Fr. Vjekoslav (Vinko) Aloysius Bambir

Fr. Vjekoslav was born in Uskoplje, Herzegovina March 10, 1916. He completed grade school in Zenica and continued his studies at Siroki Brijeg.  In 1934 Fr. Vjekoslav took his first vows in the novitiate in Humac. He continued his theological studies in Mostar where he was ordained a priest June 16, 1940. After his ordination he continued his studies in Canon Law and in 1945 received his doctorate at the Antonianum in Rome. He came to the USA on April 17, 1946 where he pursued his pastoral work as the assistant pastor at St. Joseph's Church in Hanover, Pa. (1946-47), at Our Lady of Carmel Church in Carmel, Pa. (1947-1948), at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Harrisburg, Pa. (1948-1950), St. Augustine's Parish in West Allis (1950-1955) and then as pastor (1955-1967). Fr. Vjekoslav was also the assistant pastor and then pastor at St. Joseph's Church in St. Louis from 1979-1991. He held many positions within the Custody. Fr. Vjekoslav was Custos from 1967-1973, the superior at St. Francis Friary in Gulf Breeze from 1973-1977 and as of today holds the position of procurator of the Custody. He has been on the Custodial Board three times (1958-1963; 1979-1982, 1985-1988). His publications include the following: Biography of Fr. Blaz Jerkovic (1952); History of St. Augustine's Parish (West Allis, 1953); "Croatian Franciscan Custody of the Holy Family in the USA and Canada" in Schematismus of the Herzegovinian Franciscan Province in Mostar (1977) and History of St. Joseph's Parish (St. Louis, 1979).

Fr. Aloysius died on Tuesday, December 29, 2009. The Funeral Mass was celebrated on January 5, 2010 and he was buried in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Chicago.

May Father Vjeko rest in God’s peace!