Father Furdek Leader
Palickar, Stephen J.
A NYONE who reviews the history of the Slovak •'• ^ people in America is likely to find that the name of Father Furdek gleams through it everywhere. And how could it be otherwise? This man...
...Conspicuous among the many societies founded by Father Furdek, the largest and most influential are the First Catholic Union in the United States of America...
...and we shall consider his noblest achievement, so that by comparing him with others an understanding of his best work may be arrived at...
...Living in a social, political, literary, artistic and religious, as well as philosophical environment, one might say that Furdek was the soul of the American Slovak people...
...Every people, regardless of race, creed or color, needs a, leader...
...Considering that the continuity of Slovak national character could only be found in Slovak expression, he immediately set about establishing Slovak newspapers and magazines, many of which are still flourishing...
...Reverend Stephen, or Father Furdek, as he was preferably called by the people of his race, was probably a genius...
...He died on January 18, 1915, but his name will forever be memorable in Slovakian history both in America and in the country of his birth...
...It is now assisting many religious, charitable, educational and civic authorities, and exerts an international influence throughout the Slovanic world...
...In the vicinity of 1870, Slovak immigration to America had increased with such astonishing rapidity that Bishop Gilmour, then in charge of the Cleveland diocese, found it somewhat difficult to minister adequately to the religious needs of the Slovaks, who, owing to industrial advantages, had preferred to settle in that part of the country...
...Later on, churches were built, also through his efforts...
...Amongst the other societies founded by Father Furdek are the First Catholic Slovak Ladies Union, with a membership of 30,000, and the Slovak League of America, a political organization...
...The vastness of his labor in performing this somewhat pedagogical task has been so great that even unto this day the Slovaks of America scarcely seem to realize fully all that he has done for them...
...Doubtless the mettle in young Furdek must have been excellent, for with only four years of theology he was commissioned to go to America...
...Prva Katolicka Slovenska Jednota v Spojenych Statoch Americkych...
...It became evident that Father Furdek possessed every attribute required of a possible leader, for no sooner had he been ordained than he began going about the country organizing the Slovak people into groups of church societies and parish clubs...
...This organization is the largest of any Slovak organization in America and it proudly boasts of its membership of nearly 55,000 Slovak Catholic men...
...Bishop Gilmour immediately forwarded his requests to the bishops of Slovakia (then under the Hungarian rule) for a priest, and as Furdek, though still a student in the seminary, had exhibited great strength of character and promise of unusual ability to deal with diverse people, he was selected by the Hungarian bishops as "the man...
...This man who, in his humility and unostentatious strength, struggled persistently to establish a solid foundation upon which the people of his race could build future religious and social environment, was one of the greatest leaders ever developed among immigrants to the United States...
...He soon saw that the religious requirements of the Slovaks could be best taken care of if he could but have an able Slovak priest come into his diocese—a man who possessed the necessary tact and ability to gather the widely scattered Slovaks into the proper rank and file...
...The Jednota (Union) or Unity, the most powerful Slovak periodical in America, was established by Furdek...
...Here he set himself to study with all the methodical madness of youth, realizing that decisions and choices were being made which were to determine his character and destiny...
...The American Slovaks will, indeed, remember his unbending courage and fidelity, and will forever follow in the path of his footsteps, neither meddling nor crusading, but always looking forward to the highest achievements of mankind with the wisdom of their forefathers and the profusion of the great gifts which the Heavenly Father has bestowed upon them...
...Few priests have ever so represented a people in their newly adopted land, served them so faithfully and influenced their destinies so profoundly as he did...
...Apart from his ecclesiastical aspirations, Furdek had been firmly tinged with the tenderness of things that are Slovak, for next to God he loved his country and Its people of whofn faith had made him the leader and most brilliant representative in the land of their adoption, America...
...After receiving some preliminary education at Nitra, once the capital of the great Slovakian kingdom, young Furdek was sent to Prague...
...He arrived in this country on March 15, 1882, and was ordained a priest in July of the same year...
...The Reverend Stephen Furdek was a Slovak priest who devoted his adult life of sixty years to the development of Slovak Americans into good citizens through his ability as a religious, social as well as political organizer...
...Through the infinite verity of his ways, his zeal, his piety and magnanimity, the Slovak people in America became attached to the new land...
...Aside from this, Father Furdek wrote several books for the Slovak people on varied subjects, but his favored theme in writing was based on The World and Its Mysteries (Svet a Jeho Zahody...
...Father Furdek also discovered that there was an urgent need for Slovak literature in America...
...Born on September 2, 1855, •" ^ small town called Trstend, Orava County, Slovakia—now the Czechoslovak republic—of poor Slovak Catholic parents, Furdek was destined for the priesthood long before his parents were able to decide upon his vocation...
Vol. 6 • June 1927 • No. 5
