Prague, Czech Republic - January 2021 - On 17 January, on the occasion of the anniversary of the death of the first Czech Salesian, Fr Ignazio Stuchlý, a commemorative Mass was celebrated in the chapel of the Salesian house in Brno, presided over by the Superior of the Province of the Republic Czech Republic (CEP), Fr Martin Hobza. Due to the pandemic, the celebration was broadcast on the YouTube channel of the Salesians of Zabovresky. Fr Stuchlý was decreed Venerable by Pope Francis on 21 December 2020 and on that occasion Fr Hobza interviewed Fr Jan Vývoda, a 96-year-old Salesian, a witness to the Venerable's life. He spoke of the events of Fr Stuchlý when he was the first Provincial of Czechoslovakia from 1935 to 1950, of his closeness to Jesus and his last days. You can download the video of the interview, subtitled in various languages: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVBgtzyWVPlwiBFPa9GtkxpLY6ptiVN4V

Fr Zdenek Jancarik, SDB