Vjekoslav Ćurić

Vjekoslav "Vjeko" Ćurić (born 26 April 1957, Lupoglav, Žepče, Bosnia and Herzegovina – died 31 January 1998, Kigali, Rwanda) was a Bosnian Croat Roman Catholic friar and humanitarian. He is one of the recognized martyrs of Franciscan Province of Bosna Srebrena. In Rwanda he is known as "African Oscar Schindler" (who saved many Jews during World War II.^[1] A school in Kivumu, the Father Vjeko Center, is named for him.

Early years

Ćurić was born as a second of six children born to Petar and Ana Ćurić.^[2]

He studied at the Franciscan Minor Seminary in Visoko, did his novitiate in Visoko and studied theology in Sarajevo, after which he was ordained. Ćurić entered the Franciscan order on 15 July 1976 and was ordained to the priesthood on 21 June 1982 in Sarajevo.^[3] That same year, he went to Paris to prepare for his missionary calling. On 18 August 1983 he began his missionary activity in Rwanda.

Life and work

Ćurić gained worldwide recognition during the time of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, when he worked to help the victims of both tribes involved, the Hutu and the Tutsi. He also brought numerous white people (bishops, priests, monks, nuns and others) to safety. When the killing began in Kivumu, people turned to Ćurić for help. He had lived in Nyamabuye 1, Gitarama for more than ten years, and had long worked to promote development in the area. Ćurić was well known and loved by his congregation at the Parish of Kivumu; his decision to remain in Rwanda during the genocide brought him to the heart of the local community. While most other expatriates were evacuated, Ćurić stood by the people of Kivumu during the worst experiences of their lives.

He devoted himself to providing practical and medical assistance to the displaced and to helping people escape. Ćurić was outspoken in his condemnation of the violence and continued to preach the values of peace and unity throughout the genocide. More often than not, he was threatened by the Interahamwe for having stood in their way. In the aftermath, Ćurić demonstrated his impartiality, helping both Hutus and Tutsis to rebuild their communities. The homes and buildings Fr. Vjeko helped to fund are still standing in Kivumu.^[4] Ćurić was killed under unclear circumstances on 31 January 1998. He was 40 years old.^[5]

The Franciscan order and Ćurić's Province of Bosna Srebrena received special recognition from Pope John Paul II for the work of Ćurić. In order to rescue and help others, Fra Vjeko endured a martyr's death, according to the statement by his provincialate. He was buried in Kivumu in a church which he and his congregation had built.^[6] Ćurić's provincialate has requested Church officials to have his remains transported to his homeland.

References