The Schuyler Sun/Father Anthony Folta

by anonymous

FATHER ANTHONY FOLTA

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Rev. Father Anthony Folta, 52, for the past six years priest at St. Wenceslaus parish in Dodge and a former priest at Holy Trinity church at Heun, passed away Saturday morning at St. Joseph’s hospital in Omaha where he had been a patient for three weeks. Two weeks prior to his death, he submitted to an operation for the removal of gallstones. He appeared to be on the way to recovery when an embolus developed causing his death.

Father Folta was born at Stara Bela, Moravia, Nov. 3, 1884. The fore part of his life was spent in his native country. He studied for the priesthood at the Salesian Fathers college, Daszawa, Poland. He came to the United States in 1913, arriving in New York City, Jan. 4th of that year. After studying at the Salesian Fathers College at Ramsey, N. J., and at St. Francis Seminary at Milwaukee, Wis., he was ordained to the priesthood at St. Cecelia’s Cathedral in Omaha in 1919 by the Most Rev. Jeremiah J. Hartz, then bishop of the Omaha diocese.

For several months Father Folta served as curate of St. Wenceslaus parish in Omaha. He was then assigned to Holy Trinity parish at Heun where he served as priest 11 yearss. He was then transferred to the parish in Dodge.

During his pastorate at Heun, he was instrumental in building the new church. A new beautiful parsonage was built in Dodge recently as the results of his personal influence and efforts.

Father Folta was active and popular in community affairs in the Heun and Dodge parishes where he had a wide acquaintance and many friends. He had no relatives in this country.

The body was brought to Dodge Tuesday and lay in state at St. Wenceslaus church until the hour of the last rites.

Priests from surrounding parishes celebrated requiem masses from 6:30 until 9 o’clock Wednesday morning. Prayers for the dead were chanted at 10 o’clock. Most Rev. James H. Ryan, bishop of the Omaha diocese, celebrated requiem pontifical high mass at 10:30. His secretary, Father Nicholas Wagner of Omaha, assisted by Father Joseph Bousek of West Point, was master of ceremonies. Father William Klein of Oleyen served as deacon, Father James Kovar of Omaha as sub-deacon, Father Walter Thies of North Bend as deacon of honor and Father Dennis Teahan of Clyde as sub-deacon of honor. The priests’ choir, directed by Father Edward Gleeson of Omaha, sang the requiem high mass. The sermon was delivered by Father Victor E. Herman of Schuyler. A loud speaker system was used to accommodate the large attendance that numbered at least 2,000. Seventy clergy of the diocese were in attendance at the rites. The pupils of the Dodge parochial school attended in a body. The girls were dressed in white, some of whom carried a white pillow on which rested lilies.

At the afternoon services at Trinity church at Heun at 2:45, Father Francis J. Oborny delivered a sermon in Bohemian and Father Edward J. Chapuran of Omaha delivered the sermon in English.

The burial service at the Heun parish cemetery was conducted by Father C. Z. Petlach of Clarkson.