Milam County Historical Commission
Milam County, Texas
Milam County, Texas
All articles from the Temple Daily Telegram are published with the permission of the
Temple Daily Telegram.
All credit for this article goes to
Jeanne Williams and the Temple Daily Telegram
Photos by Shirley Williams -
Temple Daily Telegram photographer
Temple Daily Telegram.
All credit for this article goes to
Jeanne Williams and the Temple Daily Telegram
Photos by Shirley Williams -
Temple Daily Telegram photographer
St. Anne’s K.J.Z.T. Society No. 21 of Marak turns 100
by JEANNE WILLIAMS
Temple Daily Telegram - September 15, 2007
Union of Catholic Women in Texas officers meet at the
Sts. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church at Marak:
(seated clockwise) Bernice Vrazel, co-chairman of
the anniversary committee; Jean Ribar, secretary
and K.J.Z.T. state director; Ann Morris, secretary;
and Dorothy Vaculin, president. Not pictured:
Judy Vaculin, vice president, and Debbie Vansa,
junior director. Shirley Williams / Telegram
MARAK - Sts. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church at Marak was one month short of its
third birthday when, “in the spirit of Christian love and the desire to be of service to
others,” the church women founded St. Anne’s K.J.Z.T. Society No. 21 on March 25, 1907.
The occasion is depicted in the church history as its first ladies’ mutual aid society.
A tacit veneration to the East European heritage of this Milam County farming community,
the Czech language flows effortless between its members, who translated the initials
K.J.Z.T. into meaningful words, “Katolickou Jednotu Zen Texaskych” or “Union of Catholic
Women.”
St. Anne’s K.J.Z.T. No. 21 of Marak will celebrate its centennial Oct. 6 at the church 7
miles northwest of Cameron on FM 2269 with a 2 p.m. polka Mass featuring the Vrazel’s
Polka Band. Events include a program and free dance in the Marak Parish Center. A meal
of roast beef with gravy, sausage, buttered, parsley potatoes, green beans, cole slaw,
bread, iced tea and dessert will be served at $5.50 per plate. Take-out orders will be
available. Jerry and Agnes Kostroun will cater the dinner.
Jean Ribar, historian, treasurer and a state K.J.Z.T. director, said the K.J.Z.T. was
organized in 1894 in Yoakum as the female counterpart of the all-male K.J.T., or
Kathlicka Jednota Texaska, or Catholic Union of Texas. The K.J.T. declined to provide
insurance for its members’ wives, thus prompting the women to establish their own union.
In the 1970s, the K.J.T. voted to allow women into the organization, thus, the K.J.Z.T.
permitted men to join, Mrs. Ribar said.
Today, St. Anne’s K.J.Z.T. Society No. 21 boasts 217 members. Statewide, there are 115
K.J.Z.T. societies, with 78 designated - including the organization at Marak - as
“active.”
The group from Marak is known throughout Milam County for its fundraisers and
activities, including bake sales, garage sales, food drives, scholarships for junior
members, a mother-daughter dinner, the annual church picnic, birthday parties for
nursing home residents at Cameron Nursing Center and the Winnie L. Nursing Home, and
Angels of Mercy at Christmas. They once operated a popular catering service, cooking up
dinners for various service organizations, including the Cameron Chamber of Commerce
banquet. Proceeds from fundraisers benefit the parish and community projects.
St. Anne’s K.J.Z.T. Society No. 21 also has an active junior division. Members said the
groups work together and form friendships that last a lifetime, having fun, raising
money for projects, and working side-by-side with adult members to learn to care for one
another and for the community family.
St. Anne’s K.J.Z.T. Society No. 21, Marak, was organized with 10 charter members
enrolled: Terezie Krupica, Terezie Mokry, Anna Svehlik, Frantiska Roznos, Marie Kostiha,
Emma Orsak, Julie Kacek, Marie Laska, Frantiska Hanak, and Anna Bartek.
Since its founding a century ago, St. Anne’s K.J.Z.T. Society No. 21 has continued to
provide for the families of its members by offering life insurance, home and farm loans
and retirement investments. In keeping with the original values the society, the group
still emphasizes morality, fraternity, mutual aid, perseverance in the holy Catholic
faith, and preservation of the Czech language.
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