Catholic Medical Quarterly Vol 76 (3) August 2026
Fr Andrew Sjarto of Slovakia
We were sent this article by Dr Thomas Ward
One
of my heroes is a parish priest from Slovakia- Andrew Sjarto.
When communists took over, he was told to get out of the country and flee to safety in the US, where his family had moved. He refused to leave his flock.
He was offered a car and a nice home by the communists if he’d agree to teach communist doctrine from the pulpit. “I can’t do that, I’m a Catholic priest.” was his reply.
He ended up spending two years in a cage that was so small he couldn’t stand up or lie down in it. When they released him, he needed a back brace to stand up straight for the rest of his life, which wasn’t long.
His father called him from NJ and offered him paid passage, smuggling him out of Slovakia, and to safety. He said he couldn’t leave his people at a time like this. His dad got upset with him. His response, “Dad, first I’m a priest. Then I’m your son.”
A few weeks later, he was found dead in his rectory. When he was undressed for burial, they found his body covered with bruises from repeated beatings, except his face and hands—the parts his parishioners could see. The cause of death on the certificate was “heart attack.” They’re not sure if he was martyred or if his body had simply given out early from years of beatings. But, I’m told, countless pilgrims would visit his tomb to pay their respects after he died.
He is my great Uncle.
Somewhere, in every family line, is someone who risked everything to hand the faith on to you. In most cases, we won’t know their story until we meet them in heaven. But they’re praying for you and rooting you on.
Hebrews 12:1 tells us we are “surrounded by a cloud of witnesses.”