Историја Парохије

The 1970s

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The baby boom was in full swing and the parish was expanding rapidly with young people. A new facility to host social gatherings and to provide space for youth activities was needed. Milan Damjanovich and Emil Prodanovich had returned from the SNF Basketball Tournament with $1,500 remaining from the travel account for the Milwaukee teams. They presented this to the Board to help start fundraising for a new gymnasium so Milwaukee could host tournaments and have a place for our youth to congregate. Milan, who was serving as Athletic Director at the time, also volunteered to serve as Chairman of the Building Committee. At the semi-annual meeting in July 1971, architects showed plans for he new Cultural Center which would greatly expand the original school and administrative building constructed in the late 1950s. After the vote to proceed, Ilija Potkonjak became the first-and youngest at 1 years old-parishioner to donate, with a five dollar gift. The blessing of the cornerstone took place on June 4, 1972. The main speaker at the cornerstone blessing was Congressman Clement Zablocki.

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Also in 1972, the Sumadija Serbian Folk Dance Ensemble featured in a one-half hour television special, produced on 10 in Milwaukee and aired on public television in 13 states. The consecration of the Cultural Center took place on September 1st and 2nd, 1973. This facility has since hosted thousands of cultural, social and sporting events over the years, including major gatherings such as Serbian singing festivals, the Bicentennial Celebration of our nation in 1976, Serb National Federation basketball, golf and bowling tournaments, and Roast and Toasts featuring the state's biggest sports celebrities such as Bob Vecker and Brewers Paul Molitor and Pete Vuckovich and major league umpire Bruce Froemming. In the last 40 years, tens of thousands of basketball players, golfers, dancers and singers have performed and celebrated in our cultural center, which is well known by Serbs nationally.

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In 1975, a new second priest was being sought. An election was held at the regular meeting on September 9th, and Reverend George Kechanin and Popadija Peggy, from Pennsylvania, joined the Milwaukee congregation. In this same year Gerasim (Gary) Monafo, of the Milwaukee parish, was ordained to the rank of deacon. After his ordination he traveled of Belgrade of continue his studies at the Theological Faculty.

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In 1976, preparations for the celebration of the American B-i Centennial resulted in a great demonstration of Serbian cultural accomplishment. In an unprecedented event, the Milwaukee Performing Arts Center was the venue for the performance of Albanska Golgotha and Father Milan Markovina's presentation of "Srpska Varijacija." Also, the Cultural Center hosted an

extravaganza of Serbian dancing and choral singing in honor of the nation's 200th birthday in front of hundreds of parishioners and political leaders. With energy and enthusiasm, Serbians proudly saluted their country and fellow Americans, and stood tall at this important time in American history. Because of the exceptional success of the celebration of America's Bi Centennial at the parish, Bishop Firmilian of the Midwest American Diocese was pleased to award an Episcopal Gramata to Father Milan and Stevan (Bato) Radjenovic, the president of the congregation. Father Milan received his pectoral cross at a banquet celebrating the 25th anniversary of his ordination and marriage to Protinica Martha, hosted by the St. Sava Milwaukee Parish. In

receiving the Gramata, both the pastor and the president stated that the honor did not belong only to them, but to all members

of the parish, and to the Stevan Sijacki Choir and the Circle of Serbian Sisters. This was for their efforts to assure the success of

this celebration as well as the success of the Vidovdan banquet and celebration in honor of Crown Prince Alexander that same year.

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In 1977, Father George was assigned to another parish and Father Peter Jovanovich and Popadija Ljiljana came in his place, from March 1978 to February of 1980, when he was assigned to St. Sava Church in San Gabriel, California.

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After years of volunteers helping our clergy in the office, in 1978it was decided that a part-time secretary should be hired. Marcia Jovanovich began on April 2, 1978 and is still serving in this capacity today. For the past 15 years Mrs. Connie Subotich has worked alongside Marcia in the office, volunteering every day for her church and community. Another great lady and very capable writer/reporter, Kata Djakovich Parker recorded and put together chronicles from 1912 - 1984 for posterity, in memory of those Serbian Orthodox Faithful who immigrated to Milwaukee in the early 1900's and founded the St. Sava Orthodox Parish. These records are kept in our newly built and renovated library.