2003Franciscan High School at Siroki Brijeg - First Day Cover

The Franciscan secondary school at Široki Brijeg was the foundation of education and literacy in Herzegovina. Beginning in 1889, the Franciscans began to establish the secondary school, grade by grade, at Široki Brijeg. In September 1923, the Province administration selected the location for the construction of the new building. The blueprints for the new school building were created by Mostar architect Miloš Komadina, with assistance of Father Dominik Mandić. The foundation stone was officially laid and blessed on 4 October 1924 on the occasion of St. Francis Day. The construction of the school required great efforts and expenditures. Teaching for the lower grades began in 1927 in the still uncompleted building. The Ministry for Education of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia recognized the Široki Brijeg secondary school without any limitations. The teachers were Franciscans, many holding doctorate degrees. The school also accepted pupils who were not Franciscan candidates, particularly from 1929 on, when the pupils convent school was built.