Learn more about Fr. Viktor’s early life, and the “story behind the story”—how the Koch family discovered this nearly-forgotten episode in our family history.
On May 28th, my father Gary and I were invited to conduct a Zoom presentation for St. Joseph’s parish in Sharon, Pennsylvania. For this audience, Fr. Viktor was truly a “hometown hero,” not only as a native of Sharon, but also a member of the parish that eventually became St. Joe’s. I’ve prepared other presentations before on Fr. Viktor and The Sower of Black Field (most notably for the Passionists, with Fr. Rob Carbonneau, C.P., back in November last year). This one contains new material focusing on our ancestor’s origins and youth long before he took the name “Viktor.” Our thanks go to Fr. Jamie Power, the pastor of St. Joe’s, and to Carol Koch, the financial officer of the parish, for organizing this Zoom presentation.
Check out the presentation below, or watch it on YouTube…
A few highlights of interest:
- Learn about Fr. Viktor’s early life in a transplanted German community, and the conditions that shaped the missionary he would become.
- Fr. Viktor had an impact upon his own family. Ten cousins, nieces, and nephews followed him into religious orders.
- Hear the “story behind the story”—the incredible confluence of unexpected events that brought Fr. Viktor’s story back to light after nearly sixty years.
