Father Libor Churý was born on June 24, 1977, in Kroměříž, but he has always considered Morkovice, where he spent his childhood and youth, to be his true home. He is the second of four children, with an older sister, a younger sister, and a younger brother. His father, Oldřich Churý, passed away eight years ago. His mother, Marie Churá, is still alive and continues to live in the family home in Morkovice.
From an early age, his life was closely connected with the local parish and the Church of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist in Morkovice. He was baptized about a month after his birth and soon became actively involved in parish life as an altar server. From first grade onward, he served regularly at the altar and gradually took on responsibility for weekly liturgical service together with other boys. Serving as an altar server meant attending all Masses throughout the week, naturally fostering a close relationship with the church and the daily rhythm of parish life. An important figure during this time was his grandfather, who served as the church sexton. Through him, the church became a very natural and familiar part of everyday family life.
After completing elementary school, he attended the Archbishop’s Grammar School in Kroměříž, which his class helped reopen in 1991. He later continued his studies in Brno at the Faculty of Civil Engineering of Brno University of Technology, where he earned a degree in civil engineering. He completed his studies with some delay, but this period became an important part of his personal journey. After graduation, he fulfilled his mandatory military service through alternative civilian service at the Youth Life Center Přístav in Rajnochovice, where he spent two demanding yet formative years.
Following the completion of his civilian service, he entered a period of searching for the next direction in his life. After a time of intensive discernment, he decided to apply to the seminary. He studied at the Cyril and Methodius Faculty of Theology of Palacký University in Olomouc. A significant milestone in his formation was his third year of studies, which he completed abroad at the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium, where he resided in an American seminary. This experience became an important part of his formation and allowed him to gain a solid knowledge of English. He later completed his theological studies in Olomouc, earning a master’s degree in theology.
He was ordained a priest on June 25, 2011, in Olomouc. His priestly ministry began in Přerov, where he first served as a deacon and then spent two years as a parochial vicar. This was followed by two years of ministry in Zlín, marked by intensive pastoral work. In 2015, he was appointed administrator and later parish priest in the Olomouc parishes of Slavonín and Nové Sady, with Hodolany added in 2018. He served in Olomouc for a total of five years. The next stage of his ministry was a five-year assignment in Lipník nad Bečvou, where he also served the parishes of Osek nad Bečvou and Týn nad Bečvou.
In the spring of 2025, he was sent to the United States by the Archbishop of Olomouc, Monsignor Josef Nuzík, who is also the President of the Czech Bishops’ Conference. His primary place of ministry became Chicago, where he assumed pastoral care for the Czech Catholic Mission of Saints Cyril and Methodius. Following the departure of Father Libor Švorčík, he is also responsible for the mission community in California.
A new chapter in Father Libor Churý’s life is now beginning in an environment that is new to him, yet connected to much of what has come before. He enters this stage with openness and readiness to accept whatever lies ahead—whether it will be a brief period or a longer journey.
