#52Ancestors – No. 37 – Monsignor John A. Naja

This post is number 37 in the series of the #52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge where a group of us blog about a different ancestor for each week of the year.  To learn more about the 52 Ancestor Challenge visit Amy Johnson’s site at Amy’s website.

Monsignor John A. Naja

Monsignor John A. Naja

A leaf hint appeared on my tree that caused me to scamper up the family tree of my mother’s first husband.  I was delighted to finally find a passport application for someone that was in my (extended) family. In reviewing the passport, I discovered that the person attended the SS. Cyril & Methodius Seminary in Orchard Lake, MI, in the 1921.   This past August 2014, I attended the Polish Genealogy course as part of Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP) at the Polish Mission on the seminary campus.

My mother’s father-in-law, Stanley Gaber, had a sister named Caroline Gaber.  Caroline married Frank Naja.  Frank’s brother, John Antony Naja (1901-1980) became a priest.   The Naja’s were saloon keepers and possibly an Undertaker back in the day. In the early  part of the 1900’s, the Gaber’s and Naja’s families resided in Shenandoah, PA.  John went to study for the priesthood at the Michigan campus in his mid teens.

In 1921, John decided he wanted to travel and go to school in Europe and applied for a passport. The application includes his photo and a follow up letter to correct the spelling of his name.  His last name was incorrectly spelled at Maja.

John A Naja_PassportApp2John A Naja_PassportApp1John A Naja_Baptismal

Source:
Passport Applications, January 2, 1906–March 31, 1925. NARA Microfilm Publication M1490, 2740 rolls. General Records of the Department of State, Record Group 59. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
Photo:  http://www.poles.org/db/pol_parish/stladislaus_philpa/st.ladislaus_01.html

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