St. Joseph Parish - Cyclone at 20120 Farm Road 485, off Highway 53, Cyclone, TX 76519-3109 US - Catholic Family Fraternal of Texas - K.J.Z.T.

It was organized under the patronage of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary to promote the spiritual and material welfare of its members and their families.  Reverend Father K. Kacer encouraged the Czech Catholic ladies of his mission parish at Cyclone, Texas to organize a K.J.Z.T. Society.  With his help seven charter members were enrolled and they organized Our Lady of Lourdes K.J.Z.T Society No. 26 on July 14, 1907.  The charter members were: Frances Horava, Rozalie Sodek, Frances Brenek, Marie Matl, Marie Jakubec, Veronica Zavodny, and Anna Cecias.  Cyclone being a mission parish, the ladies would prepare dinners for visiting priests, who came to hear confessions.

Although all Catholics are welcomed now, the original organizers of K.J.Z.T. sought new members only from female Czech Catholics.  Today more than a century after its founding, the organization is now legally known as Catholic Family Fraternal of Texas – K.J.Z.T. and offers insurance to all Catholic women and girls, as well as encompassing the men and boys of their families.  Membership is open to all Catholics irrespective of ethnic background.  Wonderful ladies like Mrs. Olga Stepan and Mrs. Ella Luksa kept the organization active with their hard work and dedication.

Prayers and religious services were and still are an important part of K.J.Z.T. official meetings.  One of the requirements of the K.J.Z.T. was that members did go to confession and receive Holy Communion during the Easter season.

-- Anna Matl Paruzinski

To learn more about K.J.Z.T, visit their web site at http://www.kjzt.org.