The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-09-03
Gala Event Will Continue for Two Days and Will Be Fea- tured by Religious Observ- ances Both on Sunday and on Labor Day.
History of Progress of Original Handful of People to Present Successful Parish Reflects IndOmitable Resolution of SIaVOnianS.

The sIavonians of this city are pre- paring for a, gala event. The twenty fifth anniversary of their organizing a church body will be celebrated on Sunday, September 9th, and LaDor Day. The parish of St. John Nepomu- cene SIovak R. C. church is directing the affair. Father Komora, the pas tor, is zea1ously endeayoring to make the even a big success.
 The main feature for the two days will be attendance at special church services A concert, under the direc- ton of MT c. Mensick, will be held on Sunday evening at the parochia1 school haIl1 at the corner of Jane and Penn broke streets. On Monday there will be dancing. and speechmaking~ by prominent men, Father komara' m behalf of the church body, has offered invitations to various societies to be present at the exercises. Among those expected to accept the offer are the lodges of St. John Nepomucene Death Benefit society; the Altar society; the Catholic Sokols, Assembly g; the Soap ular society; tho Ladies Union; the Society of St. Elizabeth; the Play nicky Solzol; the St. Anthony lodge; St. Michael the Archange1 and others.
 The event commemorates the birth of the St. John Neponucene parish. Twenty-Five years ago the handful Of Slovenian people that found employ
  tied here, made their religious duties at the St. Marys R. G. church in Pen- broke street. Within a brief period of time the colony of Slavs increased in population and when they considered themselves sufficient in number and partly sound financially they agreed to worship in their own house of prayer.
 This was a difficult proposition, con- sidering their lack of funds. They, however, decided to have their own priest, a man of their blood, a man who would hear them and speak to them in their native tongue. This de- sire led to a resolve. They made their rst house of worship in the basement of St. Mary's church. The bishop at Hartford consented to this step and F'ormanek. Here blossomed the nu- cleus of the St. John Nepomucene R. c. church.
 The passing of time showed an in crease in the church body and in the financial standing. The people strove hard in their earnestness to erect their own chufch- Some property on Brooks and Jane streets was purchased and the first steps were taken for the building of a basement. Its completion gave them their own church and their pride in this accomplishment was next to the big event in their history, that of building the present edidce, with the basement as it's foundation.
 Father Prybi1 succeeded Rev. For manek- The Rev A. Kosalko was sue cessor to Father Prybtl-
 Father Kosa1ko brought about a united spirit and under him the pres ent church was built. The corner stone was laid in the year 1902. Father Major followed Rev. Kosalko and then arrived the man to whom is owed the cleaning up of all debts, the building of a parechial school, the arrival of a body of nuns teaching staff, and zealous worker for the advancement of the Slovenian peop1e-the Rev. An drew Komara, the present pastor.
 Since his arrival here, over four years ago, Father Konara. showed his people what untiring effort, zeal, inde- fatigable labor, extreme solicitude for the welfare of his people will do for the advancement of the Slovenian race in this country.