Genealogy
of the
Jan "John" & Anna
(Novotony) Smejkal Family
of Crete Nebraska
|
Genealogy of the Jan "John" & Anna
(Novotony) Smejkal Family
|
|
CONTENTS
LINKS |
Religion & Politics St :Ludmilla's
St. :Ludmilla0s was the Czech Catholic Church in Crete. It was recorded to have been completed in July of 1890. Jan Smejkal, my grandfateher, was listed as a member as was his son-in-law Frank Valenta ,(Mary Smejkal). Mr. & Mrs Frank Valenta (Mary Smejkal) were married in 1902 by Father Mosler in St. Ludmilla's Church. St Ludmilla's Church was dismantled in 1915, moved east of Crete to become a farm building, and the membership was merged with Sacred Heart Church.
Fr.Joseph Bartik, from my mother's note at the bottom of the photo, was the priest that baptized her. This would have been in 1897, and since St. Ludmilla's was built in approximately 1890, she was likely baptized in this church. Fatjer Bartik does not otherwise appear in the history of the Crete parishes as published: The Souvenir History of the Crete Catholic Community., 1870 - 1973.
My mother attributed the drifting away from f the Catholic faith by many Czech's in Crete to the merging of St. Ludmilla's with Sacred Heart Parish, which was primarily German,.and the lack of acceptance of the new Czech community. There was probably considerable animosity toward Germans carried over from the Czech Republic but the religious issues among Czech immigrants were much more complicated. The Nebraska State Historical Society publication referenced below noted that less than half of the Czech immigrants to the United States retained their church membership. Fraternal organizations such as the "Sokol" better served their needs by providing a social life, life and health insurance, and in some areas, financial institutions. In Bohemia the Catholic Church represented an arm of the German dominated Hapsburg empire and was used to maintain economic dependence. The native farming villages of Jan Smejkal's family, Makov, Hurka, and Drahnétice, were likely under the control of the Austrian Schwarzenberg family, that occupied Orlik Castle just a few kilometers to the east. The Novotny's village of Drazic was on the outskirts of Tabor, which was the stronghold of the Hussite movement that was crushed by armies sent by the Pope. Therefore, European history and politics, and events leading to the two world wars probably had more influence on Nebraska Czechs' religious life than just the merging of Churches. Refer to the issue of Nebraska History, Fall/Winter 1993, Vol.. No. 3 & 4, "The Czech-American Experience for a very detailed (and confusing) attempt to discuss Czech Politics and Religion during this period.
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
|
|
Web Page created by Gene Bals |
