Small But Significant Places in Family History
October 15th, 2009 Posted in Bjelovar, Catholic Church, Family History, Feast Days, Memories, Weddings
Sv. Terezija Avilska
Today marks the feast of St. Teresa of Avila. About a hour’s drive from the Hungarian border in the north-central Croatian town of Bjelovar, lies a church named in her honour (Sv. Terezija Avilska). Built between 1756 and 1771 in the old baroque style, the church finally opened its doors to the public in 1772.
Over two centuries later, this same church and former military fort town played a small but prominent role in my family’s history. Far away from their birthplaces near Buško Jezero in Bosnia-Hercegovina, it’s not a place where you would expect my parents to have met and got married. But this is exactly what happened when the above named church was the site of my parents’ wedding in late 1973.
My parents’ story sounds unique but in reality, it wasn’t. Bjelovar was the town of choice for many other Buško Jezero families who left their centuries old homes in Bosnia-Hercegovina. Many moved to Bjelovar to start a new and better life. Many young couples also got married at the same church. The only difference was that my parents didn’t stay or live in Bjelovar for long.
The town of Bjelovar may have only been a small footnote in the history of my family but it’s importance will never be forgotten.
5 Responses to “Small But Significant Places in Family History”
By Shirley Fazekas on Oct 23, 2009
I was trying to get some input from you as to:
Origin of the name Panijan
The parish I should write to for information about this family.
They came originally from Razdrto in Gorski Kotar , Sveti Petar region. They migrated to Podluzan and then to Dubrava. I have the church records from Dubrava.
Can you help me.
Thank you,
Shirley
By Ivan on Oct 24, 2009
You might want to see if the following parish has the records you are looking for (depends on the era you are looking for).
Sv. Nikola biskup
Zupni ured
Ivana Gorana Kovačića 1,
51312 Brod Moravice,
Croatia
tel:(051) 817-240
The church, one of the oldest in the region, is slightly elevated in the center of the village. Built in 1434, it was extensively reconstructed in 1834. The current parish priest is Franjo Matoic (born 1952).
You can also rent microfilms from the LDS FHL. I believe they have the Brod Moravice church records for the years 1815-1902.
Unfortunately, I don’t know the origin of Panijan.
Good luck!
By Ivan on Oct 24, 2009
Sorry, for church records you will probably have to contact the records office in Delnice:
Matični ured Delnice
Trg 138. brigade HV 4
51300 Delnice,
Croatia
Tel: (051) 812-122
By tom on Nov 5, 2009
trying to find out where i can find copied catholic church birth/marriage/death records for bosiljevo. the lds have 1300 odd church registers microfilmed for croatia and yugoslavia but none for areas which inlcude bosiljevo. i must be missing something. have you found a location which does? thank you. i am searching the names malic, suklje.
tom priscilla
By Ivan on Nov 8, 2009
I would try contacting Miro Caic. He has researched the area extensively. You might want to try and ask Robert Jerin to help you. I believe he has met him a few times.
Also see the following link if you already haven’t:
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~bosiljevo/
Good luck!