The Building of a Convent School (Students’ Home) for the Students of the Croatian Lyceum in Pazin at the Beginning of the 20Th Century – Social Background

Autor na temelju dostupnih izvora prati razvoj ideje o izgradnji konvikta (đačkog doma) za učenike hrvatske gimnazije u Pazinu, od njezina pokretanja u okrilju Đačkog pripomoćnog društva 1899. pa do polaganja temeljnog kamena 1913. g. Bio je to jedan od većih poduhvata koje su početkom 20. st. poduzeli predvodnici hrvatskog preporodnog pokreta u Istri. Taj izrazito hrvatski i katolički projekt pobudio je značajan javni odjek i angažirao, posredno ili neposredno, popriličan broj tadašnjih javnih djelatnika, crkvenih dostojanstvenika i intelektualaca. Značajnu pomoć njegovoj realizaciji pružili su biskup Josip Juraj Strossmayer te Građanski odbor u Splitu, blagajnik kojega je bio dr. Ante Trumbić. Na Strossmayerov poticaj osnovan je poseban odbor u okviru Đačkog pripomoćnog društva sa zadatkom da prikuplja sredstva za izgradnju doma. Prvotnoj namjeri da to bude dom za učenike hrvatske gimnazije pridružila se kasnije i želja svećenstva da se što više učenika usmjerava u svećenički poziv. Problem financiranja konačno je riješen uključivanjem krčkog biskupa dr. Antona Mahnića, ali su ga protivnici počeli napadati zbog njegove namjere da upravu i odgoj u domu povjeri pripadnicima salezijanskog reda iz Italije. Temeljni kamen za izgradnju doma blagoslovljen je 19. listopada 1913.The author follows – based on available sources – the idea regarding the building of a convent school (Students’ Home) for the students of the Croatian lyceum in Pazin, from its initial development in the fold of the Students’ Support Society in 1899 to the moment the corner stone was laid in 1913. This was one of the major endeavours that had – at the beginning of the 20th century – been undertaken in Istria by the leaders of the Croatian Revival Movement. This project, being markedly Croatian and Catholic, had initiated major public response and activated – indirectly or directly – a significant number of the then contemporary public figures, prelates and intellectuals. Bishop Josip Juraj Strossmayer and the Split Public Committee, the treasurer of which was Dr. Ante Trumbić, had supported the realisation of this project to a considerable extent. On Strossmayer’s encouragement, a special Committee was formed within the Students’ Support Society, which was charged with raising funds for the building of the Home. The Home had initially been intended to serve as the housing for the students of the Croatian lyceum, which idea was subsequently accompanied with the wish of the clergy for as many students as possible to be directed toward the ministry. Involving Dr. Anton Mahnić, Bishop of Krk, into the project finally solved the funding issue. However, the opponents attacked him since he had intended to entrust the Salesian Order from Italy with the management and the education at the Home. The corner stone for the Home was consecrated on 19th October 1913