Omaha daily bee., 1914-06-28
FATHER VRGNEK is HONOUED
Many Turn Out to Pay Tribute to
Work of Faithful Priest.
GRADUATES AT 81. wENCEsIAus
Large Number of Priests Come for
the Anniversary Celebration
Given in Honor of Father
Vrnnek.

Last week was a doubly notable one in
Bohemian Catholic circles II not only
saw the graduation of one of the largest
classes in the history of St wenceslaus
school, but also marked the silver jubilee
OF Very Rev. John Vranek as a Catholic
priest, He is pastor OF ST. wenceslaus
Y church. Fourteenth and Pine streets, and
director Of the school.
Since he came to Omaha twenty-five
years ago. both parish and school have
become large and flourishing under his
devoted labors in the service of the
church among his people. He has shown
his love for them by more than two
decades of tender ministration and they
have responded to make the tie between
pastor and people a mutual one.
Naturally enough, then, Father
vranek's Pensioners showed their APP
probation of his pastorate by rendering
him a big all-day celebration last Tues
day, the twenty fifth anniversary of his
ordination to the priesthood. The veteran
divine celebrated high mass in his
church in the morning. with hundreds of
men, women and children crowded into
the edifice.
Bishop KOudeIka Here
Right Rev. Joseph N, Koudeka, a
bishop of Father Vranek's own national
ity, came from Superior, Wis, to honor
the local priest with his participation in
the ceremonies He preached the sermon
at the morning service Then more than
fifty of the parishioners of st. Wenceslaus
gave a sumptuous dinner at noon, with
Father vranek, the bishop and fifteen
other priests from Nebraska and neigh
boring states attending.
The principal celebration occurred In
the evening at Metz hail. when fully l,SOo
church people and their friends packed
the building to do honor TO Father
Vranek. Mayor and Mrs. James c. Dahl
man signified their friendship and regard
for him by attending, the mayor making
one of the speeches of the evening Inc
bishop delivered the principal address in
Bohemian One of the most inspiring
parts of the program was the music, a
chorus of over 400 students and alumni
of st. wenceslaus school, under the Sis
ters of Mercy, singing several Bohemian
national songs.
Many visitors Here.
Among the local and visiting laymen
who took an active part in planning and
carving out the celebration were DR.. and
Mrs. f. A. Sedlacek, Joseph NJ. Roucek'
Frank Pechota, Miss Rose Bares, Mrs.
Antonio Kuncl. Miss Antonio Pechota,
Miss Minnie Loesch, Mrs. Frank Dolezal
of Fremont, Mrs. C. f. Hermanek, Joseph
Proskocil, Joseph Miratsky, Bob chile
borad, Mrs. Anne Pudil, Charles kneS-
acek and others. They are in the upper
picture.
The visiting priests included those ap-
Dearing In the accompanying photograph
and those others who had to leave before
the picture was taken: Father slime OF
the church of st. Mary Magdaline, Father
Tonanek of Schuyler, Father Gryc OF
Deweese. Father ]. s. Borz of Dodge,
and several others. Father Borz was
honored with a similar celeoratlon at
Dodge the next day, he and Fether
Vranek having been ordained tose'her
and being lifelong friends.
Relatives Help Celebration
Several relatives Of Father VraneK
came to Omaha for the celeprauon. fhey
were a sister. Mrs. Catherine Kulha OF
Friendship, Wis; niece Mrs' Niary
Holkuf of Chicago, and another niece
NJ Arra Mslinovsky Of Friendship.
wis. They appear in the group picture
With Pensioners in the rear OF the
priests
DinIomas were presented to the twenty
graduates of st. wenceslaus school by
Fatber Vranek at high mass last SUNDAY
THE event marked the closing of the thr-
+v-ffth wear of the school, which was
founded by the Sisters of Mercy Four OF
them and Father Vranek are the IN
structors. The school now has an enroil-
rnent of over go pupils. 1t stands next
20 the church at Fourteenth and Pine
streets 49,. .,,,s
some of the boys who graduated TINS
YEAR will enter the academy Of Creighton
university this fall. Some of the girls WIN
attend Mount st. Mary's seminary also
taught by the Sisters of Mercy.