Magyar News, 1996. szeptember-1997. augusztus (7. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1997-02-01 / 6. szám
A VOICE FROM THERE TO HEAR HERE Ordination at St. Anthony in New York on September 14, 1996 revealing way that “my success” was thoroughly void. This moment was my adult experience of a true spiritual rebirth. My confessor and priest friends counseled me to return to the seminary and complete my priestly formation I said no, because I considered that that choice would have been too easy. I sensed the need to repent and do PENANCE. I knew that I would complete my journey in God’s time and answer His cal 1 for me in God’s way. In the meantime I stayed in prayer-filled solitude to do real penance. I learned the depths and beauty of spiritual life in the hard way, that is, while living in the WORLD and NOT being of the world, practicing self-denial according to the teachings of Jesus, in his way, and at a time when, just having returned to California from the East to take care of my aging mother. I stayed nearby to assist her for the next 10 years until the Lord called her Home! God lead me through many-many and persistent hardships to strengthen and cement the values of purity, work, discipline and fidelity in my life. I learned the meaning and the value of hard sacrifice which is the ESSENCE of true love, not according to men, but according to God . Those years were extended I between 1978 through 1989. I crossed the streets of Fairfield.. By the time I joined the Franciscans I was prepared to pass the rigor by which the Church examines her candidates. I passed all the trials and every tests. Out of all the nine Candidates I alone remained. The credit belongs to God. He was with me every inch of the way and I, too, refused to leave Him despite hardships and sufferings, the friendly tests of genuine Faith. In May of 1992 I received a Masters of Divinity degree from Holy Apostles Seminary in Cromwell, Connecticut. In 1994 I was advanced with fine marks by Cardinal Law’s Seminary curriculum in Boston, MA. In May of 1995 I happily committed myself to a perpetual life membership in the world-wide Franciscan brotherhood, established in 1209 by Saint Francis of Assisi, Italy. In February 1996 I was consecrated Deacon in the Roman Catholic Church and in September of 1996 a priest of Jesus Christ. Now I am serving the Hungarian community in New Brunswick, New Jersey while teaching catechism to children, preaching in English and in my native Hungarian, hearing my people’s confessions, healing them through God’s Grace, preparing the weekly Magyar newsletter in our parish and caring for the sick and the elderly. I hope to actually strengthen the fundamental Christian values among our people, the values that constitute our Christian identity and our long term purpose as members of the Magyar people, few know and understand. After I lived with my Italian pastor over a year, he is convinced, he told me, that there are few or no people on earth who love their native country as the Magyars do. While this may be so, I pray for a free Hungary and a world loved by Christ and foster good will and genuine friendship among all peoples, but especially with those, who had been wronged and hurt even by our own. I hope to bring God’s life a love to all and I will try to bring as many people I am able to God, who wishes all to come to Him and live in peace with each other. I am veiy grateful to God and His Church and happy to serve our loving Father and His people everywhere and wherever He will lead me! Fare well! I had a happy sojourn in Fairfield and am grateful for the number of friendships that grew out of my local work. All of You became part of my life. You are all in my daily prayers. May the Good Lord continue to bless You and keep You safe on your path! Making decisions is always difficult. To determine which applicant shall receive a scholarship is one of the hardest. One wishes to have more financial support from the Hungarian community because all applicants in some way would deserve support, either on their participation in the community or by their academic achievements. This year the Pannónia Club, among several students, awarded a student who came from Hungary to study in America. Gabriella Hajdú came from Békéscsaba where she attended school. There she also did studies in advertising and computer science. In 1994, in London, England she studied English and passed the examinations, what here would be English as a second language for college studies. Talking to her one could easily find out that she did a tenific job acquiring the English language. Now Gabriella is enrolled at the Norwalk Community and Technical College majoring in Hotel and Restaurant Management. She is doing fine, with an outstanding point average she is on the Deans List. We wish her good success. In her application she wrote the following: Being a Hungarian in the United States means discovering new and exciting things about various people and their cultures every day. Each new experience gives me valuable information that helps me to interact in a culture that is so very different from my home in Békéscsaba, Hungary. I have seen the benefit of being flexible in many new situations and learned how patience and understanding are necessary tools for dealing with members of different cultures. Since coming to the United States I have come to appreciate the open and helpful nature of the new people I meet every day - some of which are also from Hungary. Together we share expe - riences about the various people or places we have seen and how amazing it is to see (and visit when possible) the many famous attractions throughout the country. I am frequently surprised by how much freedom and opportunity exists for people living in the United States. Mostly, I appreciate this because in Hungary we were not able to exercise these rights for a long time. It is from this that I have been able to attend Norwalk Community Technical College and work towards a degree to help me in the future. By studying and living in this country I will better understand the importance of the political/economic changes in Hungary. The greatest benefit 1 have realized with each new experience, is a greater appreciation for other ways of life and a renewed appreciation and love for my culture and the land 1 call home. Page 5
