Fra Lovro Karaula belonged to the generation of the most distinguished Franciscans in 19th century Bosnia and Herzegovina. He was born in 1800 in Žirović near Livno. He entered the OSF in 1816, was educated in Fojnica and in Hungary, and then undertook various pastoral duties in Bosnia. He was chaplain, parish priest and guardian, as well as secretary to Bishop Miletić (1828-1831). His services earned him the title of honorary Provincial. On St Elijah's Vay 1875, the Turks treacherausly killed him in the vicinity of his native village.
Fra Lovro worked among the Catholics in Bosnia in the welfare, cultural and political fields. Among other things, he was a leading advocate of having new schools built in Bosnia, for there was great alIiteracy amang the ordinary people. He was most to be credited with the building of the new school in Fojnica. His work for the building of churches, monasteries and parish offices is equally creditable. Everyone knows that the Turkish authorities did everything they could to prevent the building and repair of churches. Together with Fra Filip Pašalić, he bought land on Gorica near Livno where a Franciscan monastery was later put up. In the 1860 he built churches in Čuklić and Ljubunčić. During his period of office as curator of the Province (1851-1854) as many as nine churches were built.
Fra Lovro fought heart and soul for the rights of the appressed people, defending them against the vicious habits of the Turkish rulling class. According to testimony of the time, it was Avdibeg Čorbadzžić, whom Fra Lovro had sued in the court of Livno for his violence, that led Fra Lovro's murderers. Karaula means sentry-past in Turkish. Fra Lovro Karaula will remain in the memories of all Catholics in Bosnia and Herzegovina as a sentry defending religion and justice.
