Session of 1999
SENATE RESOLUTION No. 1860
A Resolution honoring Father John Lavrih and his service to mankind.
WHEREAS, Father John Lavrih has retired as pastor of St. Anthony's
parish in Fowler and lives at the Priest Retirement Center in Wichita;
and
WHEREAS, Father Lavrih was born in St. Vid pri Sticini, Slovenia,
on August 2, 1915. He completed gymnasium in his home town before
supporting himself through college by tutoring students in Greek, Latin,
German and French. After seminary he was ordained a priest at Lju-
bljana, Slovenia, on July 2, 1939; and
WHEREAS, During the ensuing years of World War II he was tried
and acquitted by the Italians for leading an underground youth group
called the Homeguards. He later was involved in publishing a newspaper,
Slvenksi Dom Fugosl, supporting freedom fighters. He then was arrested
and imprisoned by the Germans, and later he was arrested and impris-
oned by the Communists. He escaped from a Communist work detail and
spent 48 hours climbing the Alps toward Austria. In the process he was
again captured by the Germans but escaped again in the confusion at the
war's end. In Austria he was not safe as the occupying British forces were
returning Slovak escapees to Yugoslavia. He was able to be admitted into
Switzerland and in 1949 came to Kansas through the sponsorship of
Bishop Carroll of Wichita; and
WHEREAS, Although Father Lavrih was fluent in several languages,
before he could commence his priestly duties in Kansas he had to learn
English--which he practiced by speaking to the headstones in the parish
cemetery. Subsequently, Father Lavrih served his faith by being a parish
priest at St. Mark, Ellinwood, Pratt, Jetmore, Hanston, Liberal, Kinsley
and Fowler; and
WHEREAS, Father Lavrih hopes to finish his memoirs relying on
notes in a large spiral notebook written in Slovak telling of the war years:
Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate of the State of Kansas: That we honor
this servant of God who has actively resisted the forces of fascism, com-
munism and atheism; and
Be it further resolved: That the Secretary of the Senate be directed
to provide an enrolled copy of this resolution to Father John Lavrih, Priest
Retirement Center, 6900 E. 45 Street N, Wichita, KS 67226 and to
Bishop Ronald Gilmore, Diocese of Dodge City, P.O. Box 137, Dodge
City, KS 67801-0137.
Senate Resolution No. 1860 was sponsored by Senator Tim HuelskampI hereby certify that the above RESOLUTION originated in the SENATE,
and was adopted by that body
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