Vjekoslav Ćurić
Vjekoslav "Vjeko" Ćurić (26 April 1957 in Lupoglav,
Early years
Ćurić was born as a second of six children born to Petar and Ana Ćurić,
He studied at the
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
See also
- List of unsolved murders
References
- ^ Documentary on Fra Vjekoslav Ćurić, vjeko-rwanda.info; accessed 18 March 2016.
- ^ Sedma obljetnica smrti fra Vjeke Ćurića Archived 2015-07-01 at the Wayback Machine, svjetlorijeci.ba; accessed 18 March 2016.
- ^ Vjekoslav Ćurić, Franciscan, murdered in Rwanda, americancatholic.org; accessed 18 March 2016.
- ^ Father Vjeko Ćurić profile, vjeko-rwanda.info; accessed 18 March 2016.
- ^ "Sedma obljetnica smrti fra Vjeke Ćurića Archived 2015-07-01 at the Wayback Machine, svjetlorijeci.ba; accessed 18 March 2016.
- ^ "In Memory of Fr Vijeko Curic OFM - the funeral ceremony at Kivumu". Order of Friars Minor. February 6, 1998. Archived from the original on December 5, 1998. Retrieved July 5, 2017.