100th Anniversary of the Death of Fr. Didak Buntic

Friar Didak (Franjo) Buntić was born in Paoča on 09 October 1871 to parents Mijo and Matija née Stojić. Didak's father died early so his uncles took care of him, teaching him to read and write as a child. He finished elementary school in Gradnići, and in 1881 he came to Široki Brijeg to study to become a friar. He finished the gymnasium secondary school in Široki Brijeg and Humac. He started studying philosophy and theology at Humac and completed it in Innsbruck, where he also graduated classical philology. He put on the Franciscan habit in Humac in 1888, and took his solemn vows in 1892 in Innsbruck. where he was ordained a priest on 29 July 1894.

After graduating, he came to Široki Brijeg in 1895 and was a professor of Greek, Latin, Croatian and Religious Studies at the Franciscan Classical Gymnasium for 25 years, and was the director of the Gymnasium from 1911 to 1919. He was elected Provincial of the Franciscan Province of Herzegovina and remained at this service until his death. He dedicated his life to education and was a great professor and educator. He is the builder of the magnificent basilica of Široki Brijeg, and a tireless spiritual guardian of the Croatian people in Herzegovina. He was also involved in politics for these reasons, in order to enable the poor people to live a life worthy of a man. He acted socially by organising a large operation to save hungry children during World War I in 1917, when a great hunger ravaged Herzegovina. He organized and led courses for the illiterate, taught people how to farm and successfully practice various professions. Fr. Didak died on 03 February 1922 in Čitluk, where he was buried. In 1938 his remains were transferred via Mostar to the Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Široki Brijeg, where they still rest today.

(Fr. Ante Marić)