31th Annual Slovak Catholic Federation
SS Cyril & Methodius Appeal
When our ancestors came to these shores more than a century ago, they brought with them few monetary assets. However their most precious possession was their faith. The seeds were nurtured by the Slovak priests who came with the immigrant people and helped build our Slovak Catholic Fraternals, Religious Communities of men and women and nearly 300 Slovak Parishes. Today, in response to this legacy, the Slovak Catholic Federation will sponsor the 31st Annual SS. Cyril & Methodius Appeal. The Church in Slovakia has enjoyed a great renaissance since the fall of Communism in 1989. We in America and Canada take pride in the fact that the Slovak Catholic Fraternals, our Parishes and individuals of Slovak ancestry have responded generously to assist the Church in our ancestral homeland. The 2009 Annual Appeal begins during the month of February in Churches of Slovak Decent across The United States and Canada and will continue to the end of the year.
The 2008 Appeal collected $53,777.80.
Since its inception, this Appeal has raised $2,124,436.20.
Funds raised from the Appeal will aid the priest-graduate students at the Pontifical Slovak College of SS. Cyril & Methodius. These fine priests are being called upon to be the future leaders of the Diocesan Churches in Slovakia both as Vicars and Bishops, in addition to providing qualified instructors/professors for the seminaries that educate future priests. As well, funds benefit those Religious Communities both men and women which share a counterpart which belongs to the Slovak Catholic Federation and the Slovak Conference of Religious. These Communities being: Vincentian sisters of Charity (Ruzomberok); Dominican Sisters (Dunajska Luzna); School Sisters of St. Francis (Zilina); Daughters of St. Francis (Bratislava-Prievoz); Byzantine Catholic Sisters of St. Basil the Great (Secove and Presov), Franciscan Friars Minor (Bratislava), House of St. Benedict (Bacurov).
The Slovak Catholic Federation, founded in 1911, under the spiritual leadership of Rev. Joseph Murgas, founding Pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus Slovak Church, Wilkes-Barre, PA . The purpose of the Slovak Catholic Federation is to federate individuals of Slovak origin under one banner; for cultural, religious and educational needs. Serving as National President is Rev. Philip Altavilla, V.E., Episcopal Vicar for the Northern Pastoral Region of the Diocese of Scranton. The Episcopal Moderator is the Most Rev. Joseph V. Adamec, D.D. Bishop of Altoona/Johnstown. The National First Vice President, Rev. Andrew S. Hvozdovic, Pastor of the Church of the Epiphany, Sayre, and the Church of Saint Ann, Bentley Creek, PA. is the Coordinator for this Annual Appeal.
In our Church today, we are finding more and more individuals of Slovak descent/background do not attend traditionally founded Slovak Parishes, for a number of reasons. Because of this reality today, the monies raised for this Appeal come both from the collections taken in our Slovak Parishes as well as from individual donors.
Your tax deductible donation made out to the Slovak Catholic Federation, noting for the Annual Appeal, can be sent directly to the National Secretary/Treasurer of the Slovak Catholic Federation:
Dolores Evanko
173 Berner Avenue
Hazleton, PA 18201
