Dobretići is one of the youngest and smallest municipalities in BiH. It stretches across the mountain of Ranča and is about twenty kilometres away from Jajce.
Dobretići Parish is mentioned in 1672 under the name Vrhovine, and it was created by separating from the parish of Jajce. From 1758 the seat of the parish was in Žilići and was moved to the present location in 1850. Initially, the pastors lived in the houses of the parishioners, and a new rectory was built in 1850, while the church was built in 1860-1862. A new church was built in 1892 but was badly damaged in the 1969 earthquake and then demolished. The present-day church was constructed in 1971-1973, further to the project made by eng. friar Pio Nuić and dedicated to St. Anthony of Padua. It was built at the altitude of 1.175 meters which makes this parish one of the highest in southeast Europe. Bishop friar Marko Dobretić comes from this parish.
The Church is rich in works of sacral art. Ante Starčević is the author of the bronze statue of St. Anthony with Jesus, and Slavko Šohaja is the author of the Stations of the Cross. Bronze bust of friar Željko Džaja in the yard was made by Stipe Ledić. The Church, destroyed in the last war, was rebuilt thanks to pastor's efforts, and the artistic treasure that was pillaged was returned for a fee. Current rectory, built in 1983-1988, further to the design of A. Džeba, was pillaged and badly damaged. A part of the house was renovated in 1997 and the pastor took up residence there.
In 1813 Dobretići parish had 1.409 faithful, and in 1991 it had 4.895 faithful. Emigration, that started for economic reasons, was accelerated by the recent war.
(Željka Šaravanja)
