Journey to a New Land: An Unforgettable Experience

S.S. Breslau- Immigrant ship to Galveston, Texas

Part 3 of “Across Countries and Cultures: A Journeyer for Truth” Reality Takes Hold The first time seeing the ocean is a profound experience for everyone. For someone who comes from a completely landlocked country though, the experience is overwhelming. The act of boarding a ship and losing sight of any land mass whatsoever is … Read more

Against All Odds: The Great Escape

Part 2 of Across Countries and Cultures: Journeyer for Truth A Man of Many Languages Unlike many of his fellow conscripted acquaintances, Ján was well educated. In particular, he was a master multi-linguist, able to proficiently speak Czech, Slovak, German, French and Italian. This would prove to be tremendously beneficial for him as tensions continued … Read more

Across Continents and Cultures: A Journeyer For Truth (Pt.1)

Ján Švagera as young man

(What follows will be an ongoing series about the life and times of my Great Grandfather John Å vagera. He truly had a remarkable life which included being a Czech Legionnaire during the First World War, working with the Borglum family and raising a family on the farm fields of Nebraska during the Great Depression.) He … Read more

When Magazines Were Used For More Than Reading

Tales of the good old days

I am eternally grateful that I was afforded the opportunity to have an amazing relationship with both of my grandfathers. They were both born in the summer of 1923, within two weeks of each other. Both of them grew up on farms during the height of the Great Depression. They would both find their way … Read more

O Righteous Judge, Grant They Gift of Absolution

Traditional Requiem Mass

As a society we have become inundated by emojis. Most of us have become like robots when scrolling through social media sites, handing out countless compulsory “likes.” Everyday, all day, usually without giving much thought to what we are “liking.” We wish happy birthdays to people we have not seen in years. Sometimes even to … Read more

Who Thee By Faith Before The World Confessed

Let the little ones come unto Me.

On this blessed Solemnity of All Saints, I would like to offer a reflection on the littlest Saints of God. These precious ones were not famous martyrs, theologians, missionaries, kings or queens, yet they shine before the Altar of God just as beautifully as any of them. Their witness is not recorded in grandiose stories … Read more

Victory of The Crucifix, Český Gulaš, Beer and Nazis

Blessed Maria Restituta, Martyr

A wise person should know that it is never a good idea to come between a feisty Czech and their gulaÅ¡ and beer. More inane yet is to mess with a feisty Czech nun and her Savior. Unfortunately, not everyone is blessed with common sense. Especially those affiliated with the Nazi party. Thus we get … Read more

For One Brief Shining Moment Perfection Was Grasped

For One Brief Shining Moment- The Garden of Eden

Justice, Chivalry and the noble pursuit of Perfection. A trifold approach to achieving Plato’s idealized Utopian society. Those of us familiar with English history, or perhaps musical theater, will recognize these as the hallmarks on which the Court of Camelot stood. We recall Camelot today with heartrending emotion. A sort of unattainable, Garden of Eden … Read more

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