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The Priests of St. Ludmila Church
Msgr. Francis R. Hruby
(June 5, 1891 - September 30, 1960)
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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. |
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Fr. Albert Zachar
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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. |
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Msgr. Robert W. Cizek
(December 10, 1913 - April 27, 1996)
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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's |
Cedar
Rapids |
1973
- 1980 |
|
Immaculate Conception |
Clutier |
1980 -
1982 |
| St.
Wenceslaus |
Carroll Township |
1980 -
1982 |
| St.
Mary's |
Greene |
1982 -
1987 |
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Retirement |
|
1987 -
1996 |
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Rev. Clarence L. Frana
(June 20, 1925 - September 1, 2002)
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Father Frana served all current generations of St. Ludmila's 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's.
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's |
Waukon |
1951-1952 |
| St.
Ludmila's |
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's |
Cedar Rapids |
1980-1990 |
| St.
Wenceslaus |
Cedar Rapids |
1985-1990 |
| St.
Mary's |
Strawberry Point |
1990-1995 |
| St.
Mary's |
Lamont |
1992-1995 |
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Retired |
Cedar Rapids |
1995-2002 |
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Rev. Harry H. Koelker
(June 26, 1942 - )
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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. |
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Rev. Thomas McDermott
( - )
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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. |
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