100th Anniversary of Friar Nikola Simovic`s Death

Friar Nikola Šimović, given name Marko, was born on April 25 1839 in Zvirovici (then Gradnići parish and today Studenci). In 1853 he comes at Seminary in Široki Brijeg, and in 1855. he enters into Novitiate which he finished in 1856 and laid solemn vows. He goes to Perugia where he starts to study philosophy and continues his study of theology at Citta di Castello. He writes his Doctorate thesis from theology in 1860 and dedicated it to the Eminence Mr. Rafa Barišić. He was ordained for priest on November 3, 1860 in Perugia and stays as a professor of theology till 1865. In 1865, because of illness, he comes back to his homeland to Široki Brijeg and was appointed for Bishop’s secretary. After that he was appointed as a constructor of the church and monastery in Humac in 1867 and the next year he was elected for pastor and definitor. After he completed the construction of the monastery in Humac, he becomes the pastor in Mostar from 1876.-1889, and at the same time he is the Vicar General of the bishop Buconjić.
In 1889 he was elected, by his brothers, for the last custodian of the Herzegovinian Franciscan Custody which was raised in 1892 to the honor of the Province and he became its first provincial. From the 1889 until the opening, he was the constructor of the St. Peter and Paul monastery in Mostar. After that he was the pastor in Medjugorje from 1895-1899 where he constructed the church. Till 1912 he was the Vicar General of the Diocese and from 1901 he was Deputy of the Provincial. His life opus is extremely rich and diverse. He is a writer, professor, constructor and longtime associate of the Christian family. He has won several national awards. He is also director of the Franciscan seminary in Mostar. He died on September 10, 1912 in Mostar, in 74th age and 57 years of monasticism. He was buried in the cemetery Šoinovac in Mostar. (Friar Ante Marić)