About Our Founding Pastor
Rev. Josef Murgas
A) REV. JOSEF MURGAS (1864 – 1929)
1. “Rev. Joseph Murgas – Pioneer Inventor in Wireless Telegraphy and Radio” A Pictorial Biography by Stephen J. Palickar, 1953.
2. “Rev. Joseph Murgas, Priest – Scientist” A Biography by Stephen J. Palickar, 1950.
3. Video – “Rev. Josef Murgas: Radio’s Forgotten Genius”, produced by Slovak Heritage Society of NEPA
4. Inventor – Scientist
Pioneer in the field of wireless transmission. He accomplished the world’s first radio land broadcast, sent by his chief operator Gideon W. Shadie in Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, PA, and received by Thomas (Tommy) Murphy in Scranton, Lackawanna County, PA on November 23, 1905.
First to invent a means of producing the high frequency necessary for tone effect.
a) Two of his most famous patents:
No. 759,825, patented May 10, 1904
No. 759,826, patented May 10 , 1904
Seventeen patents in total, including the first casting reel.
See listing of all patents on pages 81-85 in biography (1950), by Stephan J. Palicar.
Can provide copies of most patents if necessary.
A group of Philadelphia financiers purchase all the rights of ownership to form a syndicate under the name of “The Universal Aether Telegraph Company” for the purpose of placing the new invention on the market. This company was the forerunner of AT&T.
Discussed his work with Guglielmo Marconi.
5. Artist
Sacred Heart of Jesus (Main Altar) and Immaculate Conception (Left Altar) were painted by Father Murgas, and his name is on the right hand corner of each painting.
He attended the renowned Academy of Art in Munich (4-1/2 years) and many of his paintings may be found in Slovakia and Eastern Pennsylvania.
a) “Christ Teaching the Elders in the Temple” Appraised for $3,500 on April 28, 2004
6. In 1939, a set of special commemorative stamps, one a 60 Halierov Violet and the other a 1.20 Koruny Grey, were issued by the Independent Slovak Republic honoring Father Murgas for his achievement in Wireless Science. Both stamps bearing an oval framed picture of Father Murgas with his full name at the bottom and an inscription of his birth and death (1864 – 1929) on the left side of the stamp, and a picture of his Wilkes-Barre powerful antenna tower in the panel to the right.
7. Early 1940’s – Murgas Memorial Shelf at Osterhout Free Library
8. October 10, 1944 – Liberty Ship named “S.S. Rev. Joseph Murgas” commissioned by US Navy.
9. November 12, 1944 - Governor Edward Martin issued proclamation designating Rev. Joseph Murgas Day in PA.
10. 1948 – King’s College Biology Department receives as a gift the famous Lepidoptra butterflies and moths collection gathered by Father Murgas. At its height it included 9000 different species.
11. April 6, 1951 – Governor John S. Fine issued proclamation designating Reverend Joseph Murgas Day in PA.
12. May 12, 1963 – Dedication and unveiling of Historical Marker in honor of Father Murgas, by International Order of the Alhambra, Wilkes-Barre, PA.
13. October 27, 1974 – Dedication of Murgas Audio – Visual Center at King’s College, Wilkes-Barre, PA, to perpetuate the name of Rev. Murgas in the field of communication.
(i) Parishioners contributed $14,000 in 1974. Of the money collected, $5,000 came from a matching grant from the government for equipment. Of the total collected, $5,000 went towards the dedication of the room. The balance established a fund for an annual award to the student with the highest GPA average in communications.
14. 1975 – Amateur Radio Operators formed the Murgas Amateur Radio Club named in his honor.
15. Feb. 15, 1975 – Father Murgas Presidential Scholarship established in his honor at University of Scranton, PA.
16. October 17, 1975 - The Communications Commission of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg names the Father Joseph Murgas Award for outstanding contribution to religious broadcasting. Diocese includes Dauphin, Lebanon, Lancaster, York, Adams, Franklin, Cumberland, Perry, Juanita, Mifflin, Snyder, Northcumberland, Union, Montroe and Columbia counties. In the diocese there are 21 daily and Sunday newspapers, 41 weekly newspapers, 43 radio stations, and 6 television stations.
17. November 23, 1975 – 70th Anniversary Commemorations Program Reenactment. The first bicentennial celebration in Luzerne, sponsored by The Luzerne County Bicentennial Commission and The Murgas Amateur Radio Club. In attendance were Most Rev. J. Carroll McCormick, D.D., Bishop of Scranton, Hon. Con Salwoski, Mayor of Wilkes-Barre, Hon. Eugene Peters, Mayor of Scranton, Congressman Daniel J. Flood, Congressman Joseph M. McDade, and many others.
18. February 22, 1976
a) Dedication of the Father Murgas Communications Room at the University of Scranton.
b) Feb. 22, 1976 – Mayor Eugene Peters issued proclamation designating Father Murgas Day in the City of Scranton
19. May 12, 1979 – Unveiling and Blessing of Replica of Father Murgas’ Twin Radio Towers in Wilkes-Barre, PA (Sacred Heart Convent Ground). A replica of the twin towers, used by Father Murgas for the first transmission of sound over land, was erected on the convent grounds. It was designed by Joseph M. Baloga and built and donated by the Metropolitan Wire Works of Wilkes-Barre, PA. This ceremony took place on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the death of Father Murgas and was spear headed by The Murgas Amateur Radio Club.
20. November 23, 1980 – 75th Anniversary of Father Murgas Wireless Testing.
Mayor Thomas McLaughlin issued proclamation designating November 23, 1980 as Father Joseph Murgas Day, in the City of Wilkes-Barre.
21. November 23, 1985
a) Liturgy of Thanksgiving commemorating the 80th anniversary of the wireless transmission of sound by Father Murgas
b) The General Assembly of PA Senate Resolution #82: Slovak Heritage Month: November, 1985 in PA. Also, recognizes the outstanding contribution of Rev. Joseph Murgas.
c) Murgas Amateur Radio Club recreation of radio transmission commemorating 80th anniversary.
22. November 25, 1990
a) Dedication of a State Historical Marker by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission honoring Rev. Josef Murgas, as the pioneer in the development of wireless telegraphy. James C. Timlin, DD, Bishop of Scranton and Robert J. Casey, Governor of PA were in attendance.
b) Mayor Lee Namey issued proclamation designating Father Joseph Murgas Day, City of Wilkes-Barre.
23. 1994
a) World Communications Day (Feb. 17, 1994) celebrated in Slovakia commemorating the 130th anniversary of the birth of Father Joseph Murgas (1864 – 1929).
b) May 17 – 18, 1994 – International Communication Conference. Two day conference in Slovakia on Father Murgas.
24. April 17 – 18, 2005 – Reverend Joseph Murgas Exhibit at King’s College, sponsored by King’s College Ethnic Community Outreach and Initiative and The Slovak Heritage Society of Northeastern Pennsylvania.
25. Sept. 20, 2006 – Dedication of Plaque in is honor in Bratislava, Slovakia, on the side of the entry to the Main Post Office located on Namestiesnp.
26. July 27, 2007 – Reverend Joseph Murgas Exhibit at College Misericordia, in conjunction with the 43rd International Slovak Catholic Sokol Slet.
B) REVEREND FATHER JOSEPH MURGAS – Additional Information
1. Early 1900’s - Spearheaded an American War Bond Drive: $3,810,310 was collected in the U.S. by Rev. Murgas for the “liberation of Slovakia” during presidency of Woodrow Wilson in early 1900’s.
2. 1905 – Laid groundwork for the establishment of the Slovak Catholic Federation of America.
3. 1907 – Co-Founder of the Slovak League of America.
4. 1909 – One of the Founders of the Congregation Sisters of SS Cyril and Methodius. Sacred Heart School was the first school placed under the care of this newly formed community. Community still active.
5. Feb. 11, 1911 – Founded the Catholic Slovak Federation in Wilkes-Barre, PA.
6. Co-Founder of the Slovak Catholic Girl’s Academy (Danville Academy) at Villa Sacred Heart.
7. Was involved in the development of the First Slovak Union Orphanage at Middletown, Pa for Slovak orphaned children (Jednota Home).
8. In 1925, the Late President Calvin Coolidge appointed him chairman of the first United States Radio Communication Commission. Unfortunately, Father Murgas was unable to accept the appointment because of some difficulty over which he had no control.
9. 1928 – The Czecho-Slovak Republic, in commemorating it 10th anniversary, honored Father Murgas by awarding him a Revolutionary Medal of Honor for distinguished services he rendered that nation during its struggle for independence at the time of WW I.
10. February 13, 1928 – Testimonial dinner marking the 40th anniversary of his priesthood and the 33rd year of his pastorate in the congregation.
11. In 1939, the Independent Slovak Republic, in its first public actions, named its first and only broadcasting station after him.
12. 1944 – Early part of 1944 Father Murgas was featured in a special radio production by the PA Historical Commission titled: “Pioneers in Radio”.
13. Father Murgas and Jozef Gregor – Tajovsky Museum in Tajov, near Banska Bystrica, Slovakia.
14. With the cooperation of the Federation of Slovak Catholics Organization, he compiled the “Encyklopedia Katechismusova”, and the prayer book “Kviety”, published for young folks. Rimsko – Katholicky Katechizmus, 1926.
15. Inspired at one time 12 youngsters to dedicate themselves to become Franciscans and they did so.
16. On another occasion when he needed professional teachers for his school he inspired 21 girls to become nuns and take up the vocation with the Sisters of Cyril and Methodius.
17. Significant article on Father Murgas in the book entitled “Envisioning Faith: The Pictorial History of the Diocese of Scranton”, commemorating the 125th Anniversary of the Diocese of Scranton, by James B. Earley, editor of The Catholic Light.
18. Contributed religious and scientific writings for publication in America and Europe.
19. Important figure in the Pennsylvanian Slovak Roman and Greek Catholic Union. |
