William Penn Life, 1989 (24. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1989-10-01 / 10. szám
WILLIAMffiÍPENN LIFE OFFICIAL PUBLICATÍÖn ^LLjÄ^EN^SSOcj^i^^ Volume 24 October 1989 Number 10 Bill Hintze and Esther Pillér perform for an appreciative audience at the Hungarian Classroom’s anniversary dinner. (Photo by Louis A. Fodor) Hungarian Room marks 50th year with gala dinner PITTSBURGH — Nearly 200 guests enjoyed a golden evening of Hungarian entertainment Sept. 10 celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Hungarian Classroom at the University of Pittsburgh. The elegant decor of the Schenley Hall Ballroom provided the perfect setting for the eclectic program which showcased Hungarian contributions to the arts and world culture. The program began with welcoming remarks delivered by Roger G. Nagy, chairman of the Hungarian Room Committee and a vice chairman of the William Penn Association Board of Directors. Mr. Nagy expressed the committee’s hope that the evening’s fine turnout would provide the impetus "to have affairs like this for many years to come.” With that, he turned the podium over to the Rev. Louis Illés, pastor of the Hungarian Reformed Church of Duquesne, Pa., who delivered the invocation. The assembled guests then rose and sang heartfelt renditions of the Star-Spangled Banner and the Hungarian Himnusz. Following a dinner featuring roasted young turkey with dressing, Mr. Nagy proceeded to serve as emcee for the entertainment portion of the program. In planning the 50th anniversary program, he noted, the committee attempted to recreate portions of the room’s original dedication program. A result of this effort was the presentation of two piano selections performed by Ilona G. Stolmar. Her performances of Liszt’s Les Preludes and Bartok’s Este a szekelyeknel mirrored performances given at the original dedication program in 1939. The music set the tone for a nostalgic look at the Hungarian Classroom’s history. E. Maxine Bruhns, director of Nationality Rooms Programs at the university, recalled the memory of the late Dr. Samuel C. Gomory who led the effort for the room’s construction and served as the chairman of the Committee from 1928 to 1975. "I believe (Dr. Gomory) would have been very pleased if he were here tonight,” she said, noting that the Hungarians attracted the largest turnout of any ethnic group for their room’s 50th anniversary. Ms. Bruhns also said she had recently returned from Hungary where she had a chance to review the university’s study program at the University of Pecs. "The program is going very well . . . everyone there is thirsty and eager for more contact with the University of Pittsburgh.” She then thanked the Committee and its members for their continuous support. "I congratulate you on this evening and congratulate you for being Hungarians.” The real trip down memory lane was led by John C. Miller, Continued on Page 4 Cardinal Paskai visits U.S. churches Hungarian Catholics throughout the Northeast and Midwest have extended joyous greetings to His Eminence Ladislaus Cardinal Paskai, archbishop of Esztergom and primate of Hungary, as he continues his four-week pastoral visit to the United States. This is Cardinal Paskai’s first visit to this country since his appointment in March 1987. As primate of Hungary, he is president of the Hungarian bishops conference and head of the Catholic Church in Hungary, which represents about 60 percent of religious believers in Hungary. In addition to meeting with Hungarian Catholics, he will meet with U.S. congressional leaders and members of the U.S. Catholic Church hierarchy, including Bernard Cardinal Law of Boston, John Cardinal O’Connor of New York, James Cardinal Hickey of Washington and the Apostolic Pro-Nuncio Archbishop Pio Laghi. Cardinal Paskai arrived in Boston on Sept. 21 to begin his tour which will take him to more than two dozen churches in 23 cities. His schedule includes visits to congregations in Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Delaware and the District of Columbia. During his visit to Pittsburgh on Oct. 3, Cardinal Paskai will attend a reception and dinner with members of the William Penn Association’s Official Family. Cardinal Paskai was born is Szeged, Hungary, in 1927. In 1951 he was ordained a Franciscan priest, and a year later received a doctorate in theology. He has served as a teacher, administrator and, prior to his appointment as primate, archbishop of Kalocsa. A schedule listing the churches at which Cardinal Paskai will celebrate Mass during the month of October appears elsewhere in this issue. Ladislaus Cardinal Paskai Primate of Hungary WPA Hungarian Dancers prepare for Florida tour DETROIT — The William Penn Association Hungarian Dancers will be taking their talents south this month when they make a whirlwind 6-city tour of Florida. The tour will begin Oct. 21 with a dinner show in Altamonte Springs and end eight days later on Oct. 29 with a performance in Miami. In between the dancers will also perform in Lakeland, Port Charlotte, Cape Coral and Hollywood. The Association-sponsored tour will not only bring the color and excitement of Hungarian folk dancing to appreciative audiences in Florida, but also serve as an example of the William Penn’s commitment to preserving the Hungarian heritage. The group’s 10 dancers will perform a one-hour program featuring 11 dances. The program will provide a representative sampling of the various dance dialects that make up Hungarian folk dancing, Mrs. Szatmári said. Although each dance is special in its own way, the program will be highlighted by three particular dances, she said. "The first dance on the program, Kalocsai Tánc, should really catch the audiences attention. It’s full of excitement and colorful costumes. "EIso Szerelem, or 'First Love,’ the last dance of the first half, will also be a standout number,” she said. "It’s a flirtation dance where the girls and the boys try to capture each others’ attention.” The real show stopper, however, will be the show’s finale — the Szatmári Tánc. "It’s a very energetic dance that will bring the entire show to a rousing climax,” Mrs. Szatmári said. The tour will be the first of its kind for the group which hails from Branch 18 in Detroit. Since its founding in 1977, the group has staged numerous single performances in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio and Pennsylvania. In 1987, the dancers went to Hungary to study under the Hungarian State Folk Ensemble and to perform for their fellow Hungarians. But this will be the first time the group has had to present so many performances so closely together. "We’ve been doing a lot of practicing, at least three times a week,” said Darlene Szatmári, director of the dance group. "It’s Continued on Page 4
