Chicago District FCSLA members were a strong presence among the 167 attendees at the September 15, 2013 Midwest Slovak Pastoral Seminar held at St. Simon the Apostle Slovak Church in Chicago. This year’s event, held on the Feast Day of Our Lady of Sorrows, commemorated the 1,150th anniversary of the evangelization of the Slovak People by Saints Cyril and Methodius.The event began with a mass celebrated by the Bishop of the Eparchy of Mukačeva, (Ruthenian) Urkraine, Milan Šašik with concelebrants Fr. Kristián Libant, CM, (St. Simon, Chicago and native of Nitra, Slovakia), Fr. Dušan Hladik (Czech Catholic Mission, Brookfield, IL) and Fr. John A. Jamnicky (St. Raphael the Archangel, Old Mill Creek, IL). A delicious Slovak dinner followed mass with the Veselica Slovak Folklore Ensemble from Chicago providing the musical entertainment portion of the program.
Vladmír Libant, former Mayor of Nitra (Fr. Kristián’s father) and a Professor for 15 years at the Slovak University, Faculty of Theology in Nitra, Slovakia delivered a prerecorded video discussion on the New Discoveries from Ancient Slovakia chronicling the history of the Slovak people. The presentation was also translated live in English, at intervals by Matus Boháčik, a Chicago Archdiocesan Seminarian from Slovakia and the FCSLA Chicago District’s Chaplain.
Geri Hletko, Co-Chair, was delighted at the large crowd who attended this year’s event — the largest ever in its history in Chicago. The Board of Directors of the Midwest Slovak Pastoral Seminar is especially grateful to the following First Catholic Slovak Ladies Association sponsors: the FCSLA National Home Office, the Anna Hurban Okres Chicago District, and the following Chicago Branches: S46, S180, S225, S258, S287, S295, S308, S352, S421, S485, J96 and J339. FCSLA members who serve on the Board of Directors of the Midwest Slovak Pastoral Seminar are Geri Hletko (S485, Chicago), Robert Tapak Magruder, John and Dorothy Jurcenko (S046, Chicago), Steve Hajek (S046, Chicago), Tilly Maly (S287, Chicago), Lydia Berry (S485, Chicago) and Lorraine Vasek (S287 Chicago).
To see additional photos from this event, visit the FCSLA Chicago District photo gallery.
