Tampa: Jirak celebrates first Mass
By JANE VAJNAR
Tampa correspondent
(785) 965-2285
Father John Jirak was ordained May 25 and celebrated his first Mass May 26 at Holy Redeemer Church here. Saint John's Lutheran Church was used for the overflow crowd, who watched the Mass on video.
The Jirak family entertained with a hog roast and dance following the Mass.
Sister Georgiana Heimermann, a great-great-aunt of the new priest, made the crucifixes which decorated the tables at the senior center and the candle used as a centerpiece on the guest book table.
Father Jirak's mother, Mary, made his vestments and he used a chalice purchased in Rome by the Jirak family.
His sister, Maria, designed the picture on the front of his vestments.
The chasuble also was decorated with Celtic crosses containing the names of Father John, his parents, and siblings.
Weekend guests of Francis and Mary Jirak and family included Father Dick Tomasek, Deacon Scott Boeckman, Deacon Mike Geiger, Dan Lorimer, Deacon Tom Kasicki, and Deacon Brian Eihlers. Dave Marstall and Deacon Eihlers stayed Sunday night with Walt and Iona Dietrich.
Ben Nguyen from Maryland was the organist for the Mass and coordinated the music. Ken Roe played the trumpet and the Rziha family singers and Danielle Seilers sang during the ceremony. Alex Stuchlik's polka band and DJ Dan Downing furnished music for the dance.
Father John will be stationed at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Wichita as of July 1.
Totus Tuus summer religion classes will be held at the senior center from Sunday evening, June 9, through Friday, June 14. Mass will be celebrated at 11:30 each morning.
Wayne and Shannon Rziha brought Julie Rziha home on Monday. She had spent a week with them helping them move from Sioux Falls, S.D., to Tulsa, Okla.
Ida Benda of Mondera, Calif., and her sister Geraldine of Topeka visited Helen Schwartzman Monday morning.
Mary Clemmer was a Sunday supper guest of Dale and Sandy Clemmer and Cassie of Salina.
Kristin Mueller and Natasha Steinborn are spending this week at the University of Kansas in Lawrence. They are attending Girls State under the sponsorship of the Moffitt-Crandall unit of the American Legion Auxiliary.
Cecilia Rziha spent Saturday through Wednesday in Washington, D.C., attending a telecommunications conference. She won the trip in a contest sponsored by the Tri-County Telephone Company. In addition to seminars in communications, the young people were given tours of such Washington sights as the White House, the Smithsonian Institution and the zoo. Cecilia especially enjoyed getting acquainted with her roommate, who is from Virginia.
Stephanie Classen of Marion, Eleanor Murphy, and Martha Melcher were Sunday evening guests of Helen Schwartzman.
Sunday dinner guests of Reuben and Lucille Kerbs were Russ Kerbs, Ashton and Rustyn.
Deb Hall and Kaylee of Herington, Darlene and Ernie Kite of Bartlesville, Okla., and Tom and Dee Duggan were weekend guests of Darla Hall and Adam at Lee's Summit, Mo. They celebrated Adam's and Kaylee's birthdays and enjoyed Old Timers Days in Lee's Summit on Saturday.
Donald and Carolyn Srajer and Kristin Srajer of Omaha, Neb., spent the weekend here visiting Tillie Hein and Jim and Kris Srajer, Grant and Cole. All were Friday and Saturday supper guests of Tillie and attended the Sklenar reunion at Kingfisher's Inn Sunday noon. Ron and Dolores Scott of Emporia and Pam and Bill Fillmore of Cottonwood Falls joined them at the reunion. Tillie, Don, Carolyn, and Kristin were Sunday supper guests of Jim, Kris, and boys in celebration of Cole's third birthday. Additional guests for the birthday party were Julie Deines, Mackenzie and Galen and Kathy Heiser and Krista. Don, Carolyn, and Kristin took Grant and Cole to the park in Hillsboro Saturday afternoon.
Ryan and Claudette Spohn and Adam were weekend guests of his parents, Gary and Carole Spohn. Steve Spohn of Hutchinson was a Saturday overnight and Sunday guest. They also spent time with their grandmother, Georgia Spohn. All visited Elmer Ettridge at Parkside Homes in Hillsboro on Saturday and Georgia took them out for dinner. Gary and Carole treated Georgia to dinner at the café in Tampa on Sunday.
Many Tampa youngsters are attending Vacation Bible School at Saint John's Lutheran Church this week. The program will be Friday evening at 6:30.
Robert and Mary Lou McDonald of Strafford, Mo., and Lucy Young and Greg Sklenar of Wichita were Saturday dinner guests of Lois Sklenar. Greg was an overnight and Sunday guest of his mother.
Becky Routh, Melody, Allison, and Danielle of Augusta and Leona Kleiber met Lynn and Peggy Kleiber and Nicholas at Central Community Church in Wichita Saturday morning to attend the Kansas Lions state band concert. Amanda and Andrea Kleiber, who were selected by CHS Band Director Ken Roe and sponsored by the Tampa Lions Club, had attended the Lions Band Clinic at Wichita State University during the week and were among the 219 band members performing in the concert. Amanda and three other band members were chosen to give readings before several selections.
Jane Vajnar attended a golden wedding reception for Milan and Nadine Henne Saturday afternoon at Roxbury.
A number of Tampa children and adult workers attended Vacation Bible School at the Baptist church in Durham last week.
Max and Stella Kohler of Silver Spring, Md., Robert and Lorena Pospisil of Lebuse, La., Frances Walker of Mena, Ark., Geraldine Noonan of Dallas, Texas, and Helen Schwartzman enjoyed supper in Lost Springs Thursday evening.
Adeline Bernhardt visited Betty Mueller Thursday morning.
Don and Rita Carlson and Megan of Tampa, Fla., were Thursday afternoon and supper guests of Jim and Mary Clemmer and Ron Clemmer. They stayed for part of the ball game at the Tampa diamond. Rita Carlson was a leader of the Girl Scout troop which had visited Tampa four years ago and her daughter was one of the Scouts. They liked Kansas so well they wanted Don to see it, so they stopped here en route to a western vacation.
Alfred and Darlene Sondergard of Ramona, Bob and Lorena Pospisil and Frances Walker visited Helen Schwartzman and her houseguest, Geraldine Noonan, on Thursday.
The Centre High School Future Farmers of America parliamentary law team placed third in state competition May 29 at Manhattan. Team members were Derek Belton, Kristin Mueller, Cecilia Rziha, Jenna Tajchman, and Natalie and Andrea Carlson.
Lenora Graham of Florence and Georgia Spohn enjoyed dinner in McPherson May 29.
Afternoon and supper guests of Helen Schwartzman and her houseguest, Geraldine Noonan, on May 29 were Max and Stella Kohler, Robert and Lorena Pospisil, Frances Walker, Victoria Zell of Shelby, Mont., Helen Jean McGonigle of Wichita, Larry Parsons of Cheney, and Evelyn Strecker.
Becky Routh, Allison, Melody, and Danielle of Augusta, Melissa Stuchlik of Wichita, Cindy Vinduska, Adeline Bernhardt, and Leona Kleiber attended the Memorial Day service at Lewis Cemetery in Ramona. Cindy and Melissa went on to Manhattan to spend the day with Jill Vinduska. Leona accompanied Becky and her granddaughters to their home in Augusta to spend a week with the Routh family. Leona and the Rouths attended a supper and Missionettes Awards Night May 29 at the Andover church, where the Routh girls received their awards for the year.
Reuben and Lucille Kerbs attended a baseball game at Marion May 27 in which their grandson, Rustyn Kerbs, played.
Geraldine Noonan and Helen Schwartzman attended the Pospisil reunion at Wilson May 27.
Payden Schrag of Lindsborg spent last week with his grandparents, Gus and Mildred Hamm, and attended Vacation Bible School at Durham. Dave and Sharon Schrag, Ross and Layne came on Saturday for the program and picnic.
Ted and Maxine Zielinski and Tim and Sue Zielinski and Charlie of Omaha, Neb., were Memorial Day weekend guests of Jim and Kris Srajer, Grant and Cole.
Reuben and Lucille Kerbs attended the MVC baseball tournament at Wichita State University May 26. Glenn and Eloise Kerbs of dodge city also were present to see Reuben Kerbs II play on the WSU team, which took first place.
Terry and Cindy Vinduska were hosts for a hamburger barbecue at their home May 25. Those present included Daniel and Melissa Stuchlik of Wichita, Jill Vinduska of Manhattan, Monty and Sarah Stuchlik, Ross Stuchlik, Megan Luna, Lou and Ruby Vinduska, and Leona Kleiber. Andrea Kleiber joined them later for cake and ice cream. The occasion was a celebration of Melissa's birthday.
Leroy and Ashley Schwartzman of Ballwin, Mo., and Matthew Groff of Chesterfield, Mo., were Memorial Day weekend guests of Helen Schwartzman. Wayne and Marita Schwartzman of Wichita were Saturday overnight guests. Geraldine Noonan of Dallas, Texas, arrived May 26 to spend a week with her mother. John and Pat Schwartzman of Salina joined them on Sunday when they attended Father John Jirak's first Mass and hog roast.
Jane Vajnar was a Memorial Day weekend guest of Marc and Wendy Stroede of Kanopolis. Other guests at the Stroede home during the weekend were John and Heidi Beal, Olivia, Caroline, Margaret Ellen, and Isabella of Phoenix, Ariz., Daniel and Jessica Stroede and Mackenzie, Meghann and Iris Stroede and friend Ashley of Ellsworth. Jane attended her 45th class reunion in Ellsworth, which included a get-together Friday evening at the home of Don and Marilyn Dumler, the alumni banquet and dance Saturday evening, and a dinner Sunday. Out of 40 living class members, 24 came to at least one of the events. She also paid visits to Jon and Wanda Sneath at Carneiro, JoAnn Johnson and Bill and Rose Myers at Brookville, and Clara Wagner in Salina.
Melissa Stucklik of Wichita visited her grandmother, Leona Kleiber, the morning of May 25.
Victoria Zell visited her sister, Helen Schwartzman, May 24.
Reuben and Lucille Kerbs attended the Centre Elementary School field day at Lost Springs May 21.
