Fraternity-Testvériség, 1998 (76. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)
1998-10-01 / 3-4. szám
Page 10 TESTVÉRISÉG 95™ ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION of the HUNGARIAN REFORMED CHURCH in WOODBRIDGE, NEW JERSEY L. to r.: Ernest P. Virgulák, Representing the Hungarian Reformed Church of So. Norwalk, Connecticut, Suzanne S. Virgulák, HRFA Treasurer, Rev. Albert Kovács, Pastor, Hungarian Reformed Church, Woodbridge, New Jersey, Priscilla D. Hunyady, HRFA VP, Margaret Pauli, Manager Br. 250, Michael Pauli, Jr., HRFA Director. The 95th Anniversary of the Hungarian Reformed Church in Woodbridge was celebrated on October 25, 1998. In a Service of Divine Worship, the Rt. Rev. Louis Medgyesi, Bishop of Calvin Synod, preached on the theme, “A Spiritual House.” The congregation continued in its observance with a celebration dinner in the evening. In 1903, young Hungarian immigrants settling in Woodbridge and Carteret were organized into churches by two ministers from Norwalk, Connecticut, and New York City, the Reverends Dokus and Kuthy. For many years, services were held solely in the Magyar tongue. English was introduced around 1940, and is the language of all worship today, except for special prayers or hymns marking special occasions. Their first building was a wooden church erected in 1906, followed by an educational building and hall in 1923. The need for a larger church led to their replacement with a brick church in 1961, and a new Church school and a Church hall shortly after. The parsonage for the minister’s family was also built in 1939. The congregation is affiliated with the United Church of Christ through its sole ethnic judicatory, Calvin Synod. The pastor is the Rev. Albert W. Kovács, serving since 1990, and successor to the Rev. Leslie Egry who confirmed him as a youth in the church. Earlier pastors included the Rev. Leslie Kecskemethy, Rev. László Hunyady and Rev. Dr. Frank Kovács. The Chief Elder of the congregation is John Kelemen, with his Assistant Frank Kara, Audrey Marciniak, Secretary, and Barbara Sipos Halifko, Treasurer. They and fifteen other Elders comprise the Church’s Consistory. The Lorantffy Women’s Guild, auxiliary to the Church, is headed by Audrey Marciniak, President. The Rt. Rev. Louis Medgyesi, Bishop of the Calvin Synod, is a native of this area, having lived in Perth Amboy and Carteret prior to entering the ministry. He is a graduate of the New Brunswick Theological Seminary. He was assisted in the service by the Rt. Rev. Dr. Francis Vitéz, Bishop Emeritus, also of Perth Amboy, his immediate predecessor, and the Reverend Kovács. In addition to its own schedule and programs, the church serves as host every week to a large group in Alcoholics Anonymous and another program of Narcotics Anonymous, with its Naranon support group. Rev. Albert W. Kovács, Pastor Suzanne S. Virgulák, HRFA Treasurer presenting the gift of the Federation to Rev. Albert Kovács on the occasion of the 95'h Anniversary Celebration of the Woodbridge Church.
