Youngstown parish celebrates Slovak culture

The nineteenth annual Mahoning Valley Slovak Festival brought out the community to the St. Matthias church grounds Sunday afternoon to enjoy food, games, and culture.

This year's celebration featured a uniquely authentic detail: music by "Gorska Muzicka," a group of student folk singers from the Oravia region.

"Through the help of some of our young Slovak priests who have come to visit, we were able to find this wonderful group of young musicians from northern Slovakia," Father John Jerek of Our Lady of Sorrows said.

He added, the group's performance at this event bridges generations.

"They bring to us a picture of their country that, it kind of is different than the memories of our grandparents and great grandparents, who left a poor and oppressed country," Father Jerek said.

While filled with celebration that the whole community can enjoy, the event holds a special place in the heart of the church.

"Our Lady of Sorrows is the only remaining Slovak parish in the diocese of Youngstown, and we go back all the way to 1896 to the building and dedication of Saints Cyril downtown," Father Jerek explained.

That history is why he says the parish continues to host the event as a reunion and celebration of shared heritage.

"There are so many numbers of Slovak Americans in our valley who have lived here for several generations, and have done very well and prospered," he added. "And today is a way of our giving thanks for that."