PASTOR'S MESSAGE
What makes Lent meaningful?
On this fourth Sunday of Lent the Gospel is the most well-known and quoted line in all of Scripture: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.”
This famous passage from St. John’s Gospel really reminds us half way through Lent what this season is all about, re-connecting to that transforming power of God’s love that comes to us in Jesus. Our fasting and added prayers is all about re-kindling that fire of love that St. John is talking about so that our hearts and lives can be changed.
We need to remember during Lent it is not so much about what we are doing, but what God is doing in us. The Gospel reminds us that Jesus came so that we can live in the Light of His Love. That is the will of God all we need to do is to stop getting in the way of what God is trying to do in each of us!
Simple Lenten Practice:
How about we fast from complaining or talking negatively about our friends and neighbors!
How about not getting annoyed!
Part of Lent is bearing our crosses patiently and silently. If you want to get closer to Jesus, let’s start with prayer and fasting on Friday’s to remember our Savior and what he gave us all. The quieter, reflective time will bring you closer to God. It is God’s love that increases our spiritual peace as we wait for the holy feast of Easter. The important question is: what are you doing to make our Lenten experience richer by prayer, penance and charity.
May the Lord’s rich blessing be with you and your families in the upcoming holy season. We keep you all in our prayers.
Fr. Maurus Nemeth OSB
Father Maurus Nemeth (OSB)
Pastor
Hungarian Catholic Mission
Work: 650-851-6109
Email: mnemeth@prioryca.org
Lenten Reflection
The time of Lent is the time to face ourselves and help us see ourselves as God sees us, so that we can see in us not only what we had done well with our lives but also, all the opportunities for good deeds that we had missed. It would be useless to try to explain to God our good behavior or to try to justify ourselves for our mistakes. God knows us better then we know ourselves. We are reminded by both our successes and our failures how much we owe God.
The more quiet, more reflective time of Lent is also the time for getting to know God better and for growing in loving him. It is only this steadily growing love for God that increases in us, that spiritual peace which we are expecting to be ours in the holy feast of Easter. It is this peace that leads us to all that we wish also to one another, that is a happy Easter. Not only a pleasant celebration and a good time, but also a really happy one, in the hope of achieving a spiritual freedom. The important question is: what are we doing to make our Lenten experience richer by prayer, penance and charity.
This year the faith of many people has been put to the test by wars and calamities of nature. Let us consider our own situation, which is in many ways better than that of the majority, and help others wherever we can. It is Prayer and active Charity that give true meaning and content to our Lenten time.
Fr. Pius
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
Ildiko Zantai can never be replaced. Over our Lenten Season, Ildiko succumbed to her cancer and past away on February 11, 2015. Over the last decade, Ildiko has been the lynch pin to our Hungarian Catholic Mission. She has truly brought “Faith”, “Culture” and “Charity” to the Priory.
I know Ildiko is in a great place with our Lord and Savior. On March 21, 2015 we will celebrate her life. If you have time please stop by, invitations are enclosed in the bulletin. The Zentai family is very strong with Timea and Ildiko’s husband, George.
What I take from Ildiko’s life is a love of God and a special love for the Hungarian people. Nobody has worked harder for the Mission than Ildiko. From coordinating (recitals), many Hungarian cultural events and of famed Hungarians to meeting with Hungarian leaders; Ildiko has paved the way for us to sustain and grow our Hungarian Mission.
Ildiko’s family has established a charity in her name that directly supports the maintaining and promoting of Hungarian culture and heritage in California among our American friends. Let’s show her our support by keeping her memory alive in all of us.
Ildiko may be watching from above but she will always be in our Hungarian hearts.
Eva Papai
President of the Counsel
Hungarian Catholic Mission
Remembering Ildiko Zentai
President’s report for the annual meeting of the Hungarian Catholic Mission on February 22nd, 2014.
We held several traditional and unforgettable cultural events in 2014.
February 2014, we held our Annual General Meeting where we voted in the leaders of the Hungarian Mission Counsel.
March 2014, we commemorated the 1848 revolution, organized by the Reformed Church.
April 20th, 2014, we held our traditional hospitality lunch.
May 4th, 2014, we remembered Cardinal József Mindszenthy. In spring we also participated in the Hungarian Heritage Festival in Belmont, opened by Dr. László Kálmán. We also enjoyed the folklore dance group Forrás as well as the traditional Hungarian dance group Mazsola together with László Tihanyi’s performance. Our mission sold nearly 500 portions of delicious Hungarian meals. We also presented a cultural exhibition organized by Zsóka Scurtescu and Dr. Magdolna Dunai. Famous Hungarian porcelain and traditional uniforms were on display to visitors as well as a video presentation about our eminent scientists. Our highly appreciated and much-respected late Ildikó Zentai held an exclusive art exhibition with József Hajnal's paintings that proved to be hugely popular.
May 11th, 2014, the men of our group organized Mother’s Day celebrations. We celebrated Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit, on May 25th.
June 8th, 2014 Fr. Maurus thanked the Hungarian scouts for their work with a special blessing.
August 2014. Fr. Sárai-Szabó Kelemen, a Benedictine teacher from Gyõr, spent four weeks with us in August. Our picnic on August 16th has attracted many visitors and the Hungarian music, fried bread (lángos), and the Hussar Horse Show helped keep everyone entertained. Proceeds from the event went to support a retirement home and orphanage in Hungary. The next day we remembered our patron saint, St. Stephen.
October 2014. Fr. Henrik visited us and during his six week stay he took part in our volunteer work.
November 8th, 2014. We held our Sausage Fest with delicious sausage and hurka. During the dinner we were treated to piano music by Balint Sapszon. This highly-popular and well-attended evening with over 200 participants was dedicated to our elderly members, and their birthdays were also celebrated. It was also the 20th anniversary of our distinguished Fr. Maurus serving us all so well in the Priory. We appreciated Éva Pápai, who was given a certificate of merit by the Hungarian Consulate for her help in the Hungarian Community since 1988.
December 14th, 2014 after the mass, our scouts performed their traditional Nativity play. Our cultural events were organized by Ildikó Zentai and film music composer Bálint Sapszon, who recently moved to the Bay Area from Los Angeles. He helped Ildikó a great deal, and thanks to both of them, we were able to appreciate the following artists here: Kriszta Kováts in March as well as Jeno Jando, the professor of the Liszt Ferenc Academy, in front of more than 250 people in the Priory's Hall. In September we were enthralled by Latin Varazs with Péter Gál and Antal Szücs. We were also honored by famous Hungarian poetry by Fruzsina Pregitzer and Péter Pankotay. A Christmas concert presented by the Sapszon family closed the year in outstanding fashion.
It’s difficult to place into words just how greatly we appreciate Father Maurus for all that he does for our Community. His enthusiasm and energy is driving us forward year after year and is a constant source of inspiration. Thank you for all your help Father Maurus! We must also express our gratitude from the bottom of our hearts to Father Pius who is always there helping us with his sense of humor and helpful advice.
Finally, thank supporting the Hungarian Catholic Mission.
Acknowledgments for:
Father Maurus, Father Pius, Ildikó Zentai, Gyõrgy Zentai, Timea Zentai, Attila Zentai, Éva Pápai, Dr. Zoltán Egyed, István Borbély, ádám Kóbor, Éva Etter, Elizabeth Berls, David Maigret, Ferenc Heil, Charles Berls, árpád Rácz, Tamás Horváth, Andrea Szalay, Réka Cseresznyés, Zsóka Scurtescu, Dr. Magdolna Dunai, Bálint Sapszon, Terez Egi, Hajnalka Horváth, Eva Kovács, Árpád Kovács, Ildikó Szabados, Linda Szabados, Mike Szabados, Richard Szabados, Ádám Egyed, Máté Egyed, Marika Orosz, Rózsika Borbély, Krisztina Kóbor, Ildikó Kelemen, Erzsébet Kelemen, Géza Kelemen, Kati Kelemen, Gyuri Szilágyi, Kati Szabó, Kati Németh, Laci Németh, Juci Székely, Márta Szoboszlay, Éva Voisin, Ifj. and Rácz Jenõ.
Éva Pápai, President
Hungarian Catholic Mission
FAITH
Liturgical/Sacramental events since our last Bulletin (Visszatekintes)
New Members
We express our warm welcome to the following new members of our Mission community:
The Solyom Family, Istvan, Diana and their children David an Bernadett. The Horvath Family, Balazs, Hajnalka and their children Eszter and Zsofi Patyi Csaba and Ürmös Bea and Szerényi Agnes.
Baptism
In the Sacrament of Baptism on December 28th , (on the feast of the Holy Family) we welcomed our new member, David Abraham, Maigret the son of David and Erika Maigret, into our community. We also celebrated David and Erika’s wedding anniversary. David and Erika hosted a wonderful reception for the Community.
Our Weddings
We had no weddings since our last Newsletter.
Our Deceased
On February 11, Ildiko Zentai, our beloved friend and the President of the Hungarian Catholic Mission for the last 11 years and six months lost her heroic battle with cancer and returned to her Creator. Ildiko was a pillar of our Mission community with her whole heart and mind. She will be missed dearly by all of us. God may reward her for her faithful service in the Church and in our Community.
Liturgical Events
On December 14, after Mass, our scouts performed the traditional Christmas Pageant (Betlehemezest) in the Church. As always, it was a memorable experience to all present.
On December 21 we had a very nice Christmas Concert by the Sapszon Family.
On December 24th, Christmas Eve, we celebrated our “Midnight Mass” at 8:00 in the evening with a very nice attendance, followed by a friendly get-to-gather in the Student Dining Room.
On December 28th, the last Sunday of the calendar year, we celebrated a Thanksgiving Mass with singing the Tedeum, followed by a Thanksgiving Reception.
On February 18 with Ash Wednesday, we started the Holy Season of Lent, the preparation for the celebration of the Easter Mysteries.
On February 22 we held the annual, Full Membership, meeting of the Hungarian Catholic Mission. In the meeting we reviewed the Mission’s liturgical, cultural, social and charitable activities of the past year (see the attached reports from the Pastor, the Vice President and the Treasurer) in this Newsletter.
Upcoming Events
On March 29th we will celebrate Palm Sunday.
On April 5 with the 11 o clock mass we will celebrate Easter, the Resurrection of the Lord, followed by our traditional blessing of the food Reception.
On May 3rd we will remember Cardinal Mindszenty and pray for his beatification.
On May 10 we will celebrate Mothers’ Day in the Church and will have a special reception to honor the Mothers of the Mission.
On May 17 we will celebrate Pentecost.
On June 7 our Scouts will close their year with a “show off” program in the Priory Theater followed by a benefit dinner in the Student Dining Room.
On August 16 we will celebrate King Saint Steven of Hungary and the Patron of our Mission. Mass at 10:30AM followed by our traditional public celebration in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco at 1:00PM.
Prayer Request
Let us all pray for the sick and elderly members of our Community. Especially our beloved Ildiko Zentaiy. Please, try to use our “Light a Candle” Prayer Request on our Website to pray for special requests.
Special Welcome
We extend our heartfelt welcome to Father Gregory Bakos OSB Professor of Philosophy from Hungary. Father Gregory will spend three months with us as a guest of the Benedictine Community and of the Hungarian Catholic Mission. Father Gregory will help us with our Hungarian Liturgy.
Hungarian Saints of the Quarter
In our newsletter, we honor two Hungarian saints each quarter. These Hungarian saints demonstrate exemplary virtues and wonderful service to the Lord and His people, and their feast days fall within the time of that quarter. Read about the lives of these saints, and the inspirational lives that they led with the help of God’s grace.
St. Adalbert
Lived: 937ad - 999ad
Canonized: 999
Feast Day: April 23rd
Biography:
He assumed the name of the Archbishop Adalbert and later became the Bishop of Prague. Saint Adalbert served his country at a time when Hungary was becoming a Christian nation.
As a missionary, Saint Adalbert baptized Géza of Hungary and his son Stephen in the city of Esztergom. He evangelized the Poles, and was made Archbishop of Gnesen.
Fulfilling the Popes wishes, Saint Adalbert preached in Prussia. It was during this evangelization that he was martyred by pagan priests. Saint Adalbert is buried in Gniezno, Poland. His remains were later transported to Prague in 1039.
St. Adalbert was later made the patron saint of Bohemia, Poland, Hungary and Prussia.
St. Elisabeth of the Arpad Dynasty
Lived: 1242ad - 1271ad
Canonized: 1943
Feast Day: January 19th
Biography:
She was the daughter of Andrew II (1205–1235 AD) and Gertrude of Andechs-Meran. From her early age, she conducted a repentant life and was widowed at the age of 20.
Saint Elisabeth entered the Third Order of Saint Francis of Assisi, and later founded an asylum in Marburg, where she nursed sick and poor people until her death. Most works of art depict Elisabeth with roses. She was canonized in 1235 and her feast celebrated on November 19.
CULTURE
Ildikó Zentai Hungarian Cultural and Educational Foundation. The foundation was established by the Zentai Family to preserve the memory of Ildikó with an initial donation of $10,000. A large part of her life in the last years were dedicated to the preservation of Hungarian culture, education, and alleviating poverty in California and in Hungary.
This foundation functions under the non-profit Hungarian Catholic Mission in the San Francisco Bay Area. Everyone is eligible to apply for funding from the Foundation, without regard to religious preference, for their work in the preservation and advancement of Hungarian cultural traditions, to support educational needs, and to help alleviate poverty in Hungary, Transylvania, and California. Donations can be made by sending a check paid to: “Hungarian Catholic Mission” and write in the memo section: “Ildiko Zentai Hungarian Cultural and Educational Foundation”. On the Mission’s website, payment by credit card is also available.
Hungarian Catholic Mission
302 Portola Valley Road
Portola Valley, CA 94028 USA
On December 21 we had a very nice Christmas Concert by the Sapszon Family
On February 1, we had a wonderful theatrical performance of “Négyszögletü Kerek Erdö) by the Pilvax Players Amerikai-Magyar Szintarsulat from New York tor children of all ages, It was a great success.
On February 7, we had our 42. Benefit Scout Ball in Crowne Plaza Hotel in Burlingame. It was a wonderful event as always for the benefit of our Scouts.
On February 8, we enjoyed an outstanding Concert by Zsolt Meszaros from Hungary, in the Woodside Priory’s Founders Hall. Zsolt Meszaros also perfomed on the Scout Ball on the previous night.
On February 22 we held the annual, Full Membership, meeting of the Hungarian Catholic Mission. In the meeting, we reviewed the Mission’s liturgical, cultural, social and charitable activities of the past year (see the attached reports from the Pastor, the Vice President and the Treasurer) in this Newsletter.
On March 15 we celebrated our National Day in the Woodside Priory Theater. This year it was organized by the Hungarian Catholic Mission. After our National Celebration the famous Rajko Zenekar gave a memorable Concert. Both events were very well attended and was a great success.
Visit One of Our Sister Hungarian Churches in the United States
St. Elizabeth of Hungary
By: Jim Lanese & Jim Dubelko
St. Elizabeth of Hungary Roman Catholic Church sits on the corner of Buckeye Road and East 90th Street in Cleveland's Lower Buckeye neighborhood. In the late nineteenth century, the neighborhood became home to thousands of Hungarians immigrants who were drawn to the area by nearby factories and mills, especially the Cleveland Malleable Iron Company and the Eberhard Manufacturing Company, which were known to these immigrants as, respectively, the "old" factory and the "new" factory.
Hungarian immigrants initially worshiped alongside Slovak immigrants at St. Ladislas Church, located on the corner of Holton Avenue and East 92nd Street. However, when a dispute broke out between Hungarian and Slovak parishioners as to which mass should be said in which ethnic group's native language, the Hungarians were induced to leave St. Ladislas and form a parish of their own. That new parish became St. Elizabeth of Hungary parish, the first Roman Catholic Hungarian parish in the United States.
The first parish church was built in large part as a result of the efforts of Father Karolyn Boehm. Arriving in America in 1892, Fr. Boehm temporarily held masses for the parish in a nearby hall and led the efforts of the parish in constructing a small wood-framed church on the corner of Buckeye Road (then called South Woodland Avenue) and East 90th Street (then called Bismark Street).
On June 4, 1893, the cornerstone of the first St. Elizabeth's Roman Catholic Church was laid. This first church provided seating for up to 800 Hungarian immigrants at a single mass. Within a decade, however, it was too small to accommodate the thousands of Roman Catholic Hungarian immigrants arriving in Lower Buckeye. As early as 1907, Father Szepessy, the second pastor of St. Elizabeth began to petition the Bishop of Cleveland for permission to raise money to build a new church that would hold up to 1300 parishioners. Permission was finally granted by the bishop and, in 1918, construction of the new church was begun.
The new church, designed by French-born architect Emile Uhlrich, was completed in 1922. The church is a large rectangular building with a gable roof and exterior masonry walls composed of large smooth grey blocks of stone. A prominent feature of the Church are its twin bell towers which flank the front of the building, each topped with a brass dome and an internally illuminated cross. The two exterior side walls of the Church are each graced with six large stained glass windows with semicircular arches. The Church has a front entrance way consisting of ten wide and deep stone steps that lead up to three large metal front double doors with semicircular arches above them. Each doorway is flanked by stone columns, and above the doors, arches and columns is a decorative triangular pediment. The façade of the building also features a large ornate circular window with carved stone decoration directly above the front doors.
De-industrialization and suburbanization induced the Hungarian population to begin leaving the Buckeye neighborhood in the 1960s. Today, few Hungarian-Americans live in the Buckeye neighborhood. A small group of Hungarian-Americans--most of whom live in Cleveland's suburbs, however, continue to worship at St. Elizabeth of Hungary. The church now serves as a symbol and reminder of the once thriving and bustling Hungarian-American population that resided in Cleveland's Buckeye neighborhood for nearly 100 years.
CHARITY
The Hungarian Catholic Mission cannot survive without your help. Our five foundations are geared to helping Hungarians in need, locally, nationally, and internationally.
I ask that you visit our web site and donate to one or more of our foundations. With your help, we can make a difference.
One of my goals is to keep everyone up to date of how we are doing in raising money to help Hungarians in need. Your contributions can make the difference. If you have not donated before, please click the following link: Donate Now.
For more information:
Please visit our Website: www.hungariancatholicmission.com
You can now find our Summer Bulletin in English and Hungarian. Please remember to send in your yearly contribution for your Membership to the Hungarian Catholic Mission.
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