Dominick Trcka
Encyclopedia
Blessed Methodius Dominick Trcka (Metod Dominik Trcka) (1886–1959) was a member of the Redemptorists (Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer) a religious congregation in the Latin Rite branch of the Catholic Church.
. He was the seventh, and youngest, child of Tomas Trcka and Frantiska Sterbova Trcka; like many families of that time and region, the Trckas were devout Catholics.
Dominick entered the Redemptorist novitiate
in Bilsko, Poland
when he was only 17 years of age, although this was nothing unusual in that era. After making his first profession on 25 August 1904, he returned to Obořiště
in his homeland so that he could pursue the required studies in philosophy
and theology
.
, to the Presbyterate within the Latin Rite branch of the Catholic Church. After spending some years engaged in the traditional Redemptorist ministry of conducting parish missions, Father Dominick was sent to serve the Greek Catholics in Halič
in what is now the Banská Bystrica Region
of Slovakia
. Eastern Rite Catholics were often overlooked in number and importance, not only by Orthodox
believers but also by Roman Catholic Christians even though both groups are in communion with the Bishop of Rome. Trcka worked tirelessly to redress the situation and one of his most significant achievements was organising the establishment, in Michalovce
, of a monastery
for Eastern Rite Redemptorists.
In 1935, when the Redemptorist communities of the area were re-organised Father Trcka was appointed as vice-provincial of the Byzantine Catholic Redemptorists.
, a period of religious persecution began and, in 1950, all religious communities were suppressed by the government. On the evening of 13 April (which happened to be Holy Thursday) Father Trcka was arrested along with several other Redemptorists. He was put on trial and accused of trying to obtain false papers in order to flee the country and was sentenced to 12 years in prison. During his imprisonment, Father Dominick, like many other Catholic priests and religious, endured both torture and interrogation; however, being one of the Church leaders, it seems that he was made to bear more frequent abuse. One of his confreres, who was released, wrote that they were subjected to intense light 24 hours a day.
On 23 March 1959, he died as the result of pneumonia
, having been placed in solitary confinement
as a punishment for singing Christmas carols. In 1969, his remains were exhumed and placed in the Redemptorist crypt in Michalovce Cemetery.
Father Dominick was declared a martyr
by Pope John Paul II
on 24 April 2001 and beatified by the same pope on 4 November 2001.
Background
Trcka was born on 6 July 1886 in the small town of Frydlant nad Ostravici in the present day Czech RepublicCzech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
. He was the seventh, and youngest, child of Tomas Trcka and Frantiska Sterbova Trcka; like many families of that time and region, the Trckas were devout Catholics.
Dominick entered the Redemptorist novitiate
Novitiate
Novitiate, alt. noviciate, is the period of training and preparation that a novice monastic or member of a religious order undergoes prior to taking vows in order to discern whether they are called to the religious life....
in Bilsko, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
when he was only 17 years of age, although this was nothing unusual in that era. After making his first profession on 25 August 1904, he returned to Obořiště
Obořiště
Obořiště is a village and municipality in Příbram District in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. -References:*This article was initially translated from the Czech Wikipedia....
in his homeland so that he could pursue the required studies in philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
and theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
.
Ministry
On 17 July 1910 he was ordained, by Cardinal Lev Skrbenský z HříštěLev Skrbenský z Hríšte
Lev Skrbenský z Hříště, , also spelt Skrebensky was a prominent Cardinal in the Catholic Church during the early twentieth century....
, to the Presbyterate within the Latin Rite branch of the Catholic Church. After spending some years engaged in the traditional Redemptorist ministry of conducting parish missions, Father Dominick was sent to serve the Greek Catholics in Halič
Halic
Halic may refer to:* Halič - a village in Slovakia* Haliç - a village in Turkey* The Golden Horn...
in what is now the Banská Bystrica Region
Banská Bystrica Region
The Banská Bystrica Region is one of the Slovak regions in the country of Slovakia in Europe.-Geography:It is located in the central part of Slovakia and has an area of 9,455 km². The region is prevailingly mountains, with several ranges within the area. The highest of them are the Low Tatras...
of Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
. Eastern Rite Catholics were often overlooked in number and importance, not only by Orthodox
Eastern Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,...
believers but also by Roman Catholic Christians even though both groups are in communion with the Bishop of Rome. Trcka worked tirelessly to redress the situation and one of his most significant achievements was organising the establishment, in Michalovce
Michalovce
Michalovce is a town on the Laborec river in eastern Slovakia, with a population around 40,000. It is the biggest town of the Michalovce District in the Košice Region.-Geography:...
, of a monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
for Eastern Rite Redemptorists.
In 1935, when the Redemptorist communities of the area were re-organised Father Trcka was appointed as vice-provincial of the Byzantine Catholic Redemptorists.
Imprisonment and death
With the Communist take over of CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
, a period of religious persecution began and, in 1950, all religious communities were suppressed by the government. On the evening of 13 April (which happened to be Holy Thursday) Father Trcka was arrested along with several other Redemptorists. He was put on trial and accused of trying to obtain false papers in order to flee the country and was sentenced to 12 years in prison. During his imprisonment, Father Dominick, like many other Catholic priests and religious, endured both torture and interrogation; however, being one of the Church leaders, it seems that he was made to bear more frequent abuse. One of his confreres, who was released, wrote that they were subjected to intense light 24 hours a day.
On 23 March 1959, he died as the result of pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
, having been placed in solitary confinement
Solitary confinement
Solitary confinement is a special form of imprisonment in which a prisoner is isolated from any human contact, though often with the exception of members of prison staff. It is sometimes employed as a form of punishment beyond incarceration for a prisoner, and has been cited as an additional...
as a punishment for singing Christmas carols. In 1969, his remains were exhumed and placed in the Redemptorist crypt in Michalovce Cemetery.
Father Dominick was declared a martyr
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
on 24 April 2001 and beatified by the same pope on 4 November 2001.