Page:The Czechs of Cleveland (1919).pdf/22

 parishs. In 1886, St. Wenceslas church followed its congregation to the Broadway neighborhood, and erected a beautiful new church at the corner of Broadway and East 37th streets. Since then both churches have been maintained for service, the rectory remaining at 2666 East 35th Place.

The old school building on Burwell avenue is used by the higher grades, while the younger children attend school in a building next the new church, which building also houses the teachers, who are Sisters of St. Joseph. The school at present has about 400 pupils.

Rev. Antonin Hynek, who came to this parish in 1873, spent a long life in its care, remaining in charge until his death in 1917. During his last years, however, his ill health placed most of the duties of the parish upon his assistant Rev. Joseph W. Koudelka, who has since been appointed pastor. Father Koudelka is a nephew of Bishop Koudelka. The present situation of St. Wenceslas is a difficult one, since it is the problem of a changing neighborhood. The prosperous and progressive parishioners have all moved farther out, and the district is becoming one of a very mixed population, in which the Czech will not long predominate.

St. Prokop’s Church.

The second Czech parish in the city was founded in 1874 on the west side. It was named for St. Prokop, who was one of the early pupils of SS. Cyril and Methodius, and was the founder of a religious order adapted especially to the needs of the Slav race. The first pastor was the Rev. Joseph M. Koudelka,