NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2016 VOL. XCIV NO. 6

Stastny Dikuvzdani

POSELISSN: 1077-5374(USPS 439480)

Published Bimonthly by CZECH CATHOLIC UNION

5349 Dolloff RoadCleveland, Ohio 44127

POSTMASTER:Send address changes toPosel, 5349 Dolloff Road,Cleveland, Ohio 44127

The Official Publication of the Czech Catholic UnionUredni Casopis CeskeKatolicke Jednoty

Tel. (Area Code 216) 341-0444Fax (Area Code 216) 341-0711

email: insurance@czechccu.orgwebsite: http://www.czechccu.org

OFFICIAL DIRECTORY

President: Robert L. Cermak, 3633 Wynde Tree Drive, SevenHills, Ohio 44131Vice President: Audrey Schmidt, 6556 Hunt Circle, Mayfield Village, Ohio 44143Secretary: Jane M. Milczewski, 3021 George Avenue, Parma,Ohio 44134

DIRECTORS

Dolores Jacklin, 3012 Roberts Dr. Unit #1, Woodridge, IL 60517

Joseph A. Kocab, Past President, 4501 Cullen Drive, Cleve-

land, OH 44105

Cynthia Kveton, 4029 Holly Hills, St. Louis, MO 63116

Maryann Langevin, 33429 Crestwell, Sterling Heights, MI 48310

Karla Mahoney, 209 Gould Avenue, Bedford, Ohio 44146

Anita Schafer, 301 Park Drive, Brooklyn Hts., Ohio 44131

Chaplain: Rev. Joseph Callahan, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish,3395 East 53rd Street, Cleveland, Ohio 44127

Chaplain Emeritus: Most Rev. Daniel W. Kucera, O.S.B., Arch-bishop, Stonehill Care Center, 3485 Windsor Ave., Dubuque,IA 52001

Actuary: Steimla & Associates, Inc., 2867 Gypsum Circle, Naperville, IL 60564

Editor: Jane M. Milczewski, 5349 Dolloff Road, Cleveland, OH 44127

President’s MessageDear Members & Friends - The year of 2016 is nearing its end. In some ways it is hard to believe but

as we look back and see all that has been accomplished during the year it is more believable. Duringthe past several months, we have sponsored our “Summer Special” and there is only one moremonth left to take advantage of it. We have had a good response to it and are very grateful to our mem-bers who have brought in new members or added to their existing insurance coverage. We need to con-tinue this momentum into the new year in order to replace the members who leave us. During the monthsof November & December, our staff will be busy calculating and distributing the dividend certificates.When you receive it, be sure to file it with your original policy. You do not need to keep the prior state-ments.During these months we also celebrate many holidays. We start with Veterans Day and we hope you

will take a moment and commemorate them and realize what they did for our country and also remem-ber all those who are currently serving in the armed forces.We move on to Thanksgiving, which is a great family holiday. We should celebrate with good

turkey dinners but should also be thankful for all the blessings we have.Christmas also is a family holiday that is spent celebrating with meals and exchanging gifts, but we

should not forget the real reason of the season - the birth of our Lord. Take the time to go to church andagain be thankful for all the gifts we have and perhaps share some of them with the less fortunate.Thank you again for your support during 2016 and if we can be of any assistance to you, call the Main

Office. We are looking forward to another great year during 2017.Fraternally,

Robert L. Cermak

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Dear Friends,

As we celebrate Christmas and anticipate a New Year, we reflect upon the year thatwe have just experienced. It had its share of difficult experiences. Natural disasters,helpless refugees, continued insecurity here and abroad, armed conflicts and the lowlevel of political discourse seemed to dominate the news. Without doubt, all of our fam-ilies and communities experienced difficulties and challenges as well. We are peopleof hope. We know that God does not abandon us. And we pray that he gives us the wis-dom, understanding and insight to apply Gospel values and dreams to our lifeexperience.We also remember and celebrate a lot of good news this year. Think of your fami-

ly and milestones celebrated; for example anniversary of matrimony, births, baptisms,graduations, etc. As a church community, Pope Francis’ visit to Mexico reminded usof his visit to our country and his historic address to a joint session of the US Congress.We were once again inspired by his down-to-earth style and teachings. His consistentteaching and dream of creating a “culture of encounter” that leads to a “culture of dia-logue” is great advice in addressing many of the challenges we face today in the churchand society.The canonization of Mother Teresa brought the world together. We remember and

celebrate her tireless defense of the unborn and her outreach to the poorest of the poor.Her example, like all of the saints inspire us to put our faith into practice. “What I do,you cannot do,” she said “what you do, I cannot do. But united our efforts, we can accom-plish great things.” She also said: “You may think you are just a drop of water in theocean...so small, so insignificant. But the ocean would be incomplete without that dropof water!”As we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, we recognize that like His Blessed

Mother, we are privileged to bring him into our families and our society. We are all partof the ocean of hope and love that He wants to bring into the world.God bless you and yours this Holy Christmas and New Year!

Father Joseph Callahan

Cleveland, Ohio

Brittany Milczewski, a life-long member ofSt. Joseph Society #156 and daughter of CzechCatholic Union Secretary Jane Milczewski,and Jesse Norris were married on August 6, 2016.The ceremony and reception were held atBohemian National Hall in Cleveland, Ohio. Themaid of honor, 2nd on left, is sister of thebride, Cortney Milczewski, also a life-longmember of St. Joseph Society.Best wishes to the newlywed couple!!!

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Bishop Vaclav Maly, Auxiliary Bishop of Prague, CzechRepublic, celebrated a Mass in Czech at Our Lady of Lour-des Parish on Tuesday, September 27, 2016. Joining Bish-op Maly on the altar were: Fr. Joseph Callahan, our chap-lain and pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes, Fr. Robert Jasany,pastor of St. John Nepomucene in Cleveland and Fr. LiborSvorcik. After the Mass, a lunch was served at Bohemi-an National Hall.Bishop Maly was born on September 21, 1950 in Prague,

ordained a priest in 1976 and ordained Bishop onJanuary 11, 1997. He is in charge of Czech citizens liv-ing abroad in the United States, Canada, WesternEurope, Australia, etc. Bishop Maly was also involvedin the Human Rights Movement under the Communistregime which came to an end in November 1989 withthe Velvet (a nonviolent) Revolution. He was thespokesman for Vaclav Havel and the other dissidents.Upon his departure from Cleveland, Bishop Maly was

on his way to Canada.Father Libor Svorcik moved to Canada to assist

Czech immigrants. He was appointed pastor of St.Wenceslaus Parish in Toronto in 1999, where he has uni-fied the Czech and Slovak communities. In 2010, Fr. Liborreceived a medal of merit from representatives of theConsulate of the Czech Republic.Many members of St. Joseph Society #156 were in

attendance at both the mass and the lunch.

Cleveland, Ohio

THE PICTURE TO THE RIGHT WAS IN THELAST ISSUE OF THE POSEL. IF ANYONE CANIDENTIFY ANY OF THE MEN THAT ARE NOTIDENTIFIED, PLEASE CALL THE HOME OFFICE.THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP!!!

St. Joseph Society #156 meetings start at 1:00 PM andare held at the Czech Catholic Union building, 5349 DolloffRoad in Cleveland. All members are welcome to attend.

Sunday, November 13, 2016Regular meeting, Memorial Service for deceased

members of St. Joseph’s Society and light luncheon begin-ning at 1:00 pm.

Sunday, December 11, 2016Regular meeting at 1:00 pm, election of officers and

adult Christmas party with optional gift exchange.

Sunday, January 8, 2017Installation of officers beginning at 1:00 pm fol-

lowed by musical entertainment and a luncheon ofjaternice (liver sausage), kielbasa and sauerkraut. Toorder jaternice to take home for your freezer call Joe Kocabat 216-883-4760. For luncheon reservations call Jane at216-341-0444.There is no meeting in February 2017.Please join us for our Communion Breakfast on

March 19, 2017.

This picture was sent in by director, Karla Mahoney.The location is the old location of the Czech Catholic Union,the Atlas Building - 5644 Broadway Ave., Cleveland,Ohio. We were able to identify most of the men pictures.1st Row, right to left - Charlie Hronek, national

vice-president of the Czech Catholic Union; EmilHronek; Ed Hronek; Joe Kazimor; Joe Voracek,secre-tary, Jane Milczewski’s grandfather.2nd Row, right to left - Raymond Smithco; 3rd on

right, Frank Kozelka; 2nd from left, Ed Mack, director,Karla Mahoney’s grandfather.Back row, right to left - 2nd on right, Tom Postolka;

4th on right, Al Hanzlick; Lad Honsa; Frank Houdek,past secretary-treasurer, Theresa Pokorny’s father;Joe Rumplik; John Skulina.

Left to right: Father Callahan, Father Jasany,Bishop Maly and Father Svorcik

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IN APPRECIATIONRosati-Kain High School, St. Louis, MO - “Your

contribution given to Rosati-Kain for Meghan Kleinig-ger is a great gift to our school. Rosati-Kain HighSchool has been blessed with wonderful students, fac-ulty, parents and alumnae. Thank you for helpingensure a bright future at R-K! As always, you and ourother benefactors are in our prayer intentions each day.”

Best Wishes, Sr. Joan Andert, SSNDProud President and Alumna

Liz ChristmanProud Advancement Director

St. Ludmila Society #46, Omaha, NE - “Thank youfor the scholarship. I really love my Catholic HighSchool, so this will really help me a lot. I appreciate yoursupport in my education.”

God Bless, Sincerely, Lia Reckmeyer

St. Ann Society #11, Cleveland, OH - “Thank you forthe scholarship to help pay my tuition at BlessedTrinity Catholic High School. I am a Junior this yearand am involved in Model U.N. and Habitat forHumanity. I am grateful for the opportunity to combinea high quality education with Catholic studies and Mass.”

Sincerely, Nicholas Glotzbach

St. Ludmila Society #46, Omaha, NE - “Thank youso much for the college grant. I picked College ofSaint Mary not only for a good education, but also forhelping me learn more about my Catholic faith. Ibelieve that going to a Catholic school will help me becomecloser to God. Thank you again for making this dreambecome a reality.”

Sincerely, Sydney Piccolo

St. Ludmila Society #46, Omaha, NE - “Thank youvery much for the grant. I appreciate your support ofmy Catholic education. Creighton University has beenfantastic for my life and developing my faith. I am a the-ology major and I know that attending a Catholicuniversity will help me learn as much as possibleabout my own and other faiths. Again, thank you.”

Sincerely, Ben Reckmeyer

Blessed Virgin Mary Society #119, Cedar Rapids, IA- “Thank you for the Scholarship to attend MountMercy University in Cedar Rapids, IA. Your generousgrant is very much appreciated to help me continue myeducation.”

Sincerely, Jacey Wiebold

Benedictine High School, Cleveland, OH - “Onbehalf of Benedictine High School, I want to thank youfor your generous donation. Your contribution is impor-tant to our mission, as we challenge our students to growphysically, intellectually and spiritually in preparationfor success in higher education and in life. Every

donation impacts these young men in preparing themfor the challenges ahead and helping us to provide a worldof experiences. We are truly grateful and thank you foryour support.”

Sincerely, Rev. Gerard Gonda, OSBPresident

National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library, CedarRapids, IA - “Thank you for your generous contribution.The museum has something for everyone to enjoyfrom exhibits, artwork, tours and film series, including“A Monumental Move,” the film about how we movedour 1,500 ton building. Thank you for supporting ourmission to inspire people from every background to con-nect to Czech & Slovak history and culture.”

Regards, Kristina McLaughlin, Database & Prospect Manager

St. Andrew Abbey, Cleveland, OH - “Thank you somuch for your generous donation you sent to us fromyour organization. I appreciate your continued supportto St. Andrew Abbey. Please keep the monks and I inyour prayers as we will keep you in ours.”

Peace, Abbot Gary, OSB

• • • • •

STILL TRYING TO LOCATEMISSING MEMBERS...

NAME SOCIETY LAST KNOWNCITY, STATE

Jeanne (Prusinski) Cooper 18 Chicago, IL

Jacqueline Prusinski 18 Chicago, ILJoseph Prusinski 18 Chicago, ILPaul Prusinski 18 Chicago, ILSteven Prusinski 18 Chicago, ILRyan Jagiello 18 Chicago, ILMarissa Solar 145 North Royalton, OHTheodore Trakul 145 Menlo Park, CALillian Gibson 7 Prior Lake, MNLillian Lisy 11 Cleveland, OH

• • • • •

AN INSURANCE CERTIFICATE

MAKES A PERFECT

CHRISTMAS GIFT!!!

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Estate Planning

Estate planning is an important and generous giftto leave your loved ones. Effective estate planningassures your wishes are followed, your family cared for,and taxes are minimized. With wills, power of attorney,and trust forms available through websites, manypeople select this inexpensive option as an alternativeto hiring an experienced attorney, and in doing so, placetheir estate at risk.On these websites, you receive blank documents

that have been modified in an attempt to meet the legalrequirements of each state. The “specialist” answeringtheir help line is legally barred from answering any legalquestions or dispensing advice. These operators can onlyanswer questions regarding their basic operations of thetemplate and how to navigate the site. Sometimesthe specialists overstep their authority, with ques-tionable results.Several of these sites, provide a “speak to an attor-

ney” option at a supposed discount price. This attorney’sgoal is to provide minimal service to complete your doc-uments andProblems Arising from DIY Wills and Power of

AttorneyPeople who use these sites to prepare their wills and

address other estate matters are often satisfied with theresults. The heirs, however, are left with significant prob-lems that could have been avoided with proper legal advice,including:Durable, medical or other power of attorney that is

invalid because of lack of notarization or another legalrequirement.Durable, medical or other power of attorney that gives

the selected person greater authority than intended.Wills that do not address contingencies such as

depletion of funds intended as a gift, new or addi-tional bank accounts, or new life insurance policies.Wills that are easily invalidated and thus not com-

plying with the decedent’s intent.Estate planning that places a greater tax burden than

necessary on those receiving the inheritance.Estate planning that runs contrary to the dece-

dent’s intent because of lack of understanding of the word-ing on the form.

• • • • •

Hire an Expert

Estate planning is a complicated legal and financialprocess that requires an experienced attorney. The manybenefits she or he provides include:Understanding your current and changing needs. The

relationship with your estate planning attorney isongoing, and she will recommend changes based on yourevolving requirements, which may include marriage,divorce, the birth of children or grandchildren, and theacquisition or disposal of assets.Clarifying and defending your intentions. Your

lawyer will create one or more documents that detailyour intentions in regard to your assets. If contested thecourts will likely look to your lawyer for clarification.Addressing guarantees of minor children or care for

adult children with special needs.Providing tax guidance. They will explain these

complicated and ever-changing rules and prepare an estateplan that minimizes this burden on your loved ones.Hronek Law, LLC provides clients with the personalized,

expert estate-planning services that assure the dece-dent’s intent is met under all circumstances, such as desiredcare during a debilitating illness and distribution of assetsafter death. Our comprehensive knowledge of the ele-ments of estate planning, including inheritance, powerof attorney trust and taxation laws, allows us to createan effective estate plan to meet your needs. Contact usfor more information.Christina M. HronekAttorney at LawHRONEK LAW, LLC8191 Broadview Road, Suite 201Broadview Heights, Ohio 44147(440) 546-5290christina@hronek-law.comwww.hronek-law.comNote: Christina is the legal counsel for the Czech Catholic

Union and has graciously offered to extend a 10%discount to any of our members who mention thisarticle.

• • • • •

FOR YOUR INFORMATION...

Every year since 1941, the Czech Catholic Union (CCULife) has declared a dividend. Until 1986, these dividendswere paid in cash. At that time the directors decided topay the dividend in the form of additional insurance.This is a much better way to pay the dividend. Checksdo not need to be issued and your life insurance policycontinues to grow and increase in value. This is anoth-er reason to continue to belong to this great organization.If you want or need additional coverage, please call theHome Office during normal business hours.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTYou still have time to purchase

an insurance policy through ourSummer Special, which ends

November 30, 2016. Call the HomeOffice for information, rates

and/or application.

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VOSI HNIZDA(CZECH CHRISTMAS SWEETS)

1 1/4 cups crushed round vanilla wafers or round tod-dler vanilla wafers25 whole round vanilla wafers1 1/4 cups powdered sugar7 tablespoons soft room temp butter2 tablespoons rum2 tablespoons water2 tablespoons cocoa (Hershey’s pure baking cocoa)Filling3/4 cup powdered sugar5 1/2 tablespoons soft room temp butter1 egg yolk, from a pasteurized egg (or immerse an unpas-

teurized egg in boiling water for 1 minute, cool imme-diately)2 tablespoons rumDirections:Set the 25 whole vanilla wafers aside.Crush enough vanilla wafers, in a medium sized bowl,

to make 1 1/4 cups of a rough “flour.”Add powdered sugar, butter, rum, water, and cocoa..Mix ingredients.In a small bowl mix filling ingredients together.Dust the inside of the bee hive form with powdered

sugar, then press in a small ball of dough.Make a hole in the dough with your finger or end of

a wooden spoon.Add enough filling to the hole, with a spoon, to fill the

cavity.Carefully tap the hive out of the form and set it atop

a whole vanilla wafer.You must experiment to find out how much powdered

sugar one needs to dust the form with, so that the hiveslips out easily.If you have no bee hive form, use an empty chamber

from a grocery store cardboard egg carton.Store in a cool place, remembering you have raw egg

in the filling.

SPICED EGGNOG PUMPKIN PIE

Pastry for single-crust pie (9 in.)1 can (15 oz.) solid-pack pumpkin1 1/4 cups eggnog3/4 cups sugar2 eggs1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp. salt1/2 tsp. ground ginger1/4 tsp. ground cloves1/4 tsp. ground nutmegRoll out pastry to fit a 9-in. pie plate. Transfer

pastry to pie plate. Trim pastry to 1/2 in. beyond edgeof plate; flute edges.Place remaining ingredients in a large bowl; beat just

until smooth. Pour into pastry.Bake at 425° for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 350°; bake

30-35 minutes longer or until a knife inserted near thecenter comes out clean. (Cover edges with foil duringthe last 15 minutes to prevent overbrowning if neces-sary.) Cool completely on a wire rack. Store in therefrigerator.

ROLLED BEEFSTEAKS(Zavitky z Rostenek)

4 slices 3/4-inch thick round steakSalt and pepper to taste1/4 pound sliced bacon2 pickles, chopped2/3 cup chopped cooked smoked meat or ham1 tablespoon flour3 tablespoons lard1 medium onion, chopped2 cups waterPound meat. Slash borders. Sprinkle with salt and

pepper. Cover each steak with sliced bacon. Mix pick-les and smoked meat or ham, spread over bacon. Rollmeat, fasten with skewers or toothpicks. Dust with flour.Brown well in lard or oil. Remove meat and add onionto pan, fry until yellow. Return meat to pan, add 1 cupof water, cover and simmer until tender (about 1hour). Remove skewers or toothpicks before serving. Serves4.

MORAVIAN DUMPLINGS(MORAVSKY SKRCENY

CHLAPIKY)3 large or 4 medium potatoes2 c. flour1 tsp. salt1/2 c. farina1 egg1 large onion1 stick margarine1 1/2 c. bread crumbsCook potatoes, then peel and put through ricer or mash

them. Add flour, salt, farina, and egg. Work dough untilsmooth, then make a roll about 1 inch in diameter. Cutin 1/2 inch slices and roll between your hands to makethe size of your thumb. Boil 10 minutes, then drain. Fryonions until golden brown in margarine and crumbs,then coat your chlapiky with the crumbs. Serve insteadof potatoes.

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Czech to Englishotec fathermatka mothermanzel husbandmanzelka wifebratr brothersestra sistersyn sondcera daughterpritelkyne girlfriendpritel boyfrienddedek grandfatherbaba or babicka grandmotherdite childdvojcata twinskmotri god parentscesky Czech or Bohemiankatolicky Catholicknez priest

• • • • •

Stamp KornerCzecho-Slovakia60 Hallers=.01

(Hallers no longer used as a unit of money)

Slovakia16 Crowns=.90

Levoca

CCU Life Liquid Annuity CD’sCCU Life is proud to offer our Liquid Annuity CD- Your money is tied up for only 6 months- Members (who own insurance policies) are

paid 2 1/2%- Non-members (no insurance policy) are paid 1

1/2%Rates are subject to change, but you will be

notifiedRates are much better than your local bank or cred-

it union due to our good investments and lowexpensesCall the Home Office during normal business hours

with any questions at (216-341-0444)

Pilgrims, Patriots and PilsnerThe first beer brewed by American colonists was at the

Roanoke colony in 1587. Most of the early breweries weresmall, home-based operations. Traditional ingredients werenot available in the New World, and were often replacedwith maize, molasses, bran, persimmons, potatoes,spruce twigs, birch bark, ginger, and allspice. Colonistscontinued to request shipments of “real” beer from Eng-land, and in 1609 colonists placed an ad in a London news-paper, asking for brewers to come to America.The pilgrims on the Mayflower were destined for

Virginia, but dwindling supplies of food and beer causedthem to land at Plymouth Rock. Breweries in the New Worldwere among the first businesses established. In colonialAmerica, the alehouse served as the unofficial townhall and the social and political focal point of everytown. As early as 1768, the Sons of Liberty were holdingmeetings at the Liberty Tree Tavern in Providence.The Green Dragon Inn in Boston was called the headquartersfor the revolution. George Washington made his headquartersat Fraunces Tavern in New York.19th century immigrants, especially those from Ireland

and Germany, brought their beer culture with them. Brew-eries and bars spread across the United States withthese new Americans. The most famous breweries in theUnited States, such as Miller, Coors and Pabst, were found-ed by German immigrants. Czechs established breweriesin Ohio, Illinois, Texas and Iowa. One of the more well-known Czech-owned breweries in Chicago was theBohemian Brewing Company, founded by Charles Vopic-ka in 1891. It changed its name to Atlas Brewing Com-pany in 1896 and continued to operate until 1962.Cleveland was home to several Czech owned brew-

eries, including Forest City Brewing Company, Bohemi-an Brewery, and Pilsner Brewing Company. All three brewedBohemian or Pilsner style beer, which was a lighterbeer as compared to heavier German lagers. Ameri-cans of all backgrounds grew to like the taste of this typeof beer and most U.S. breweries began to produce apilsner-type brew.By the late 19th century, there were nearly 4,000 brew-

eries in the USA. Repeated attempts to enact prohibitionled to a decline, and by the time prohibition was the lawof the land, there were only about 500 breweries operatingin the United States. These companies tried to survivethe dry years by producing near beers and soft drinks. Onceprohibition was repealed, some breweries tried torebound. By the late 1960’s, only a handful of largebreweries were able to compete and the smaller companiesclosed their doors.

National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library - Cedar Rapids, IA

• • • • •

“We could now take time for further search or con-sideration, our victuals being much spent, especiallyour beere.”

-Excerpt from a diary kept by a colonist on theMayflower, December 19, 1620

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Mikulas Ales - Czech ArtistMikulas Ales was born Novem-

ber 18, 1852 in the southernBohemian town of Mirotice,near Pisek. He was a Czechpainter, draftsman, decorator, andillustrator. He was one of the mostimportant personalities of so-called“The National Theatre’s Gen-eration” and classic of Bohemi-an art of the 19th century.Credited with over 5000

works of art, the range of Ales’ creativity ranged fromoil paintings, sketches, drawings, magazine illustrations,letterheads, textbooks, and even playing cards.Another form of art which Ales excelled in was his

pen and ink sketches. The numbers of these werequite numerous and may be seen as reflecting hispride and interest in the Czech cultural and historical

way of life. Subjects ranging from farmers, rural scenes,and natural settings, also included images of militarygroups and soldiers, many with a “visit” to the home townor village.Folk tales and legends were also illustrated by Ales.

These vignettes showed life in Bohemia and Moravia dur-ing the latter half of the 19th Century and the turn ofthe 20th Century. Due to their patriotic tone, Alesimages were often shunned and discouraged by the Naziregime during occupation 1938-1945, but in contrast, wereencouraged by the Communist government subse-quent to the end of World War II. Since the end of com-munism, Ales’ name appears on streets and parksthroughout the Czech Republic as well as creations ofstatues to this Czech son.He was elected a full member of the Czech Academy

of Sciences and Arts in 1908. Ales died at the age of 60in Prague in Vinohrady on July 10, 1913. He is buriedat Vysehrad Cemetery with many other notable artistsand musicians of the Czech nation.

I am a very old shepherd,

I will not be living till the spring,

Cuckoos will not be calling,

In my pastures, 1896

An album from Apon Record Company of New Yorkillustrating artwork by Mikulas Ales.

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Ceska mse vanocni - themost popular piece of Czech

Christmas music"Hej Mistre, vstan bystre!" -

"Master Hey, Rise I Say!" - thoseare the opening words of this popu-lar piece of music. It was composedby a small-town teacher, Jakub JanRyba, in 1796. "Rybovka", as Czechslike to call it, has the structure of aclassical Latin mass, but instead oftaking place in Bethlehem, it islocated in snow-covered CentralBohemia. More than 200 years afterits first performance, it continues to echo in churchesaround the country every Christmas.Jakub Jan Ryba was born in 1765 in the village of

Prestice in West Bohemia. The son of a village teacherand organ player, he received his first music lessons fromhis father. At the age of eight, little Jakub could playthe piano with considerable skill and was being taughtto play the violin and organ. Recognizing his talent, Jakub'suncle, a priest and an outstanding tenor, took hisnephew to Prague to further his education. During hisstudies Jakub Jan Ryba sang with a Gregorian choir,played in a quartet and composed his first pieces. Healso played the organ in the Church of St Salvátor. Hedreamed of becoming a composer but his father forcedhim to return home and earn his living as a village teacher.He composed over 1,400 pieces, both religious and non-

religious. His works include thirty masses as well as songscomposed to Czech folk lyrics, arias, sonatas, quartets,concertos and symphonies. But the Czech Christmas Massis the only piece that has outlived him. The piece wasfirst performed in 1796 and contrary to the tradition ofthe day, its lyrics were in Czech, not in Latin. Petr Veberis a Czech Radio music expert:“Ryba’s composition is very interesting because the

mass combines a Latin structure with Czech words. Rybawanted to make the Christmas story about the birth ofJesus more understandable for the common people. Theproblem of Latin being used in church was that the localpeople didn’t understand it. Using Czech lyrics was ameans of getting the audience more connected with thestory about the birth of the Saviour.”But Czech lyrics were not the only reason behind the

popularity of Jakub Jan Ryba’s Christmas Mass. It wasalso his musical language that resonated with thecommon people. His bright, expressive and memo-rable tunes touched people's hearts.“Ryba is a composer of very simple but very melod-

ic music, using idioms common for the music of that time:Mozart or Haydn’s Vienna style. Another reason for itspopularity is probably that the music is based onCzech melodies, not on particular songs, but on the Czechmusical or folk music feeling. So this common lan-guage of Czech musicality connected with the Mozart

style of that time and the Czech language are thethree reasons for its popularity at that time.”“Many people, such as choir masters and musi-

cians, made copies of the manuscript and the Czech Christ-mas Mass was performed by many choirs in churchesall over the country. And when in 1930 the score wasprinted, its popularity increased. Nowadays, the CzechChristmas Mass is really a symbol of Czech Christmasplayed everywhere, in churches and at concerts, by pro-fessionals and amateurs, there are maybe hundreds ofperformances every year all over the country.”Editor’s Note: The quotes in this article are from Petr

Veber, a Czech Radio music expert.

HAVE YOU CHANGEDYOUR ADDRESS?

__________________________________________Name

__________________________________________Old Address State Zip

__________________________________________New Address State Zip

__________________________________________Society No.

Mail to CZECH CATHOLIC UNION5349 Dolloff Road

Cleveland, Ohio 44127

11

CZECH CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS

The Symbol of the TeapotIn many countries, tea is a viable sub-

stitute for coffee, which is the drink Amer-icans usually offer guests in theirhomes. In the Czech Republic, many peo-ple prefer tea, and visitors to the Unit-ed States often purchase tea as gifts totake home to family and friends. Theteapot is a symbol of hospitality.

The Symbol of the Bird NestMany Czech families make a yearly trip to a nearby

forest to select their Christmas trees, just as somefamilies in the United States do.However, in the Fatherland, theytake it a step further. They choosetheir trees not only for the shape,but for the number of bird nests itcontains. The bird nest is a symbolof the home. It suggests that weshould strive to make the house a place for all family mem-bers to come together as one unit, being showeredwith love, support, and warmth.

The Tradition of the Mushroom Ornament

Mushrooms give health and strength.At a traditional Czech Christmas Evedinner, mushroom soup may be the soupof choice. Like the garlic, mushroomsplay an important role in Czech lives; infact so much so that mushroom huntingcould almost be considered a nationalsport in the Czech Republic. Entire fam-ilies are known to wake at dawn, get

their wicker baskets, and head for the forest to find thetreasured delicacies.

S.P.J.S.T.

Christmas Ornament LegendMany years ago, a very poor Czech mother was

very sad as the next morning was Christmas, andshe would have no gift for her children. She cried andprayed all night, and when the early daylight sun

woke the children as itshined through their window,they ran downstairs to seetheir surprise. The mothertried to stop them, but theirbabbling, laughter and excite-ment was too much for her.The babbling was so fastthat she could not under-stand them, but the sparkle

in their eyes immediately caught her attention. Itseems as if a spider had made a large web in a tree justoutside the window. As the sun shined on the web, itglistened so brightly the children thought they had receiveda special Christmas treat. The Lord had answeredthe mother’s prayers by giving her children some-thing she could not.

S.P.J.S.T.

• • • • •

Complementary VirtueJoy is the presence within our soul of great delight

or happiness inspired by the knowledge of goodness, loveand well-being that are rooted in God’s care.Joy is the state of felicity or happiness which colors

our attitude and allows us to see life in a positivelight regardless of our difficulties.

• • • • •

New And Improved NamesFor Boring Everyday ThingsCouch = People ShelfBooks = Manual FilmsBracelets = Clockless WatchesAir Horn = Spray ScreamBottled Water = Snowman BloodFeather = Bird LeafFrom sliptalk.com

January 1st is an Official Czech National holiday. It’sthe Day of the Restoration of Czech Independence,celebrating the founding of the Czech Republic onJanuary 1st 1993. After a late morning start the mainmeal of the day is prepared which should includepork for good luck and lentils for prosperity in the newyear. It’s bad luck to eat fish, your luck could swim away;or poultry, your luck could fly away.

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All Saint’s and All Soul’s DayOn the first two days of November when the last leaf is

slowly falling to earth, leaving Nature to sleep its winterrest, we remember the dead in Czechoslovakian custom. AllSaint’s and All Soul’s Days are observed fittingly when darkand heavy clouds are shading the earth and only a little warmthcomes from the fading sun; a time when the North Windsbrings a white blanket, signaling an early winter. These twodays are sadly pathetic scenes: a close-fitting sleep ofNature.The first day of November is the feast day of All Saint’s

day (Svatek vsech svatych) and the second day is AllSoul’s Day (Dusicek). The cemeteries during these twodays are aglow with the shimmering light of thousands ofsmall candles placed on the graves which have been decoratedby many beautiful varieties of chrysanthemums. During thesedays, the Czech cemeteries in the Old Country are alive withthe visits of those, irretrievable left behind by families’s lovedones, interned in this garden of death.It is almost impossible to compare these November

days, the days of decorating and visiting graves in the OldCountry with those in our country here. The Czech ceme-teries there are whispering with the breath of loved ones,lit by the small candles and beautiful autumnal colors of thelast blossoms.During those days, our cemeteries are full of spiritual remem-

brances of those who have left the physical unbroken cir-cle.The Czech people have always tended their cemeteries

just as carefully as their gardens. The solemn pride ofthe cemeteries is very evident in the Czech lands, and so,it is of little wonder that the Czech pioneers settling in Nebras-ka and other states in this country should establish theircemeteries so closely resembling those in their homeland.All these cemeteries speaking to us, so quietly, almost

unheard; and do we yearn to understand the simple, yet com-plex philosophical meaning of this inscription engraved onthe iron gate of the Czech-Slovanic Cemetery in Wilber, Nebras-ka?

‘What you are - - we were.What we are - you will be.’

“Czech Folklore” Taken from book published by Dr.Vladimir Kucera.

St. OdiloSt. Odilo was a Benedictine monk

who became the 5th Abbot of thefamous Abbey of Cluny, in France. Bornin the French town of Auvergne in 962,Odilo entered the Abbey of Cluny tofollow his vocation as a monk of theOrder of St.. Benedict, and very soonshowed outstanding qualities of lead-ership and organization.About the year 1030 A.D. he began

the practice of commemorating the dead of his ownmonastery and its dependent houses the day after theFeast of All Saints. Due to the powerful influence of theAbbey of Cluny throughout Europe, this custom spreadand was finally adopted universally in the Latin Church.Thus November 2 is observed as All Souls' Day becauseof St. Odilo.Like any saint, Odilo was always concerned with help-

ing the poor not only after this life but while they are strug-gling here on earth. He went so far as to sell the holy trea-sures of the monastery during the famine of 1033,using the proceeds to help the poor and suffering.Returning from one of his many visitations of monas-

teries in Italy, Odilo died in the Abbey of Souvigny on Jan-uary 1, 1049 A. D. at the age of 87. Fourteen years later,1063, he was canonized to become our Saint Odilo.

• • • • •

Safety HomeI am home in Heaven, dear ones;Oh, so happy and so bright!There is perfect joy and beautyIn this everlasting light.All the pain and grief is over,Every restless tossing passed;I am now at peace forever,Safely home in Heaven at last.Did you wonder I so calmlyTrod the valley of the shade?Oh! but Jesus’ love illuminatedEvery dark and fearful glade.And He came Himself to meet meIn that way so hard to treadAnd with Jesus’ arm to lean on,Could I have one doubt or dread?Then you must not grieve so sorely,For I love you dearly still;Try to look beyond earth’s shadows,Pray to trust our Father’s Will.There is work still waiting for you,So you must not idly stand;Do it now, while life remaineth–You shall rest in Jesus’ land.When that work is all completed,He will gently call you Home;Oh, the rapture of that meeting,Oh, the joy to see you come!

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Dear Veterans: I salute each and every one ofyou for your service to this country. My heartfeltthanks as well to the brave and dedicated men and womenwho are still on active duty. You are the personificationof patriotism and self-sacrifice for your dedication to ourcountry. — Love, Abby

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also knownas Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, PaulinePhillips

• • • • •

Veteran’s Day

November eleventh is Veteran’s Day;Chosen for Americans their thanks to say.To the men and women who bravely fought;For the lasting freedom we all sought.Confronting enemies who would wrest away;The way we live from day to day.Inadequate though thanks may be,As a group it comes from we;Who recognize your selfless gift,And to the heavens our voices lift.Asking God to watch over you;To guide and protect in all you do.

An original poem by Judith E. Both 2015

Interesting facts about Veteran’s Day, somewhich you may not have realized.The holiday honors anyone who has served in the Unit-

ed States armed services.The holiday started in 1919 when President Wilson

proclaimed November 11 to be Armistice Day.The first celebration of Armistice Day marked the one

year anniversary of the end of World War I.Armistice Day became a federal holiday in 1938.In 1954 President Eisenhower signed a bill establishing

the holiday through Congress and changing the nameto Veterans Day to include all veterans, not just thoseof World War I.In 1968 the holiday was moved to the fourth Mon-

day of October, but was later moved back to November11th in 1978.Veterans Day coincides with many other countries’

celebration of Armistice Day or Remembrance Day.These holidays also commemorate the end of World

War I.There are approximately 23.2 million veterans in the

Thanksgiving

On the last Thursday of November, as every year, wewill celebrate the biggest American family feast—Thanksgiving. Its roots go back to 1621 in Massa-chusetts, when those who had been persecuted fortheir religious beliefs and practice in Europe escapedto the new world. They came to Plymouth Rock and begana new life. With the wild turkeys they had caughtthey prepared a festive dinner of thanks. They want-ed to thank God for their happy arrival to America, forfreedom, and for all the graces they had received.

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Thanksgiving Bird NamedThe turkey gets its name, not from Turkey, but

from India.When the bird arrived in Spain, the New World

was still considered part of India. Because Spaniardsmistook the turkey for its relative, the Mexican peacock,they called it toka, Indian for peacock. When Jewish mer-chants of Spain began selling turkey as a delicacy, theyconverted the name into Hebrew, tukki, and the wordwas later anglicized to turkey.

• • • • •

ON THANKSGIVINGThe sun’s a big, bronze pumpkin pie;My willow’s weeping golden tears.A band shakes thunder from the skyWhile miniskirted girls lead cheers.The oven exudes its turkey smell;Thanksgiving’s clearly in the air.The heavens are smiling. All is wellOn the day when even fowl is fair.

-Bob McKenty

• • • • •

Stuff ItOne of the great unsolved mysteries of life is how you

can get 24 pounds of leftovers from an 18-poundturkey. —Robert Orben

The Wishbone

Each Thanksgiving, wherever turkeys are served,families save the wishbone, dry it out, and thentwo people break it in half, each one holding on to thetip of one end. Tradition says that the person who breaksoff the larger half of the wishbone will get his or herwish. But have you ever wondered how this traditioncame about?Although Americans associate it with our Thanks-

giving, the practice of snapping the wishbone intwo is actually thousands of years older and came fromEurope, specifically from the English, who got itfrom the Romans, who got it from the Etruscans, anancient Italian civilization, and the bird of choice wasa chicken, not a turkey. The Etruscans thoughtchickens were oracles - that they could predict the future.When a chicken was killed, the furcular (collarbone) was dried and preserved so that people wouldstill have access to the oracle’s “power” even after eat-ing it. People would pick up the bone, stroke it,and make a wish - which is where the name “wish-bone” came from.The Romans adopted many Etruscan customs,

including this one. Soon they began to fight over unbro-ken collar bones because everyone wanted a share ofthe good luck. Bones were broken and the one who gotthe larger piece claimed to have received its luck. Itis thought that common phrases like“I can’t get abreak”or “I need a lucky break” derived from this tus-sle for the wishbone.When the Romans invaded England, the custom

spread again throughout the land. So it’s no surprisethat the Pilgrims brought it with them across theAtlantic to the New World. Of course, there were nochickens in the woods of North America, but there wereplenty of wild turkeys, and so the tradition wasadapted yet again and was passed down through thegeneration to your Thanksgiving table today.

Do not always expect good to happen, but do not letevil take you by surprise

Czech Proverb

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THANKSGIVING BLESSINGST - is for the Tons of Blessings that I receive each day.H - Stands for these Hands that fold, when I begin to

pray.A - Means all the Awesome powers our Lord has from

aboveN - Stands for his Never ending patience and His love.K - is for the Kindness and forgiveness He has shown.S - Stands for the Sweetest gift of love we’ve ever known.G - Means the amazing Grace that God bestowed on

me.I - Says I can’t imagine, without His love, just where

I’d be.V - Is for “Victory in Jesus” just like that song of old.I - Means I will do my best, to lead lost sheep into His

fold.N - is for the Nails driven through our Saviour’s

hands.G - Stands for God’s greatest gift, His Son’s life for mor-

tal man.

75 YEARS AGO...December 7, 1941 - at 7:55 a.m. (local time) on a Sun-

day morning, a surprise attack on U.S. military instal-lations at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, decimated the U.S. Pacif-ic Fleet, sinking five battleships and severely damag-ing three others along with three cruisers, threedestroyers, and many smaller vessels. Some 180 aircraftare destroyed, and 2,403 sailors, soldiers, marines,and airmen are killed. it is a great tactical victoryfor Japan, but by thrusting the United States intoWorld War II, it is also one of history’s worst strategicblunders, ensuring the ultimate defeat not only ofJapan but also of its Axis partners Germany andItaly.December 8, 1941 - In one of the 20th century’s

most famous speeches, President Roosevelt, callingthe Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7 “adate which will live in infamy,” asks a joint session ofCongress for a declaration of war, which is over-whelmingly approved. The United States fights inWorld War II from this point until August 15, 1945.Total numbers of people who served in WWII world-

wide was 1.9 billion.Number of deaths sustained worldwide (including Holo-

caust) during WWII was 72 million.Number of bombs the allies dropped during WWII

was 3.4 million tons.Number of airplanes that US 8th Air Force shot down

in WWII was 6,098.Number of countries involved in WWII was 61.

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AdventThe first Advent holiday falls on the 30th of

November, Saint Andrew's Day. This day - dedicatedto one of the twelve apostles - used to be a day for for-tune-telling, though today this has become more of a Christ-mas Eve activity. One example of this fortune tellingwas the practice where girls in Silesia would meltlead to read their futures. They would melt it inspoons over a candle, and then quickly pour it into coldwater through a key whose teeth formed the shape ofa cross. From the form into which the lead hardened theywould make predictions on what their next husband wouldlook like: slim, fat, handsome, ugly, hunch-backed,etc. In the shape the lead took, the girls would also lookfor signs of the various crafts in order to predict the pro-fession of their future bridegroom. Elsewhere, girls wouldlook for the appearance of their future husband in a holecut in the ice, where shadowsrevealed his character to them.In still other places, girls wouldtap on the door of the hen-house, and if a rooster crowed,the girl would be married in thenext year. If a hen answered, shewould have another year towait.The next Advent holiday

celebrated was the 4th ofDecember, Saint Barbara'sDay. St. Barbara was a martyrfrom the ancient period of thepersecution of Christians inthe Roman Empire. Barbara was the first of the"parading figures" of the season.The disguises people wore, in which they wandered

around rural villages during the evening, really only resem-bled St. Barbara in name. They were made up of a wom-an's mask with a white cloak and long, flowing hair, withgreen wreaths on her head and whisks for punishingchildren, but also hand-baskets with fruit and nuts forpresents. In some regions, Barbara became Bruna,Perchta or Klibna, and in others, people accompa-nied her disguised as goats, mares or devils. To this day,people cut off cherry twigs on St. Barbara's Day and putthem in vases, where they bloom around Christmas Eve,thus signifying luck and hope in the search for a part-ner for life.The most popular of the Advent holidays was

- and still is - St. Nicholas DaySt. Nicholas (Sv. Mikulas), the devil and the agnel

strolled throughout the village. The Angel (Andel),representing Good and the Devil (Cert), represent-ing Evil, while rattling his chain, walked ahead signalingthe approach of Mikulas. Sv. Mikulas asked eachchild if he/she had said prayers and if he/she hadbeen good or bad. Those who said that they had beengood were given treats while the angel recorded the pro-ceedings in an elaborate book with the use of a quill pen.

Then, on Christmas Eve, according to the record keptby the angel, the children would receive nuts, candy, fruitand little gifts if they had been good...and old potatoesif they had not. St. Nicholas is one of the most vener-ated of all saints. He was Bishop of Myra, Capitol of Lycia,an ancient province of Asia Minor, now Turkey. He wasespecially noted for his charity and of course, wasthe first Santa Claus.The final Advent holiday is the 13th of Decem-

ber - the day of Saint Lucille, after which began thepreparations for the Christmas holidays. Today this dayno longer has any meaning, but in the past it wasvery important. St. Lucille protected against witchcraftand sorcery. The variety of the popular customs in theCzech Lands is well demonstrated by the different"parading figures" with Lucille's name. In some places,Lucille appeared as a mysterious, secretive being,with a white mask, embodying fear and horror. Insome places, she also had a long nose or a knife with whichshe frightened children, threatening to cut open theirbellies. She didn't tap on the window like St. Bar-bara, but appeared unexpectedly. In different towns Lucilleevolved into a more pleasant form, roaming the villagedisguised as an old, hunch-backed woman with her faceconcealed by a mask carrying a wooden spoon, teasingthe young people.

The popularity of the aluminum Christmas tree, intro-duced to the mass market in 1959 by the Aluminum Spe-cialty Company, took a nosedive when A CharlieBrown Christmas first aired in 1965. (In the show, Char-lie Brown and Linus choose a humble real tree over aflashy aluminum model.) In the past decade, alu-minum trees—the coolest ones feature rotating color wheelsthat shine changing hues of light on the branches—havemade a comeback.

We’ve been decorating—seriously decorating—Christmas trees for 170 years thanks to England’sQueen Victoria, who ignited a worldwide craze when shetrimmed a royal tree in 1846.

FACTS ABOUT CHRISTMASThe word Christmas is Old English, a contraction of

Christ's Mass.The first president to decorate the white house

Christmas tree in the United States was FranklinPierce.Germany made the first artificial Christmas trees.

They were made of goose feathers and dyed green.Electric lights for trees were first used in 1895.The first Christmas cards were vintage and invent-

ed in 1843, the Victorian Era. "It's a Wonderful Life" appears on TV more often than

any other holiday movie.Rudolph" was actually created by Montgomery

Ward in the late 1930's for a holiday promotion. The restis history.The Nutcracker" is the most famous Christmas

ballet.Jingle Bells" was first written for Thanksgiving

and then became one of the most popular Christmas songs.If you received all of the gifts in the song "The

Twelve Days of Christmas," you would receive 364gifts.The poinsettia plant was brought into the United States

from Mexico by Joel Poinsett in the early 1800's.In 1843, "A Christmas Carol" was written by Charles

Dickens in just six weeks.The first state to recognize the Christmas holiday offi-

cially was Alabama.Christmas became a national holiday in America on

June, 26, 1870.It’s believed that “White Christmas,” the beloved hit

by Irving Berlin, is the best-selling single of all time -with more than 100 million sales worldwide.Nearly 35 million real (live!) Christmas trees are sold

each year in the U.S. alone!Contrary to popular belief, Black Friday (the day after

Thanksgiving) is not the busiest shopping day of the year.Although the day varies, it generally falls sometime inDecember.

• • • • •

In the language of flowers

17

holly indicatesdomestichappiness;

poinsettia, goodcheer andsuccess.

Christmas OrnamentsAngel: Represents the angel who appeared before Mary,

asking her to be the mother of Jesus Popcorn: Signifies the rope Joseph held as he led the

donkey to Bethlehem Walnuts: Are for the gifts from the three

wise men Oranges: A special fruit only available dur-

ing the Christmas season Wheat: A symbol of life, prosperity and nour-

ishment Cloth as the base of the tree: Represents Jesus’

swaddling clothes Apples: Remind us of Adam and Eve Carrot: Often given to a new wife to bring good

luck in the kitchen Pine cones and evergreen trees: Symbols of eternal

life Corn: Symbolizes prosperity, fertility Houses and Churches: Symbols of vil-

lage life Farm Animals: Traditional symbols of

everyday village life Pineapple: Symbol of friendship and

hospitality Owl: Symbols of wisdom Musical Instruments: Symbolizes the joy that music

and singing brings during the Holiday season Stars, Moons & Angels: Symbolizes the closest you

can get to Heaven

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How Did The Habit of Referring to Christmas asXmas Ever Get Started?

Many people are offended by the abbreviation andassume it’s a modern abomination. But, in fact, it’s atleast 1,000 years old and was not meant to be disrespectfulor used that way. What appears to be an X in ourmodern Roman alphabet is actually the Greek letter chi,the first letter of the word Christos, meaning Christ. Twopossibilities for the shortening: Use of the name of Christin another word may have looked unseemly, or it mayhave been done for a religious reason. Either would meanthat we now see the abbreviation as the opposite of whatwas intended.

• • • • •

A Christmas Blessing

May all the days of all the yearsThat God has still in storeBe filled with every joy and graceTo bless you more and more;May hope of heart and peace of mindBeside you ever stay.And that’s the golden wish I haveFor you, this Christmas Day!

Your Merry Christmas maydepend upon what others do foryou...but your Happy New Yeardepends upon what you do forothers.

Author unknown

The American WayOne Day at a Time

Perhaps only one res-olution need be resolvedand re-resolved eachJanuary, for if youresolve as essayist RalphWaldo Emerson did,this one resolution willcover all other resolves.Write it on your heart

that every day is thebest day in the year. He is rich who owns the day, andno one owns the day who allows it to be invaded withfret and anxiety. Finish every day and be done with it.You have done what you could. Some blunders and absur-dities, no doubt, crept in. Forget them as soon as youcan, tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serene-ly, with too high a spirit to be cumbered with your oldnonsense.This new day is too dear, with its hopes and invitations,

to waste a moment on the yesterdays.

• • • • •

Signs of the Season

Spotted on a sanitation truck- Happy Hauladays

Posted on the door of a festively decorated gift shop- Please open before Christmas

Sign advertising a health club- Merry Fitness and Happy New Rear

“If you hear laughter at a party, move to that side ofthe room.”

NOTICE TO MEMBERSWe ask all our members to kindly check their cer-

tificates to check whether they have the correct ben-eficiary designated and also check the spellingof their name.The State of Ohio also requires us to have the

actual address of all our members on file for auditpurposes. For convenience of correspondence it isalso good to have an e-mail address.If any of the above information needs to be corrected,please contact the home office at 216-341-0444 orinsurance@czechccu.orgThank you for your cooperation.

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Notice To MembersA Mass for Deceased members of the CzechCatholic Union is offered periodically at OurLady of Lourdes Church in Cleveland, Ohio.

PAYMENTS OF MORTUARY DEATH CLAIMSThe Czech Catholic Union extends its sincerest sympathies to the

bereaved families of the following deceased members:

Date of Date ofName Location Soc. Name No. Issue Death AgeMargaret Brush Cedar Rapids, IA Blessed

Virgin Mary 119 01-01-1936 06-13-2016 101Antoinette Berry Pittsburgh, PA St. Ann 16 02-01-1983 05-10-2016 96Mary Ann Vitt Cleveland, OH St. Joseph 156 05-01-1949 08-17-2016 70Rose Simek Detroit, MI St. Ann 5 06-01-1940 09-07-2016 92

TOTAL DEATH CLAIMS PAID IN 2016 $152,034.00

The Officers &Directors of the CzechCatholic Union Wish theentire membership &their families a veryMerry Christmas & aprosperous New

Year!!!

PERIODICALSU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDCLEVELAND, OH

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

Vesele Vanoce & Stastny Novy Rok