Fra Vjeko (Vjekoslav) CURIC
Born at Zepce, Sarajevo on the 26 April 1957
Assasinated on 31 January 1998 in Kigali, Rwanda
(Franciscan Communications Office - Rome)

Vjeko was a well-known name among the Rwanda population. It was a synonym of the determined caring Franciscan who had been living among them since 1983. The friar who came from a far-away city called Sarajevo to set up the first Franciscan fraternity in this country. On his arrival in this country Vjeko started to assimilate not only the kinyaruanda language (which he spoke perfectly) but also their simple way of life. He was determined to assimilate the simple lifestyle of the people: with his own hands and helped by the Franciscan postulants he built the mud-houses for the friars in Nyina w'Imana and Kivumu-Gitarama. This assimilation with the people and their culture helped allow Vjeko to keep working even during the dramatic years of civil war in the country.

Vjeko was an extrovert and his presence emanated a sense of joy that he transmitted to his parishioners of Kivumu where he served until the end.

In April 1994, when the bloody civil war broke out, he decided to stay with his people: "I have chosen to come to Rwanda to work for the Kingdom of God, living among these people: I want to share with them their joys, sufferings and risks!"

The civil war obliged bishops, priests and people to live in hideouts but Vjeko kept going. He even succeeded in obtaining means of transport to carry foodstuffs from Bujumbura to Kabgayi-Gitarama, the refuge area for hundreds of seminarians, priests, religious and other Christians. Vjeko organised a safe exit from Rwanda for many priests and religious, among them other Franciscan friars and the Poor Clares.

At the end of the civil war and the installation of the new Government Vjeko zealously participated in the reconstruction of the country. For him it was not only a physical reconstruction but also a moral and psychological one. Through the help of benefactors such as the Zecchino d'Oro at the Franciscan Antonianum of Bologna, Italy, he launched the house reconstruction project through which he made it possible for people to return to their homes and enter into a process of reconciliation.

Through the aid of Caritas Milano, Italy, he built a well-equipped 300-bed hospital. He also undertook the enlargement of the prisons to help alleviate the inhuman situation in which many prisoners lived.

Vjeko knew he was under constant threat. In fact two years ago, on his return to the friary at Kivumu, he came face-to-face with three armed men. They made him kneel down and one of them tried to hit him with his bayonet. But Vjeko resisted him. The three men forced him to move towards the wall of the friary, but realising the door of the house was open, Vjeko fled towards the house and out of the back door towards the forest. Here he climbed on a tree and hid himself from his aggressors. Earlier he had asked his parishioners to pull down this tree but it was as if it was meant to remain standing to save the life of the people's hero. It was also a tree that the people wanted to keep as a remembrance of the slaughter of thirty fellow villagers who were hanged there during the civil war. After this incident many thought that Vjeko would leave the country but he stayed!

Vjeko was in Italy a few months ago and he repeated to his friends: "I do not know whether we will meet again."

YESTERDAY EVENING, 30 JANUARY 1998, WHILE DRIVING HIS CAR THROUGH KIGALI HE WAS SHOT SEVEN TIMES BY A FIREARM AND DIED ON HIS WAY TO HOSPITAL.

Vjeko is the second friar offered by the Franciscan Order for the reconciliation of Rwanda. The other one was George Gashugi who was killed on 18.04.1994, a few days before his solemn profession!