ZajednicÌŒar = Fraternalist. [volume] (Allegheny, Pa.) 1894-current, 1956-08-08

The church opened on November rs, 1900
But to this end the church had contracted heavy
debts that strained the relations between the pastor
and his parishioners still In 1905 Glojnarc pre-
fered to leave His successor the Rev. Josp Tu-
SEX made things worse. He increased the churchs
debts to serve his interests without consulting the
parish members.
Finally the church committee obtained priest,
the Rev Ila Gusic from Bosnia. Yet the Bishop would
not grant him jurisdiction to officate. The Rev. Gusic
literally forced his way into the church. despite the resls-
tance of the Rev. Tusek The latter anticipating this move
of his adversary had recourse to police
The fight ended in the Court of Allegheny County,
where District Attorney H. H Dowand told the audience:
"ere gentlemen faced with Sunday School class
trial. The prosecuted (Gusics supporers), were found
guilty and fined each Is dollars
Thus the parish church remained isolated from It's
parishioners who went their way. The Croats OF
Etna, at meeting in Mato Segna Hall, August IL 1906
formed the Croatian Catholic Independent Church Gusic
made similar attempt in McKeesport, but without real
success Financially unsupported he finally made peace
with church authorities through the intervention of the
Rev Bekavac The Bishop sent him to Saint Pauls Mon
astery November a. and time later he recalled
by his superors in Croatia
Next to Allegheny City and Pittsburgh the oldest and
most important Croatan community took root III Rankin
and nearby Braddock.
Josip Benkovic Matja Sasak, Juraj Beg, MILO Buko-
vac all natives the districts of Jaska and Karovac
in Croatia listed among the first settlers there as
early as 1891 On October 13, they formed committee
in order to establish parish It's members MILO Bu
kovac Josp Bcnkovic, Josp Bosnak Dragutn Zamarija
and Martin Maeljan.
Through the intermediary Of Ivan PetrovecH they
the Rev. DR. Mato Mana the priest of Saint Peters
Church in Zagreb, to come to Rankin.
The Rev. Matina former secretary of Cardinal
Mhalovc and therefore he hoped to be day
Grated as a Bishop But the odds against him.
First of all, he descended from peasants serious OBJ
sace to the higher positions in the Roman Catholic
Church of the absburg Empire; and secondly he had
the reputation of being keen antagonist at the time OF
the powerful Ban of Croatia, Khuen Hedervary Dr. Ma
tina stated himself with bitterness for my head the
bishops mitre too heavy. ~
He came to Rankin on August g 1902, bringing with
him clod of native soil and bouquet of dry flowers,
destined to accompany him to his grave after his passing
away. Dr. Matina probably of the few priests
who left their country political martyrs prosecuted by
political and ecclesiastical authorities He expressed his
feelings in book he published the contrast between
the Catholic Church in America and the in Austria
Hungary.
Inspired by visit to the Bishop of Pittsburgh, the
Right Rev. Ricardo Pehan Dr. Matina wrote:
Here you can see but the saint apostolic simp-
city and humility and in country especially in Hun
gary, you find intsead luxurious profane and arsto
cratic stiffness. Our bishops show prediction for
everything they should not and not do They love
rifles and guns swords and daggers, cavalry and in
fanry varnsh, frocks to snap to attention. fur-caps
noisy music and savage clamor In addition to all this
they enjoy to be celebrated at receptions with speeches
full Of pharsaic ckspittle direct into the face
of true christian humility. ''
He doubtless the most cultured Croatan priest
who reached America.
The Croatian Roman Catholic Parish Church of Ran
kim Saint Mary, ready for inauguration August A.
1904. The Bishop attended the celebration.
The struggle had been strenuous and financial diff
culties abounded. The Rev Dr. Mana began to feel
hausted He left Rankin the following year for Chicago
where he died May % 1905 His handful of treasured soil
and his flowers followed him to his grave The parish of
Rankin established by him. left his successor the
Rev. Glojnarcs
Mckeesport the center of the Croats who had
settled in Duquesne, Versailles Port Vue Chrsty Park
and Clarion The first of them settle McKeesport
1886 Josip Barcic, Gaspar Vukovcan Smun Simak
and Josp Ropar They founded the Croatan Society
Saint George in 1894.
The desire to organize the Croatian Roman Catholic
Parish manifested itself in 1906. On April 5 a church
committee appointed Some members of the Croatian
colony wanted to form Independent Croaan Catholic
Church They asked the Rev. Iija Gusic from Milvae
who led similar movement in EtDa to to McKees-
port and officiae their priest Gusc actually stayed
McKeesport for time
~ At meeting, November 20, 1906 it was nevertheless
decided to dissolve this church. The meeting voted the