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PRIESTS OF ST. LUDMILA

Msgr. Francis R. Hruby
(June 5, 1891 - September 30, 1960)

Msgr. Hruby was the first pastor assigned to St. Ludmila's after it had become an independent parish. He was born in New Prague, Minnesota on June 5, 1891. He was ordained on June 11, 1918 by Bishop Taber of St. Paul, Minnesota. His first assignment after ordination was as associate pastor at St. Stanislaus in St. Paul, and he served there from 1918 to 1920. In 1920 he was assigned as associate pastor at St. Wenceslaus parish in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

In 1922 he was assigned as pastor of the new St. Ludmila's parish. He remained at this post for the rest of his life, giving 38 years of service to the parish. He was named the spiritual director of the Catholic Workman association, and also served on the matrimonial court and the building commission for the Archdiocese.

Msgr. Hruby was noted for the trees he planted on the parish grounds- particularly those trees not commonly found in this part of Iowa. This included a Carpathian Walnut tree.

He was highly regarded not only in the parish, but in the community as well. Msgr. Francis Hruby died in his sleep on September 30, 1960.

Fr. Albert Zachar
( - )

Father Zachar served St. Ludmila's parish from 1960 to 1973. He was born on March 23, 1911, and was ordained on June 3, 1939.

Msgr. Robert W. Cizek
(December 10, 1913 - April 27, 1996)

Msgr. Cizek served the parish as pastor from 1973 until 1980. He attended Creighton University in Omaha, Loras College in Dubuque, and Columbia University in New York. He took his theological training at Mount Saint Bernard Seminary in Dubuque. and was ordained on February 1, 1958 at St. Raphael Cathedral by Archbishop Leo Binz.

He served on the faculty at Mount St. Bernard from 1960 to 1963. He was appointed to the Archdiocesan Finance Commission in 1984. The following is the list of parishes that he served:

Parish	City	Years
St. Raphael's Cathedral	Dubuque	1958-1960
Sacred Heart	LaPorte City	1963-1973
St. Ludmila	Cedar Rapids	1973-1980
Immaculate Conception	Clutier	1980-1982
St. Wenceslaus	Carroll Township	1980-1982
St. Mary's	Greene	1982-1987
Retirement		1987-1996

Rev. Clarence L. Frana
(June 20, 1925 - September 1, 2002)

Father Frana served all current generations of St. Ludmila Church. He served as an Associate Pastor from 1952-1957. He also served as Pastor from 1980-1990. In retirement he helped with masses from 1995-2002. We thank God for Fr. Clarence and his many years of ministry to our Christian Community here at St. Ludmila.

Father Frana was born on June 20, 1925, and was ordained a Priest on June 2, 1951. The following is the list of parishes that he served in over half a century of service:

Parish	City	Years
St. Patrick	Waukon	1951-1952
St. Ludmila	Cedar Rapids	1952-1957
St. Wenceslaus	Cedar Rapids	1957-1962
Assumption	Little Turkey	1962-1967
St. Wenceslaus	Duncan	1967-1968
St. Wenceslaus	Cedar Rapids	1968-1977
Immaculate Conception	Gilbertville	1977-1980
St. Ludmila	Cedar Rapids	1980-1990
St. Wenceslaus	Cedar Rapids	1985-1990
St. Mary's	Strawberry Point	1990-1995
St. Mary	Lamont	1992-1995
Retired	Cedar Rapids	1995-2002

Rev. Harry H. Koelker
(June 26, 1942 - )

Father Koelker was the Pastor at St. Ludmila from 1990 to 2003. He was born on June 26, 1942 and grew up in Petersburg, Iowa. He was ordained on June 1, 1968. Father Koelker is currently the Pastor at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Mason City, Iowa.

Rev. Thomas McDermott
( - )

Father McDermott is the current pastor at St. Ludmila. Known to many parishioners simply as "Father Tom," he grew up near Epworth, Iowa where members of his family are active in farming. Before becoming Pastor at St. Ludmila's, Father McDermott was an Associate Pastor in Maquoketa.