn, Germany. He was ordained a priest in
Paderborn on August 12, 1923. After being ordained he
continued his theological studies in Fribourg, Switzerland.
Three years later he returned to Herzegovina to do pastoral
work. He was a religious instructor for children in the
elementary school and high school in Humac. In 1930 he was
named pastor of the parish of Klobuk, and after three years
became the pastor of the parish of Goranci near Mostar. In
1937 he was named the Guardian of the Franciscan Friary in
Humac. During the war years, 1941-1945, he served in the
parishes of Konjic, Veljaci,and Humac, and after the
collapse of the Croatian state, Fr. Slavko successfully fled
to Austria, and afterwards to Italy. He arrived in the
United States May 8, 1946. He spent the first three years as
an assistant pastor in parishes of the Harrisburg, Pa.
Diocese. In 1950 he was named the pastor of St. Joseph in
Bethlehem where he was for 21 years. In February of 1971 he
retired at St. Anthony Friary in Chicago. Fr. Slavko was on
the Custodial Board (1958-1961). He passed away February 20,
1992, at the age of 94. He was buried in Holy Sepulchre
Cemetery in Chicago.
Fr. Irenaeus (George)
Petricak
Fr. Irenaeus lived a very
interesting life. He was believed to be in his final years
not only the oldest Franciscan in the world but also the
oldest priest in the world. He was in truth a pioneer among
the Croatian missionaries in the New World. He was born in
Klanjec in Croatian Zagorje on April 28 1889. He accepted
the Franciscan habit on August 17, 1906, and completed his
philosophical and theological studies in Zagreb. He was
ordained a priest on July 14, 1912. On December 2 of that
year he arrived to the United States. He established the
parish of SS. Cyril and Methodius in New York on August 16
of the following year. Fr. Irenej remained there for 13
years. Then his superior sent him to be the pastor of St.
Mary's in Steelton. Eleven years later in 1937 he became
pastor of St. Joseph's in Bethlehem. He served the parish
for thirteen years. In 1950 he went into semi- retirement in
St. Anthony's Friary in Chicago. It is interesting that Fr.
Irenaeus spent almost half of a century there as sacristan,
organist, and librarian. The last years of his life were
spent at St. Mary's Nursing Home in Manitowoc, Wi. where he
quietly passed away on February 26, 1996 at the age of 106.
A bright candle was extinguished. He was buried in Holy
Sepulchre Cemetery in Chicago.
Fr. Dionizije (Vinko) Lasic
Fr. Dionizije was born on
June 6, 1913 in Uzarici near Široki Brijeg, and finished
elementary school and high school there as well. He entered
the Franciscan Order on August 6, 1932 and studied
philosophy and theology in Mostar and Schwaz in Austria. He
was ordained a priest on May 23, 1937 in Mostar. Immediately
after being ordained, he went to Schwaz where he completed
his final year of theology. After that, in 1938, the
community sent him at the Franciscan Antonianum in Rome for
post-graduate spiritual studies. Two years later he returned
home as an assistant pastor in Kocerin. In May of 1941 he
returned again to Rome, where two years later in 1943 he
received a doctorate in theology. Upon returning to the
Province he was named the advisor to Franciscan students in
Mostar. In 1945 he left his homeland fleeing before
Communist terror. He went to Rome where until 1948 he was
the spiritual director for the students of theology at the
Antonianum. Afterwards, when the Croatian Franciscans, under
the leadership of Fr. Dominic Mandic, founded a small school
for Croatian refugee children in Grottamare in Italy, Fr.
Dionizije was their advisor and teacher from 1948-1950. He
did similar work from 1950-1951 in Sassoferrata in Italy
until September of 1951, when he was named professor of
spiritual worship and morals at the Antonianum in Rome. He
stayed in that position until 1974. During this time, on
March 14, 1972, Fr. Dionizije was one of the founders of the
ZIRAL publishing house. He arrived in the United States on
July 29, 1974. He lived in America for only a year before
returning to the same seminary in Rome. In 1975, once again
arriving to America, he was named a co-editor of the weekly
Danica and director of the Franciscan Publications and the
Croatian Ethnic Institute. As director of ZIRAL from 1972 to
1995, Fr. Dionizije prepared 52 books for printing and had
another nine in production. He was a manager of the monthly
Croatian Catholic Messenger from 1975 to 1977 and an editor
for the yearly Croatian Almanac in 1977, 1978, and 1986. Fr.
Dionizije devoted many years to the collecting and study of
Croatian ornamental weaves. He presented his research in his
principal literary work, Pleterni Ukras (ZIRAL, Chicago,
1995, 918 pgs). In 1995 he returned to the homeland. He
passed away on November 27, 1997 in Zagreb. He was buried in
Široki Brijeg.
Fr. Serafin (Stanko) Vištica
Fr. Serafin was born February
21, 1903 in Veljaci, Herzegovina. He finished elementary
school in his birthplace, and high school in Široki Brijeg.
He received the Franciscan habit on July 9, 1923. He
completed his philosophical and theological studies in
Mostar and in Strassbourg, France. He was ordained a priest
on June 23, 1929. Fr. Serafin actively worked in the
parishes of the homeland. After being ordained he served as
an assistant pastor in the parishes in Humac (1930-1932) and
Posušje (1932-1935). In 1935 he founded the parish of Crnac
near Široki Brijeg. He held the position of pastor and
guardian of the Franciscan Friary in Široki Brijeg. During
this time Fr. Serafin was actively involved in social work:
census, founding Catholic associations, etc. The community
then named him the pastor of Medjugorje. On February 3, 1945
he left Medjugorje, the Province and his homeland as he fled
Communist terror. After a short stay in Austria and Italy he
arrived in the United States on May 8, 1946. He served as an
assistant pastor in St. Jerome's Parish. In May 1947 he
began serving a parish in Kulpmont, Pa, and in 1950 was
named the pastor at Holy Trinity in Ambridge where he built
the parish church. During the next nine years from 1951-1960, Fr. Serafin served as assistant pastor in our
Chicago parishes. H also was the Procurator of the Custody
and director of the Franciscan Publications. In 1960 he went
to Montreal where he established a Croatian parish on August
15, 1963. He became the pastor for St. Joseph's Parish in
St. Louis (1968-1970) and the pastor in Sault Ste. Marie
(1970-1971). In September of 1971 he went into retirement at
St. Anthony Friary in Chicago, where he continued his
charitable and literary work. His work on Fr. Janko Bubalo's
book Tisucu Susreta S Gospom is notable. Fr. Serafin
translated that book into English in 1985 and thousands of
copies cwere printed . Fr. Serafin was on Custodial Board
from 1961 to 1964. After fifty years he returned to the
homeland on September 22, 1995. He passed away in the
Franciscan Friary in Humac on August 21, 1998 at the age of
96. He was buried in the cemetery in Humac.
Fr. Predrag (Tadija)
Kordic
Fr. Predrag was born on May
3, 1915 in Grljevici near Vitina. He attended elementary
school in Rasno and high school in Široki Brijeg. He
entered the Franciscan Order in 1933. He completed his
philosophical and theological studies in Mostar, where he
was ordained a priest on June 4, 1939. After that he
continued his studies in the field of Italian literature at
the Catholic University in Milan where he received his
doctorate in 1951. The following year he arrived in the
United States and was named the assistant pastor for Sacred
Heart parish in Ambridge (1952-1954). He held the same
position in Lancaster, Pa (1954-1955) and was chaplain at
the Sisters of Mercy in 1955. He was assistant pastor at St.
Jerome's Parish in Chicago (1957-1959). In 1960 he became
pastor of St. Anthony's Parish in Monessen. He then spent
some time at St. Francis Friary in Gul Breeze. After that
Fr. Predrag left the Croatian Custody and was under the
jurisdiction of the Assumption Province of Pulaski, Wi. In
the nineties he returned to the Province in his homeland. He
passed away August 18, 1996 in Humac and was buried in the
cemetery in Humac.
Fr. Vilim (Petar) Primorac
Fr. Vilim was born January 8,
1907 in Citluk, Herzegovina into a family of 14 children. He
finished elementary school in Citluk and high school in
Široki Brijeg. He received the Franciscan habit on June 29,
1925. He studied philosophy and theology in Mostar and in
Lille, France where he was ordained a priest on July 13,
1931. The following year he returned to his homeland and was
named advisor to the students in Široki Brijeg. Several
years later he went to Zagreb, where he completed the
requirements for being a physical education director. He
returned to Široki Brijeg as an instructor for physical
education. After the war he went through the Croatian agony
and fled to Austria and then for Italy. Fr. Vilim arrived in
the United States on July 14 1946. Until 1953 he was an
assistant pastor for Sacred Heart Parish in Chicago, and
from 1953 to 1968 he held the same position in St. Mary's
Parish in Steelton. He was pastor at St. Nikola Tavelic
Parish in Montreal from 1968-1976. Then he was associate
pastor at St. Jerome's in Detroit (1976-1979), St. Francis
in Windsor (1979-1984), St. Nikola Tavelic in Montreal
(1984) and finally in the Croatian Franciscan Center in
Norval.(1984-1996). Fr. Vilim was on the Custodial Board
(1958-1961). He was well known as an organizer and leader of
many tamburitzan and kolo groups throughout Croatian
parishes in the United States and Canada. After a full fifty
years of successful work Fr. Vilim returned to his home land
in 1996. He spent his remaining years in his home parish in Citluk. He quietly passed away in St. Anthony Friary in
Humac on January 31, 2000. He was buried the following day
in Citluk.
Fr. Hrvoslav (Kristijan) Ban
 Fr. Hrvoslav was born on
August 31, 1924 in Stobi, Macedonia near a former camp for
Croatian political victims. Fr. Hrvoslav comes from a Zagreb
family, and lived in Zagreb since he was 8 months old. There
he finished elementary and high school. After World War II
he studied art history and archeology. He was an associated
with all the religious papers in Croatia, but because of his
national and religious works he was placed in solitary
confinement twice. Afterwards he studied philosophy and
theology in the Gregorianum in Rome. There he edited the
historical program for Radio Vatican from 1966-1969 and 1971-1972. After the collapse of the Croatian Spring in 1971
he left Europe on June 27, 1972 for America. He became a
member of the Franciscan community in the same year and was
ordained a priest by Cardinal Franjo Šeper November 4, 1973
in New York. For a short time he served in SS.Cyril and
Methodius Parish in New York, and in 1974 he came to Chicago
to work in in the office of Danica. After the death of Fr.
Ljubo Cuvalo he took over as an editor. He was also an
editor of the Croatian Almanac. He again served in the
Croatian parish in New York as an assistant pastor (1978-1981), and in the same position at St. Anthony in
Sharon (1981-1982) and St. Jerome in Chicago (1982-1992).
Fr. Hrvoslav was an author of many books and articles:
Opsada crkve u Bistrici, Kradja Marijina kipa, Neznanac iz
palace Zrinski, Dvoboj na Markovu trgu, and Vitezovi sv.
Marije. He was also an author of many radio dramas and an
editor of many books. Fr. Hrvoslav returned to the homeland
in the summer of 1992. He died on April 23, 2000 in Humac
and was buried there.
Fr.
Ivo Sivrić
 Fr.
Ivo was born August 15, 1917 in Medjugorje, Herzegovina. He
attended the local grammar school and completed his high
school at Široki Brijeg. He entered the Franciscan Order in
1985 in Humac. Fr. Ivo studied philosophy and theology in
Mostar, Zagreb and Rome. He was ordained on June 29, 1941 in
Mostar. After his ordination he studied at the Antonianum in
Rome where he received his doctoral degree in theology. He
came to the United States on December 7, 1947. After working
for a year at the printery at St. Anthony's in Chicago, Fr.
Ivo began his work as associate pastor of several parishes:
St. Joseph in St. Louis (1949-1951), St. Anthony in Sharon
(1951-1952), SS. Cyril and Methodius in New York (1952-1956)
and St. Mary's in Rankin (1956). Then he was named superior
for a time at St. Francis Friary in Gulf Breeze. He was
named pastor of Holy Trinity Parish in Ambridge (1956-1959).
After this he came back to St. Anthony Friary in Chicago
where he was the director of the Franciscan printery
(1959-1963). In 1963 he returned to Gulf Breeze (1963-1965).
While residing at Our Lady of Peace Friary in Beaver Falls
(1965-1973), he taught for a few years at Duquesne
University in Pittsburgh, Pa. He returned to Gulf Breeze
(1973-1977). Then he spent a year as associate pastor of St.
Francis parish in Fillmore, CA (1977-1978). Fr. Ivo spent
the next twenty years as associate pastor of St. Joseph's
Parish in St. Louis (1979-1999). He retired in 1999 and is
currently at a nursing home in Manitowoc, Wi. Fr. Ivo is the
author of several books: Bishop J.G. Strossmayer-New Light
on Vatican I, The Peasant Culture of Bosnia and Herzegovina,
The Hidden Face of Medjugorje and Kršcanski temelji C.S.
Lewisa. Fr. Ivo was also for a while the editor of the
monthly publication Nasa Nada (Our Hope), the official
publication of the Croatian Catholic Union. He served
on Custodial Board twice (1970-1973 and 1982-1985. Fr.
Ivo died October 28, 2002, and was buried in Holy Sepulchre
Cemetery in Chicago.
Fr.
Marko Kozina
 Fr.
Mark was born in Modran, Bosnia on March 15, 1933. In 1945
he left Croatia for Austria and arrived at the Franciscan
seminary in Grottamare in Italy the following year. He
joined the Franciscan Order in 1950 in Cingoli, Italy and in
1951 arrived in the United States to continue his studies in
philosophy in Cleveland, Ohio and theology at St.
Bonaventure University in New York and Teutopolis, Il. He
was ordained a priest on June 24, 1959. He was appointed
assistant pastor at Sacred Heart in Milwaukee (1959-1962)
and St. Jerome's in Chicago (1962-1965). He was pastor at
Blessed Trinity, Ambridge (1965-1969), St. Jerome's Chicago
(1969-1976) and at Sacred Heart, Chicago (1979-1994). Fr.
Mark was Custos from 1976-1979 and was on the Custodial
Board from 1970-1973. Fr. Mark
died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2003, of
complications related to a stroke,
after the amputation of his second leg
at the University of Chicago
Hospitals. He was buried in Holy Sepulchre
Cemetery in Chicago.
Fr.
Dominic (Mirko) Ćorić
 Fr.
Dominic was born April 24, 1915 in Rodoč near Mostar.
He joined the Franciscan Order in 1933 and was ordained a
priest on June 16, 1940 in Mostar. As a young priest Father
Ćorić found himself in parishes in
Duvno-Tomislavgrad (1942-43) and Kocerin (1943). From 1943
to the end of WWII, Fr. Dominic was an army Chaplain. After
the war his flight for freedom took him first to Austria and
then to Italy where he spent 6 years in Rome as Director of
the Franciscan press (1948-1954). He arrived in the USA and
immediately became the assistant pastor at St. Mary's in
Steelton. In the years to come Fr. Dominic served as a
assistant at Sacred Heart in Chicago, at St. Joseph's in St.
Louis (1956-1960) and at St. Jerome's in Chicago
(1967-1971). He was named pastor in 1971 at Our Lady of the
Highways Parish in Sault Ste. Marie, where he stayed for 23
years until his retirement in 1994. Since then he has been
in residence at the St. Anthony Friary in Chicago. Besides
his pastoral duties he was also Associate Director of the
Franciscan Press in Chicago (1961-1966), Spiritual Director
of the Croatian Catholic Union (1970-1978) and Spiritual
Director of the Knights of Columbus in Sault Ste. Marie
Canada (1975-1994). He died on May 26, 2003 and was buried in Holy Sepulchre
Cemetery in Chicago.
Fr.
Stephen (Stanislav) Raich
 Fr.
Steve was born on May 14, 1917 in New York City, New York.
He finished both grammar school and high school in New York
and he attended the seminary in Westmont, Il. He entered the
Franciscan Order in 1987 in Paterson, New Jersey. He studied
theology and philosophy at Holy Name College in Washington
D.C. where he was ordained a priest on May 29, 1943. The
following year was named associate pastor at St. Mary's
Parish in Steelton (1944-1946), and then at St. Jerome's in
Chicago (1946-1949) and SS. Cyril and Methodius in New York
(1949-1953). He became pastor of St. Mary's Parish in
Steelton (1953-1957). He was then at St. Anthony Friary in
Chicago and associate pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in the
same city (1957-1958). Fr. Stephen became then the pastor of
Holy Trinity Parish in Ambridge (1959-1965) and of St.
Jerome's in Chicago (1965-1967). Then he was superior at St.
Francis Friary in Gulf Breeze (1967-1968) and then resided
at Our Lady of Peace, Beaver Falls (1968-1971). In 1971 he
once again returned to parish work as pastor of St.
Anthony's in Monessen (1971-1979). He served as Custos
(1979-1982). Once again he returned to St. Mary's in
Steelton as pastor (1982-1985). Fr. Stephen went to Our Lady
of Peace friary in Beaver Falls (1985-1981), and resided at
SS. Cyril and Methodius in New York (1991-1998). He came to
St. Anthony's Friary in Chicago in 1998 where he was until
his death. Fr. Stephen was on the Custodial Board from 1955 to
1958. He died from atrial fibrillation on June 3, 2004 at Our Lady of the Resurrection Hospital in Chicago.
Fr. Stephen was buried June 8, 2004 in Holy Sepulchre
Cemetery in Chicago.
Fr.
Vincent (William) Cvitković
 Fr.
Vincent was born on November 5, 1938 in Ambridge, Pa where
he graduated both grade school and high school. He joined
the Franciscan Order in 1960 in Lake Geneva, Il. He studied
philosophy in Burlington Wi. and theology in West Chicago,
Il. He was ordained a priest on May 31, 1969 in Joliet, Il.
He served as assistant pastor at St. Anthony's in Sharon,
(1969-1971), St. Mary's in Steelton, (1971), then again at
St. Anthony's in Sharon, (1971-1974), St. Joseph's in
Bethlehem (1974-1976), St. Joseph's in St. Louis (1976), and
at Sacred Heart in Chicago (1976-78). He was then appointed
pastor at St. Jerome's in Detroit (1978-1982). From 1982 to
1985 he resided at Our Lady of Peace Friary, Beaver Falls.
He was appointed pastor at Blessed Trinity in Ambridge
(1985-1989). He was pastor of St. Anthony's in Sharon from
1994-1996 and the following two years worked at the Holy
Trinity Parish in Sudbury. Since 1998 he has resided at the
St. Anthony Friary in Chicago. Fr. Vincent died on August
5th, 2004. Funeral Mass was celebrated on August 10, 2004.
Fr.
Myron (Pasko) Lasić
 Fr.
Myron was born in Uzarići near Siroki Brijeg January
4, 1916. He completed grade school and high school on
Siroki Brijeg after which he joined the Franciscan Order in
Humac in 1934. Fr. Myron completed his studies in philosophy
and thelogy in Mostar 1940 and was ordained a priest on June
16, 1940. The following year he went to Rome to continue his
post-graduate studies and in 1944 he received his doctorate
in moral theology. He came to the United States on May 8,
1946 and was named assistant pastor in Italian and German
parishes in Mt. Carmel and Lancester, Pa. (1946-1949). He
was assistant pastor at St. Mary's Visitation in Rankin
(1949-1956), SS. Cyril and Methodius in New York (1956-1957)
and at Sacred Heart in Chicago (1957-1958). He was then
appointed pastor at Sacred Heart in Chicago (1958-1968).
While pastor there he coordinated the building of the new
church and school. He then was transferred back to St.
Mary's in Rankin as pastor (1968-1994). Since 1994 he
resides at St. Anthony's Friary in Chicago and is still
helpful in Croatian churches wherever needed. Fr. Myron was
on Custodial Board twice (1964-1967 and 1979-1982). He died on
October 8, 2005, and was buried in Holy Sepulchre
Cemetery in Chicago.
Fr. Kvirin
(Pero) Vasilj
 Fr.
Kvirin was born on February 2, 1917 in Medjugorje,
Herzegovina. He finished grammar school in Medjugorje and
high school in Siroki Brijeg. He entered the Franciscan
Order at Humac in 1934. He studied philosophy and theology
in Mostar where he was ordained on June 16, 1940. Fr. Kvirin
went on to study in Vienna and Innsbruck, Austria. At the
University of Innsbruck he received his doctorate in
philosophy in 1946. That same year he moved to Italy and
taught at the seminary for four years. He came to the United
States on November 18, 1950. The same year he assisted at
Holy Trinity parish in Ambridge. Next he went on to teach at
the seminary in Westmont, Il. Fr. Kvirin resided at St.
Anthony Friary in Chicago from 1953 to 1958. He was editor
of Croatian Catholic Messenger and Croatian Almanac
(1961-1965). He was associate pastor of Sacred Heart Parish
in Chicago (1958-1961) and of Holy Trinity Parish in
Ambridge (1965-1973). He resided at Our Lady of Peace Friary
in Beaver Falls from 1973 to 1992. Since 1992 he has been
residing at St. Anthony Friary in Chicago. Fr. Kvirin is the
author of many articles and the following books: Analiza i
sinteza čovjeka (1958), Trinitarne teorije pred sudom
razuma (1960, English translation 1987), Odnos naravnog reda
stvarnosti prema nadnaravnome (1970), Temelji spoznaje
stvarnosti (1966), Zasto vjerujem (1968), Marksizam i krsćanstvo
(1976), Ljepota i umjetnost (1979), Politika (1984), Misli o
religiji (1983), Filozofija očovječenja i počovječenja
(1978), Tajna počovječenja (1981), Vječni zivot
(1987), Filozofija ljudskog duha (1984), Sloboda i
odgovornost (1972), Kruh nas svagdanji (1990), Opstojnost
Bozja i stvarnost zla (1991), Isus iz Nazareta (1996),
Filozofija zivota (1997), Religija prirodne i drustvene
znanosti (1997), Čovjek njegova veličina i njegova
bijeda (1998), Razum i religija (1999). He died on
July 6, 2006, and was buried in Holy Sepulchre
Cemetery in Chicago.
Fr.
Vjekoslav (Vinko) Bambir
 Fr.
Vjekoslav was born in Uskoplje, Herzegovina March 10, 1916.
He completed grade school in Zenica and continued his
studies at Siroki Brijeg. In 1934 Fr. Vjekoslav took
his first vows in the novitiate in Humac. He continued his
theological studies in Mostar where he was ordained a priest
June 16, 1940. After his ordination he continued his studies
in Canon Law and in 1945 received his doctorate at the
Antonianum in Rome. He came to the USA on April 17, 1946
where he pursued his pastoral work as the assistant pastor
at St. Joseph's Church in Hanover, Pa. (1946-47), at Our
Lady of Carmel Church in Carmel, Pa. (1947-1948), at Blessed
Sacrament Parish in Harrisburg, Pa. (1948-1950), St.
Augustine's Parish in West Allis (1950-1955) and then as
pastor (1955-1967). Fr. Vjekoslav was also the assistant
pastor and then pastor at St. Joseph's Church in St. Louis
from 1979-1991. He held many positions within the Custody.
Fr. Vjekoslav was Custos from 1967-1973, the superior at St.
Francis Friary in Gulf Breeze from 1973-1977 and as of today
holds the position of procurator of the Custody. He has been
on the Custodial Board three times (1958-1963; 1979-1982,
1985-1988). His publications include the following:
Biography of Fr. Blaz Jerkovic (1952); History of St.
Augustine's Parish (West Allis, 1953); "Croatian
Franciscan Custody of the Holy Family in the USA and
Canada" in Schematismus of the Herzegovinian
Franaciscan Province in Mostar (1977) and History of St.
Joseph's Parish (St. Louis, 1979). Fr. Aloysius died
on Tuesday, December 29, 2009. The Funeral Mass was
celebrated on January 5, 2010 and he was buried in Holy
Sepulchre Cemetery in Chicago.
Fr. Theodore (Anthony) Benković
 Fr.
Theodore was born December 27, 1916 in Steelton, PA there
completed high-school. Fr. Theodore began his seminary
studies at Westmont, Il. and entered the Franciscan
novitiate in 1935 at Teutopolis, Il. It was Fr. Theodore's
heartfelt wish to learn the Croatian language well and this
led to his studies in Mostar where he completed his theology
in 1938. He was ordained a priest in Mostar on June 29,
1941. After his pastoral duties at SS. Peter and Paul Parish
in Mostar (1942-1944), he resided in the Franciscan friaries
in Sarajevo, Zagreb and Rome. He returned to the USA in 1946
and continued his pastoral work at St. Augustine's Parish in
West Allis as assistant pastor (1946-1950). After that he
established St.Anthony's Parish in Monessen and was pastor
there until 1960. He was Pastor at SS.. Cyril &
Methodius in New York (1960-1961), St. Jerome's in Chicago
(1967-1969), Blessed Trinity in Ambridge (1969-1971), St.
Mary's in Steelton (1972-1976), St.Joseph's in Bethlehem
(1979-1985). He was assistant pastor at St. Mary's in
Steelton from1991 until his retirement in 1995.He held many
positions with the Custody. He was on the Custodial Board
twice (1952-1955, 1967-1970).He was procurator of the
Custody from 1950-1952 and from 1976-1978. He was superior
at St. Francis Friary, Gulf Breeze (1961-1967) and superior
at Our Lady of Peace Frairy, Beaver Falls
(1978-1979,1985-1991). He is the author of the book, Tragedy
of a Nation. Fr. Ted was well-known among the friars as a man with an extraordinary sense of humor, sociability and fraternal community. He was always very happy to visit with the friars and took great interest in the life and work of the friars. Having received the sacraments, Fr. Ted died peacefully on Tuesday, Jan. 12 at St. Theresa Home in Lemont, run by Franciscan Sisters. After a Funeral Mass at St. Anthony’s in Hyde Park, Jan. 15, 2010, he was buried with his Franciscan brothers in Holy Sepulcher cemetery.
Fr.
Jerome (John) Kučan
 Fr.
Jerome was born in Steelton, Pa. on July 5, 1924 where he
completed grade school. He graduated from high school and
junior college at St. Joseph's Seminary in Westmont, Il. He
joined the Franciscan Order in 1944. After completing his
philosophy studies in Cleveland, Ohio and his theological
studies in Teutopolis, Il. he was ordained a priest on June
24, 1951. His first taste of pastoral work was as assistant
pastor at St. Anthony's in Sharon, Pa (1952-1954). He served
as assistant pastor at St. Joseph's in Bethlehem
(1954-1961). He was pastor St. Mary's in Steelton for eleven
years (1961-1972). He was then appointed as superior and
Director of Spiritual Activities at Our Lady of Peace Friary
in Beaver Falls. In 1973 he became the pastor in Sharon
where he stayed for 4 years. He spent one year as assistant
pastor in Milwaukee at Sacred Heart and in 1978 returned to
the friary in Beaver Falls. He returned to St. Mary's in
Steelton in 1979 as pastor and held that position until 1982
when he was appointed as pastor at St. Jerome's in Chicago.
In 1985 he again was appointed assistant pastor at Sacred
Heart in Milwaukee and one year later was appointed guardian
at St. Anthony's Friary in Chicago. Then he was pastor at
St. Augustine's in West Allis (1988-1994) and at Sacred
Heart in Chicago (1994-1995). Since then until 2004, he was
guardian of St. Anthony's Friary in Chicago. Fr. Jerome
had
been on Custodial Board twice (1961-1964; 1994-1997). Fr. Jerome Kucan died Dec. 31, 2010. The Funeral Mass was held Jan. 6th, 2011 at St. Jerome’s Church, and he was buried with his Franciscan brothers in Holy Sepulcher cemetery.
Fr. Bruno
(Grgo) Raspudić
 Fr.
Bruno was born in Lipno, Herzegovina on March 18, 1917. He
attended grammar school in the town of ?erin. He went on to
high school in Siroki Brijeg. He entered the Franciscan
Order in 1936 in Humac. He studied philosophy and theology
at the seminary of Mostar where he was also ordained on May
2, 1943. He was at Siroki Brijeg for a year (1944-1945) and
in Zagreb (1945-1946). In 1946 he fled to Austria and
shortly thereafter to Grottamare and Rome, Italy. Fr. Bruno
continued his studies for the next ten years at the
University of Madrid where he earned his doctorate in
classical languages. He came to the United States on August
3, 1957 and first resided at St. Francis Friary in Gulf
Breeze (1957-1959). Next he was assistant pastor at SS.
Cyril and Methodius in New York (1959-1963). Once again he
returned to St. Francis Friary in Gulf Breeze (1963-1964)
and soon after he was named associate pastor of Holy Trinity
Parish in Ambridge (1964-1965). In 1965 Fr. Bruno was named
the superior at Our Lady of Peace Friary in Beaver Falls
(1965-1973). He was named pastor of St. Anthony Parish in
Sharon (1973-1974). Once again he returned as superior at
Our Lady of Peace Friary in Beaver Falls (1974-1979). Fr.
Bruno then spent 12 years as pastor of St. Anthony's Parish
in Monessen (1979-1991). He was once again appointed
superior of Our Lady of Peace Friary (1991-1996). Since the
closing of Our Lady of Peace Friary he has resided at St.
Anthony Friary in Chicago. Fr. Bruno also served on
Custodial Board from 1973-1976. Fr. Bruno "Grgo" Raspudic died Saturday, Feb. 26, 2011 in Chicago, IL at the age of 93. His Funeral Mass was at St. Jerome Croatian Catholic Church, on Wednesday, March 2nd, 2011, and he was buried at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Alsip, IL.
Here is a link for a slideshow about Fr. Bruno Raspudić's life (Click here).
Fr.
Josip (Mate) Abramović
 Fr.
Joe was born February 16, 1935 in Brusani-Lika, Croatia. He
left his homeland as a nine-year old child and spent the
next five years in different Austrian camps. In 1947 the
Croatian Franciscans took him under their wing in Italy
where he completed his high school years. He came to the USA
on September 24, 1951 and than studied at St. Joseph
Seminary in Westmont, IL. In 1953 he received the
Franciscan habit in Paterson, New Jersey. He continued his
studies in Rye Beach, New Hampshire, at St. Bonaventure
University in New York, in Butler, New Jersey and finally at
Holy Name College in Washington D.C. He was ordained in
Washington D.C. on March 12, 1960. As his pastoral life
commenced, Fr. Joe worked at the following parishes: St.
Joseph in Bethlehem as assistant pastor (1961-1971) and then
as pastor of the same parish from 1971-1979. He was pastor
of Sacred Heart Church in Milwaukee from 1979-1982, St.
Mary's in Steelton from 1985-1988, and from 1990-2010 was pastor
of St. Joseph's Church in St. Louis. Fr. Joe held very
important roles in our Franciscan Custody. He was Custos
from 1982-1985; member of the Custodial Board from 1973-1976
and 1997-2000. He was also the Editor-in-Chief of the
newspaper Danica from 1988 to 1990. Father Joseph (Mate) Abramovic died on Sunday, January 22nd, 2012 in Chicago's Mercy hospital. Father Joe was in his 77th year of life, 59th year of entering the seminary, and 52nd year of ordination. The Mass of Resurection was held on January 26th, 2012 in St. Jerome's church in Chicago, and burial followed in Holy Sepulchre cemetery where the Croatian Franciscans of America have a community gravesite. May he rest in Peace!
Fr.
Jozo Čuić
 Fra
Jozo was born July 27, 1947 in Bukovica near Tomislavgrad.
He graduated grade school in Posusje and continued his
studies at the Franciscan high school in Visoko. He finished
his theological studies in Freiburg, Germany in 1974. That
same year on May 19 he was ordained a priest. Fr. Jozo
arrived in the USA on Sept. 19, 1975 and immediately pursued
his study of the English language in Chicago and Washington.
He became assistant pastor at St. Mary's in Steelton
(1976-1980). At that time he was transferred to St. Jerome
Parish, Chicago as associate pastor. He became pastor of St.
Jerome's in Detroit where he stayed until 1989. He was then
named pastor of St. Mary's in Steelton until 1995 when the
diocesan clergy assumed the ministry in the Steelton
parish. Fr. Jozo served
on the Custodial Board twice (1979-1982 and 1993-1997). In 1995, Fr. Jozo then was named pastor
at St. Francis in Windsor, and in 2006 he became pastor in
Troy, Michigan where he served until 2010. That year he became pastor of St. Leopold Mandic in London, Ontario, where he served until his death on June 17, 2014. The Mass of Resurection was held on June 24th, 2014 in St. Jerome's church in Chicago, and burial followed in Holy Sepulchre cemetery where the Croatian Franciscans of America have a community gravesite.
Fr.
Častimir-Timothy (Ivan) Majić
 Fr.
Timothy was born in Vitina, Herzegovina January 9, 1914
where he also completed grade school. He went on to complete
high school in Siroki Brijeg and joined the Franciscan
Order in 1933 at Humac. He was ordained on June 4, 1939 in
Mostar after completing his philosophy and theological
studies both in Mostar and Rome. In 1941 he departed his
homeland for Germany to study at the University of Freiburg.
During his studies he continued his pastoral ministry among
the Slovenian and Croatian people in many German towns. At
the University of Freiburg he earned two doctorates: one in
philosophy (1946) and one in theology (1951). Fr. Majić
immigrated to the United States on March 22, 1951. Shortly
thereafter he was named editor-in-chief of the outstanding
newspaper Danica and held the position for 10 years. He then
went on to become assistant pastor at St. Joseph, St. Louis
(1961-1963) and SS . Cyril & Methodius, New York
(1963-1967). He was then appointed pastor of Sacred Heart in
Milwaukee (1967-1979). While in Milwaukee he was also Custos
of the community (1973-1976). After his years in Milwaukee
he returned to St. Anthony's Friary in Chicago as
editor-in-chief of the Danica (1979-1988) and then as
guardian (1988-1994). He then was the editor-in-chief of two
worthy periodicals: Croatian Catholic Messenger and Croatian
Almanac (1994-1996). Fr. Timothy now resides at the friary
in Chicago. Fr. Majić was on Custodial Board twice
(1967-1970 and 1976-1979). He, together with Fr. Lawrence
Frankovich, prepared the Golden Jubilee Book for the 50th
Anniversary of the Custody in 1976. He was also the
secretary of the Association of Croatian Priests in America
and Canada for 20 years and editor of the periodical
Vinculum Caritatis of the same association.
On February 3, 2016, Fr. Častimir Timothy Majic passed away quietly after 102 years and 25 days, or 37, 280 days of his earthly life. He was buried with his other Franciscan brothers at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Chicago on February 9, 2016.
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