Urbi et Orbi Communications’ New Initiative to Help Restore the Church of Our Lady of Mercy at the Franciscan Monastery of the Assumption of Mary, Badija, Croatia

The Franciscan monastery of the Assumption of Mary on Badija Island, Croatia, dates back to around 1391, when Pope Boniface IX issued the bull Sacrae vestrae religionis, calling for the establishment of four monasteries for the missionary brothers of the Bosnian vicariate. This was in response to the need for refuge for the order’s members forced to leave their monasteries due to Turkish conquests.

For centuries, the monastery served as a center for learning, prayer, and pilgrimage. However, during the 20th century, under communist rule in Yugoslavia, the monastery and its church, the Church of Our Lady of Mercy, suffered extensive damage. 

In 2003, the Republic of Croatia returned Badija to its rightful owners, the Franciscan Province of St. Jerome based in Zadar. Two years later, the Franciscans of Zadar entrusted the monastery to the Franciscan Province of Herzegovina for 99 years. After over six decades of neglect, the monastery was found in ruins.

Father Bernardin Škunca OFM, the provincial of Zadar at that time, along with Father Slavko Soldo OFM from Herzegovina, invited Father Jozo Zovko OFM, renowned for his role in Medjugorje during the Virgin Mary’s apparitions starting in 1981, to lead efforts to restore the monastery to its former glory and to revive its role as a spiritual and cultural center in southern Dalmatia. Restoration efforts began in 2005, encompassing archaeological and conservation projects, followed by construction and interior decoration, allowing the monastery to once again host pilgrims for spiritual retreats.

While significant progress has been made in restoring the monastery, the Church of Our Lady of Mercy still requires comprehensive restoration. Built in the 16th-century Gothic Renaissance style, the church features a single rectangular nave. Although much of the interior has been ravaged, the main altar, crafted in 1722 by master artisan Vilime Montina and inspired by the main altar of the Venetian church of San Giorgio Maggiore, offers a glimpse of the church’s past beauty.

In response to the ongoing needs at the Franciscan monastery, Urbi et Orbi Communications, under the direction of the monastery, has launched the “Friends of Badija” initiative to raise awareness for the full restoration of the Church of Our Lady of Mercy. We invite you to join Urbi et Orbi Communications in helping to restore the Church of Our Lady of Mercy to its original splendor.

Urbi et Orbi Communications is a 501(c)3 Not-for-Profit-Organization, thereby making your gift tax-deductible to the extent allowed by U.S. federal tax law. Our federal tax ID number is 61-1238135.

To make your donation by check

Make your check payable to Urbi et Orbi Communications. Please note on the check that this donation is for “Restoring the Sacred”.

Then mail your check to

Urbi et Orbi Communications
14 W Main St
Front Royal, VA 22630