KSKJ, or ''Kranjsko slovenska katoliška jednota'' ("
Carniolan Slovene Catholic Union"), is a
Slovene fraternal organization
A fraternity (from Latin ''frater'': "brother"; whence, " brotherhood") or fraternal organization is an organization, society, club or fraternal order traditionally of men associated together for various religious or secular aims. Fraternity i ...
in the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
, founded in 1894. It is headquartered in
Joliet,
Illinois
Illinois ( ) is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolitan areas include, Peoria and Rockf ...
. The English name of the society is the American
Slovenia
Slovenia ( ; sl, Slovenija ), officially the Republic of Slovenia (Slovene: , abbr.: ''RS''), is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Hungary to the northeast, Croatia to the southeast, an ...
n
Catholic
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
Union. Membership is open to all Catholic Slovenes. In 1979 it had 42,000 members in 130 lodges in 19 states.
Among the group's activities, it sponsors award and recognition dinners, annual regional and state outdoor activities, contests for children, picnics and Christmas parties. The society also awards scholarships for college and technical schools. Charities of various kinds have been supported by local lodges and the national organization.
[Schmidt pp.38-9]
The society publishes a newspaper,
''KSKJ Voice''.
See also
*
Slovenian Americans
*
Slovene National Benefit Society
References
External links
KSKJ homepage
Slovene-American culture in Illinois
Ethnic fraternal orders in the United States
Organizations established in 1896
Catholic fraternal orders
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