A-Z Blogging Challenge - The letter C is for Catholic!

In 2017, there was a challenge. I heard about it from jillballau blog and more information can be found out about it on the A-Z Blogging Challenge (which was at http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/) page itself. However, as I was testing links I found the A-Z Blogging Challenge link is no longer working *frown*

Many people had done this challenge in April 2017, but I’m a rebel and do things when I have time, so I’ll do mine now. I’ve been working on it over many days, and was hoping to get it all done before posting BUT it’s taking me a lot longer than I expected. I’ll do a few posts now and work on the rest. I know I have about ½ of this challenge done in draft format, so not too bad.  J

What can I say – I’m an original. So, here I go…

The letter C is for Catholic!

As I’ve stated before, I’m an original. I can go back many generations on both sides of my family and have found for at least 300 years on my maternal side and 200 on my paternal side we have been in the Catholic religion. In fact, more than that, we’ve been Roman Catholic.

Both of my parents made communion. In fact, when they were growing up their parents would go several times a week to church. 

My generation only went so far as to get baptized. As far as I know, none of us actually made communion. I know I haven’t. In fact my baptized paperwork was destroyed with my baby book back just before I got married when we had a house fire.

A picture of my father in the 1940s after his communion.
Copyright Jo Ann Fitzgerald.

My niece with her son at his communion in 2010.
Copyright Jessica Chase.

The Decon with my niece's son at his communion in 2010.
Copyright Jessica Chase.

I know at least one of my niece’s children made communion at the local Catholic Church, so the link is still there even though we don’t go to church at all.

Where myself and siblings were baptized. My Uncle and Grandmother's final services were held here too.
Credit for picture

The last time I had gone was when my Uncle passed away and my brother was worried the whole time about the building crashing down on us and then he panicked when they gave offering and didn’t know what to do. It was a memorable day as I had him panicking, my husband not really knowing what to do as he's never been baptized or practiced, it was about 90 degrees F and I was on fertility medication and was having hot flashes along with feeling like I was going to faint. Like I said, memorable.

My Uncle's final resting place in Newburgh.
Credit Jo Ann Fitzgerald.

Timelines - My Pages updated

Hi everyone! 

When I work with an ancestor to tell their story, I put a lot of time and effort into it. One of the tools I use is a timeline. This gets things into perspective for me, so I know where I've looked and what I've found. Its also a great way to review documents and their information. 

Anyway, I've been trying to slowly go through my relatives and do their timelines as best I can do. It is a slow process especially if I'm currently researching them or find something else to add to their timeline as I go. This does include putting historic or history into their timelines to illustrate just want is going on in their lives and what could affect them. 

My goal is to eventually have all of my relatives on a page with a timeline. Now that's going to be a trick and may take the rest of my life but it s a goal! 

Anyhow, I've recently finished up my paternal grandfather's timeline, Mathias or Matthew Schmitz. His timeline is now published but beware! This is a live document and can change if I find further information. 

Birthdays and the Holiday Season

I always feel sorry for the people who were born in December and early January because I can imagine they are always missing out on gifts and well wishes due to the holidays. Do you feel the same? 

I know I'm always forgetting what day my great grandfather Adam Wojtkowski was born and this year I wanted to remember and do a write up here about it. However, the holidays got me again - I forgot about it until today - Christmas which is December 25th - and his birthday was the December 21st. 

Anyhow, even though its a bit late, I wanted to wish my paternal great grandfather a very Happy Birthday for his 131st birthday. He was born in 1886 and today is 2017, so if we do the math then he would have been 131 years old. 

Here is a close up of Adam in front of his story in about 1920s or 1930s Copyright J Fitzgerald

Adam visiting his wife's grave site and talking to a child in 1940s. Copyright J. Fitzgerald

Others in December and January which are always forgotten are below. 

My father in law, Noel, on December 6. 

Noel in front of his house in Deni in 2012. Copyright Spanrz.

My sister, Theresa, on January 7.

Theresa and Captain Cook in 2012 in Sydney. Copyright J. Fitzgerald

My nephew, Eric, on December 26.

Eric in 2012. Taken from his Facebook Page.

My ex-brother in law, Jack, December 31. 

Jack in 2011. Copyright J. Fitzgerald.

And anyone else out there I might have forgotten! 

Happy Birthday to you! 

2017 Veterans, Independence, Remembrance Day

The US celebrated Veterans Day this month.

Credit: J. Fitzgerald

These are not the only people who served...but only the ones I know about or could remember. Did I forget one? Let me know and I'll be more than happy to include if they are my relatives.

Credit

Further, Poland celebrated Independence day. 

This is important to me and my family because my grandmother and great grandmother was still in Poland when this happened. However, the fighting didn't stop due to the Russian's trying to overtake Poland's land even though the Treaty of Versailles said Poland was to reappear, but they tried, and failed!, to stop it. This allowed my grandmother and great grandmother enough time to leave Poland before they were enclosed in the Iron Curtain.








Finally, Europe held Remembrance Day ceremonies.

Credit

I had and have family which was on both the Western Front and the Eastern Front. My grandmother, as discussed above, was on the Eastern Front. However the Western Front? This was my mother's side who lived and still live in Belgium all along the France and Belgium border. My mother's side of the family had fought on the Belgium side and I have knowledge of this fact after doing research.

My paternal side? Well, they were the baddies in Germany. I was told by a cousin, who still lives in Germany, our family had been in the same house over 300 years, so I know we lived in Germany for at least that long. Did we fight for Germany? I'm not sure but it would make sense to think we had fought for Germany during this time. However, I'm not sure if we had or not.

All within the same day - it was a busy day worldwide.