Slovak Catholic Federation Information

The Slovak Catholic Federation was founded by the Reverend Joseph Murgas, Pastor of Sacred Heart Slovak Church in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, on February 11, 1911. Its establishment resulted from a meeting of two bishops representing the Dioceses of Scranton, Pennsylvania and Cleveland, Ohio, 36 priests, and approximately 200 lay people, wishing to unify Slovak Catholics in the United States. The Zdruenie Slovenskych Katolifov, as it is kown in Slovak, became incorporated in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, on December 30, 1912.

The story of the Slovak Catholic Federation can be seen in its list of accomplishments. It can also be told in the religious activities of its member societies and local chapters.

Among the first projects of the Federation was to give support to the recently established Congregation of the Sisters of Saints Cyril and Methodius and to promote activities for young people. It also promoted the work of the Vincentian Sisters of Charity and the School Sisters of Saint Francis who had recently arrived to the United States to begin their educational apostolates.

Following the First World War, the Federation established its own official publication, Dorby Pastier/The Good Shepherd whose first editor was Monsignor Stephen J. Krasula, P.A., of New York City. It continues today to be a great and valuable source of information and inspiration.

During the ensuing years, the work of the Federation continued to flourish. Local Chapters were established in many Slovak Parishes, with Districts or Regions serving to coordinate the Federations work at the local level.

In the 1950’s the Federation faced its greatest challenge when the communist government of Czecho-Slovakia began its persecution of the Church there. Funds were raised by the Federation to support the work of Pontifical Nepomucene College in Rome. The need for a Slovak seminary in Rome was evident and such a project would need the strong support of the Slovak Catholic community in the United States, since the faithful in Slovakia were hampered n their efforts due to communist domination.

   The Federation, under the leadership of Bishop Andrew G. Grutka, who became the group’s first Episcopal Moderator, inaugurated a drive to raise funds for the new Slovak Institute of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Rome, Italy. The Institure would include a seminary and publishing house. American Catholics responded with traditional generosity and concern for the spiritual needs of Slovaks in their ancestral homeland. The Benedictine Abbey of Saint Andrew Svorad in Cleveland, Ohio, was the first to respond and, with the helpful support of Slovak fraternal societies – the First Catholic Slovak Union, the First Catholic Slovak Ladies Association, the Ladies Pennsylvania Slovak Catholic Union and the Slovak Catholic Sokol – the Federation raised the initial money needed for the project.

   The Federation continues to support the Pontifical College and Pontifical Institute from funds collected through the annual Saints Cyril and Methodius Appeal. A singnificant portion of the funds collected is donated to the Saints Cyril and Methodius Fund. From that fund, a monthly stipend is sent to the Pontifical College to assist in the general operating expenses of the College. In recent years, those religious communities holding membership in the Conference of Slovak Religious have been receiving a percentage of funding directly from the Appeal for their counterpart religious communities in Slovakia.

With the fall of communism in 1989, a new chapter began in the history of the Slovak Catholic Federation. As in previous years the Slovak Catholic community in the United States and Canada tried to assist the Church in Slovakia as it emerged after years of communist oppression. The Slovak Church Fund was established by the Federation with an office in Danville, Pennsylvania to help support the bishops in Slovakia with the most pressing needs of the Church. Resources in this Fund are still used to help answer special requests for assistance the Federation occasionally receives.

At the 56th National Convention of the Slovak Catholic Federatio, it was mandated that new emphasis and energy be given to the establishment of Local Chapters which will work towards carrying out the Purposes f the Slovak Catholic Federation.

Purposes

To Promote Slovak Catholic heritage and its awaeness among Slovak Catholics in the United States
To Continue the apostolic tradition of Saints Cyril and Methodius by promoting the proclamation of the Gospel through works of faith and charity, education and pilgrimage.
To establish and maintain the bonds of fraternal cooperation among Slovak Catholic societies and Slovak Catholics in the United States and to foster such bonds by the promotion and sponsorship of religious and social activities.
To support vocations to the ordained ministry and religious life, both in the United States and Slovakia.
To assist the Catholic Church in the Slovak Republic, primarily by supporting the Pontifical College of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Rome, Italy and by rendering financial support for the formation of both clergy and religious.
To create and maintain structures which foster gatherings of Slovak Catholics in various Areas of the United States.

Membership Information

This application enables our Slovak Catholic people to join the Slovak Catholic Federation, an organization which seeks to gather people together to celebrate a common Catholic faith and Slovak ethnic heritage.

By clicking on the link above you can download a PDF file that you can print and mail to us. Please make checks payable to: Slovak Catholic Federation. You may send a check or money order.

The Standing Committees of the Slovak Catholic Federation

Membership Committee

This committee helps to encourage the development of Local Chapters of the Federation, by providing resources for the development of these Chapters. The chair of this Committee is the 2nd national Vice President of the Federation

Finance Committee

This committee reviews the financial procedures of the Federation and aids in the development of financial reporting which is understandable. The annual financial report is published in The Good Shepherd. The chairperson of this Committee is the National Secretary-Treasurer of the Federation.

Evangelization Committee

This committee seks to develop spiritual resources available for distribution. Special attention is given to a deeper reflectio on the lives and ministry of our holy patrons, Saints Cyril and Methodius. This Committee will continue to plan Pilgrimages of Faith.

Communications Committee

This Committee strives to make the purposes achieveents and expectations of the Federation better know to Slovak Catholics through articles in Slovak Catholic fraternal publications: The Newsletter; The Good Shepherd, a literary journal containing articles on various topics of interest to Slovak Catholics and through the Federation Website.

Heritage and Culture Committee

This committee seeks to celebrate Slovak heritage, especially through the Slovak language and song, on the local level. Consideration should be given to sponsorship of Slovak language classes and songs fests with both folk songs and religious hyms (with translations). Local Chapters, in seeking to celebrate Catholic faith and preserve Slovak heritage, can work towards sponsoring events such as Days of Reflections; Pastoral Seminars; a Vilija Supper, and Easter meal or other holida-related activities.

Board Membership

Fraternal Benefit Societies

First Catholic Slovak Ladies Association
First Catholic Slovak Union of the USA and Canada
Slovak Catholic Sokol
Ladies Pennsylvania Slocak Catholic Union

(+) Mother M. Valeria Romanchek, SS.C.M and
Reverend Joseph V. Adamec, S.T.L.
(now the Most Rev. Joseph V. SAdamec, D.D., S.T.L.)
Benedictine ORder of Cleveland, Cleveland, Ohio
Byzantine Benedictine Sisters, Warren, Ohio
Daughters of St. Francis of Assisi, Lacon, Illinois
Dominican sisters, Congregation of St. Rose of Lima, Oxford, MIchigan
Order of Friars MInor- Province of St. John the Baptist, Cincinnati, Ohio
School Sisters of St. Francis - U.S. Province, Pittsburgh, PA
Sisters, Servants of Mary Immaculate, Sloatsburg, New York
Sisters of St. Basil the Great, Uniontown, PA
Sisters of Saints Cyril and Methodius, Danville, PA
Vincentian Sisters of Charity, Pittsburgh, PA

Conferences of Slovak Clergy

On April 22, 1985 (+)Reverend John J. Spitkovsky and Reverend Joseph V. Adamc (now the Most Rev. Joseph V. Adamec, D.D., S.T.L.), along with several other priests of Slovak ancestry, founded the Conference of Slovak Clergy. On June 14, 2000, the Conference was independently incorporated as a non-profit corporation. The Conference oversees the Sts. Cyril adn Methodius Fund. The Conference is comprised of priests and deacons who financially assist student-priests residing at the Pontifical College of Saints Cyril and Methodius, Rome, Italy, pursuing advanced degrees in theology. The Conference meets bi-annually.

About the Federation