Our History
It was the sprit of Christian love, and the desire to be of
service to each other that brought about the founding of the first mutual aid
society of Yoakum TX in 1894. A second society was founded in
Hallettsville TX a short time later. Representatives of the two societies
convened in a General Meeting on November 21, 1897, and organized the Katolicka
Jednota Zen Texaskych, affectionately referred to at the time as the K.J.Z.T.
The organization is now legally known as Catholic Family Fraternal of Texas -
K.J.Z.T.
Our Foundress, Mrs. Anna Jakubik (left front) served as President 1897 to 1905. Mrs. Marie Yurek (right front) served as President 1905 to 1930, and Mrs. Josephine Habarta (center back) from 1930 to 1958.
April, 1894, Mrs. Anna Jakubik and Mrs. Marie Yurek, met after
attending Mass on a day that has become very important to all
Members and Associate Members of The K.J.Z.T. They decided to
visit Reverend Father Francis Just and to inform him of their interest
in forming a mutual aid society for the Czech Catholic Women of the
Parish. He gave them encouragement, and when they asked him for
assistance, he agreed to write immediately to the Union of Catholic
Women Of America in Chicago, Illinois, and request a copy of their
By-laws. These were received in May, 1894, and the ladies began their careful
study of these in preparation for the organization of the first mutual aid
society in St. Joseph's Parish in Yoakum, Texas. They began seeking applicants
and signing them up for enrollment.
On the feast day of St.Ludmila, September 16, 1894, a group of the
interested ladies met to organize the first Society. Those who
attended this meeting in Yoakum were Mmes. Anna Jakubik, Marie
Yurek, Magdalena Prajer, Anastasie Peter, Marie Orsak, Katerina
Svetlik, Klara Kutac, Terezie Laur, Marie Jares, and Marie Brabec.
Reverend Father M. Vaculik helped the ladies organize the first society of Czech Catholic Women in Texas. This society was
placed
under the protection and patronage of the Assumption of the Blessed
Virgin Mary. Reverend Father Vaculik was appointed Chaplain,
Mrs. Anna Jakubik was elected President, and Mrs. Magdalena Prajer
was elected Recording Secretary.
Reverend Father C. J. Benes, Pastor of the Hallettsville Parish,
advised the members not to join the Catholic Central Union of the
Women of America, and he worked with great zeal to organize an
independent Union of Catholic Women of Texas. This would require
the organization of another mutual aid society in another parish in
Texas within a reasonable length of time.
At this time, the joyful news that another mutual Aid Society
would be organized soon in Hallettsville through the encouragement
of Reverend Father Just and Mr. Frantisek Jakubik and the zealous
work of Mrs. Anna Jakubik. Mr. and Mrs. Jakubik announced their
plans to move to Hallettsville where Mr. Jakubik published the Novy
Domov.
In the September 19, 1897, meeting with Mrs. Anna Jakubik presiding, election of
Officers was held resulting in the following:
President, Mrs. Anastasie Peter; Vice-president, Mrs. Marie Jares
Secretary, Mrs. Magdalena Prajer; Treasurer, Mrs. Marie Yurek; and
Sick Committee, Mrs. Katerina Svetlik and Mrs. Anna Jansky.
In the October 17, 1897, meeting with President, Mrs. Anastasie
Peter, presiding, plans for the Convention of two Mutual Aid
Societies, the Society of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in
Yoakum, Texas, and the Society of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin,
Mary in Hallettsville -were being planned. Delegates representing the
Society of the Assumption were elected as follows: Mrs. Marie
Yurek, Mrs. Anastasie Peter, and Mrs. Magdalena Prajer. The date
for the Convention was November 21, 1897 and the site was St.
Joseph's Parish, Yoakum, Texas.
In the meantime, Mrs. Anna Jakubik had been working diligently
in forming the second Mutual Aid Society in Hallettsville, Texas. The
applicants for membership held their meeting on the feast of the- Most
Holy Name of Mary, September 12, 1897. Those attending the
meeting were Mmes. Anna Jakubik, Klara Najvar, Anna Pivoda,
Terezie Sitka, Anna Najvar, Anezka Kuban, Julie Gold, Marie
Smykal, Marie Janca, Josefa Hradilek, and Johanna Shindler. They
organized the second Mutual Aid Society under thepatronage and
protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of Society No. 2.
The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Mrs. Anna Jakubik
transferred her membership from Society No. 1 - The Assumption of
the Blessed Virgin Mary of Yoakum, Texas to Society No. 2 - The
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Hallettsville, Texas.
Immediately, plans were being made for the Convention in Yoakum, Texas, where the two Mutual Aid Societies would organize the "Katolickou Jednotu Zen Texaskych" - Union of Catholic Women of Texas. This would be the beginning of the organizing of Societies.
PRESIDENTS ....
Mrs. Anna Jakubik 1897-1905
Mrs. Marie Yurek 1905 -1930
Mrs. Josefina Habarta 1930 -1958
Mrs. Benita Pavlu 1958 -1987
Mrs. Emma Jean Ribar 1987 -1992
Mrs. Geraldine Nekuza 1992 - 2005
Mrs. Lucille Ulcak 2005 - to present