William Penn Life, 1988 (23. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1988-02-01 / 2. szám
Page 12, William Penn Life, February 1988 The Hungarian Scene Bridgeport’s Catholic Hungarians share traditions By Tanya Von York The Fairfield County (Conn.) Catholic BRIDGEPORT, CT — Proud of their faith and loyal to its martyrs and relics. That’s the Hungarian people and the spirit they brought to Fairfield County when they arrived here in large numbers in the middle and late 1880s and again in large waves in 1956 during the Hungarian revolution. There are still large numbers of families of Hungarian origin in our area. They have been around for a long time and have left a lasting imprint. Fairfield County’s Catholic Hungarians trace their Christian roots back to St. Stephen (King Stephen) who brought the Catholic faith to their country while, like St. Vladimir of Russia, he forcibly suppressed the old pagan religions. As a result, a large percentage of today’s Hungarians are Catholic. "But there are many Hungarians in the area who are Protestant,” explained the Rev. Robert Nemeth, O.F.M., pastor of St. Emery’s Parish, Fairfield. "Hungarians were ecumenical before most of us knew what the word meant,” Father Nemeth said. "They shared many things together and still do. They had a common newspaper and attended each other’s social gatherings. "During Lent we still share services with several Protestant churches of Hungarian background and also with the Holy Trinity Church on Scofield Avenue in Bridgeport, which is of the Byzantine Rite. Hungarians stick together no matter what their faith.” A Guide To Hungarian Radio Programs CONNECTICUT WDJZ - 1530 AM - Bridgeport. Sunday noon to 2 p.m. Hosted by Roszika and László. WVOF - 88.5 FM - Fairfield University. Sunday 3 to 5:30 p.m. ILLINOIS WWX - 103.1 FM - Chicago. Sunday afternoon from 3 p.m. American Hungarian Broadcast Program. Frank J. Kovach, director. INDIANA WNDU - 1490 AM - South Bend. Sunday at 5:05 p.m. Hungarian Hour. Frank J. Wukovits Sr., director. MICHIGAN WAAM - 1600 AM - Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti. Sunday at 6 p.m. (following the news). "Off the Record”, classical music hosted by Dr. Edward Szabó. WNZK - 69 AM - Detroit. Sunday 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Bela Vass, host. NEW JERSEY WCTC - 1450 AM -New Brunswick. Sunday 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. Hungarian Melody Time with host Peter Kara. WJDM - 1530 AM - Elizabeth. Sunday 8:30 to 9 p.m.. Hosted by Erdei Nándor. Rutgers State University - 88.7 FM - New Brunswick. Sunday 6 to 7 p.m. István Szabó, host. NEW YORK WNWK- 105.9 FM-New York. Saturday 2 to 3 p.m. Sunday 7 to 8 p.m. Gyula Apatini, host. OHIO WBBW - 1240 AM - Youngstown. Hungarian language ecumenical broadcast, Sunday 6:30 to 7 p.m. WCPN - 90.3 FM - Cleveland. Hungarian Radio Program Sunday morning from 11 a.m. to noon. Kathy Kapossy host and announcer. WELW - 1330 AM - Cleveland. Sunday noon to 1 p.m. Hudak Brothers Radio Hour, hosted by William Penn members Jim and Ernie Hudak. WKTL - 90.7 FM - Struthers. Saturday noon to 1:30 p.m. "Souvenirs of Hungary,” hosted by the Endre (Cseh) Check Family. WOKG - 1570 AM - Warren. Sunday 3 to 4 p.m. Elizabeth Tokay, host. WQRP - 88.1 FM - Dayton. Sunday morning 9 a.m. to noon. "Music of Hungary” hosted by A1 and Anne Kertesz. PENNSYLVANIA WEDO - 810 AM - McKeesport. Saturday evening at 6 p.m. WEDO - 810 AM - McKeesport. Monday at 11:15 a.m. "The Hungarian Reformed Radio Program,” sponsored by the Hungarian Protestant Ministerial Association. WPIT - 730 AM - Pittsburgh. Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. "Hungarian Hour,” hosted by Alexander Jozsa Bodnar. W'i'EL - 860 AM - Philadelphia. Saturday at 9:30 a.m. Sponsored by Margaret Rohtla. WYEP - 91.3 FM - Pittsburgh. Sunday noon till 2 p.m. "Hungarian Varieties,” with Dr. Victor W. Molnár. Music, interviews and news with a Hungarian touch. Additions to, changes in or discontinuations of the above programs can be sent to: Managing Editor, William Penn Life, 709 Brighton Road, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15233. Street names in many parts of the Greater Bridgeport area attest to the strong Hungarian presence in Fairfield County. Andrassy Avenue, Katona Street and Hunyadi Avenue in Fairfield are strong reminders of the days when Hungarians lived in homes along those boulevards. And then there are the parishes. St. Stephen’s Parish in Bridgeport, which attracted many of Hungarian extraction was a strong ethnic parish for many years until it had to give way to urban renewal. St. Emery’s Church and its rectory face front on Kings Highway, with Drotos Bros., the Hungarian butcher shop, across the street. As you go up Biro Street, past Mindzenty Square, the convent is on one side and the school on the other. The present pastor, Father Robert Nemeth, is a Hungarian Franciscan. "Our people are very loyal to their Hungarian background,” he said. "We try to keep the culture and history alive. Of course some of the younger people are drifting away to the suburbs, but we still have a Mass each Sunday which is said in the Hungarian language and we have many fairs and social activities to help keep the culture alive.” Further down the line, in the heart of South Norwalk, is St. Ladislaus Parish whose pastor, the Rev. Edwin F. Burke, had a Hungarian mother and an Irish father. "The situation in our parish is very similar to St. Emery’s,” he said. "Originally Hungarians migrated to Norwalk because there were many good employment opportunities in the hat factories here.” St. Ladislaus has a Hungarian language Mass each week, and both Father Burke and the Rev. Stephen J. Balint, in residence, speak the language fluently. Holy Trinity Parish is a very viable parish with about 175 families, not all Hungarian. According to the Rev. Marcel Szabó, pastor, "other ethnic groups have been welcomed, but we still have a Hungarian flavor with a special Hungarian Mass every Sunday. We are very proud of our Hungarian roots.” With their spritely music, beautiful embroidery and interesting customs (to mention nothing of their delicious pastries and goulash), Hungarians have made an important impression on Fairfield County. Their strong religious values and dedication to the Christian life are also a very important part of the Diocese of Bridgeport. Heritage Center nears completion NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — The construction of a new Hungarian Heritage Center here could be completed by later this spring, according to project contractors. The Center, a project of the American Hungarian Foundation (AHF), is being built with funds donated by numerous individuals and organizations, including the William Penn Association. The AHF broke ground for the Center last May. Recently, the AHF reported that project architect László Papp and other contractors expected to complete work by Mgy 1988. The formal dedication and opening is scheduled for June 1989. When opened the Center will house a museum, research library, archives and visitor’s center. It will also feature exhibits relating INDIANA, PA — Indiana University of Pennsylvania is sponsoring a summer studies program which will offer participants the chance to study in the 2,000- year-old city of Pecs, Hungary, while enjoying a taste of Hungarian and European culture. The six-week program will be conducted from July 4 to Aug. 14 at the Janus Pannonius University in Pecs. The program will offer a wide choice of elective subjects — all taught in English — covering various aspects of Hungarian and European culture, society and history. An intensive course in the Hungarian language also will be offered. to contributions of musicians, scientists, businessmen and athletes of Hungarian background and telling the story of Hungarian communities in America and of American Hungarians in all walks of life since 1776. Some of these exhibits will travel throughout the country. To help endow the traveling exhibit fund, the Nicholas M. Salgo Charitable Trust has pledged $100,000 in matching funds if the AHF can raise another $100,000 for the exhibit fund. To date, more than $1.3 million of the $2.9 million needed to complete and maintain the Center has been raised. The names of all donors will be listed in a registry of donors to be displayed at the Center. Those who donate $1,000 or more can have their name or the name of a loved one inscribed on the Cen-Participants can earn six official college credits or take the courses on a non-credit basis. The participation fee is $ 1,000 for the entire six weeks and covers costs for tuition, housing, meals, field trips and other extracurricular activities such as excursions to Lake Balaton and the famous vineyards of the Villany region. Those wishing further information or an application can contact: Dr. József Andor c/o Dr. Robert Morris - Director Center for International Studies Indiana Univ. of Pennsylvania Keith Hall Annex Indiana, PA 15705 Phone: (412) 357-2295 The deadline for applications is March 31, 1988. ter’s Wall of Honor. More than 150 persons already have donated more than $452,000 for inscriptions at the Center. For more information on the Center contact August J. Molnár, President, American Hungarian Foundation, 177 Somerset St., New Brunswick, N.J. 08903, phone (201) 846-5777. College offers opportunity to study in Pecs, Hungary
