William Penn Life, 2003 (38. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2003-06-01 / 6. szám
Magyar Matters Hungarian Parliament refuses to debate U.S. request for peacekeepers in Iraq from The Budapest Sun The UK hopes that the Hungarian Parliament will soon agree to send peacekeepers to Iraq, despite failing to pass an extraordinary measure to even debate the issue, said Geoffrey Hoon, British Defense Secretary, who was in Budapest on a flying official visit in May. Hoon made his statement hours after Parliament refused to debate the deployment of Hungarian soldiers to Iraq for peacekeeping duties, although the government has indicated it would like to and the US has formerly asked it to so do. Parliament's refusal to debate the issue comes at a time when other former Eastern Bloc countries have said that they will send troops. The opposition's stand against sending troops has been boosted by recent opinion polls in Hungary. During the war, polls showed most Hungarians were strongly opposed. Foreign Minister László Kovács, who met with the British Defense Secretary, criticized the largest opposition party Fidesz for voting against a motion that could have led to sending peacekeepers to Iraq. "Fidesz wanted to be known as a peaceful party," he said. "If it is a party of peace, it should vote for the peacekeepers." He claimed that the largest opposition party found it more significant to challenge the Government than agree to international peacekeeping. St Stephen's R.C Magyar Church of Passaic celebrates 100th anniversary by Martha Barillo "In witness where of we have hereunto set our hands and seals this twenty first day of March 1903 AD and hereby certify that the name by which we and our successors shall be known and distinguished as a body corporate is "St. Stephen's R.C. Magyar Church of Passaic, N.J." Congratulations and God bless St. Stephens R.C. Magyar Church of Passaic, N.J. On Sunday, April 27, my husband and I had the honor and the privilege to take part with 540 people in celebrating the 100th Jubilee of our beautiful church. Our founding families came to this country to find a better life for their families. In this process they did not forget their God. They built a church befitting the "Magyarok Istene" (The God of the Hungarians). I am sure God was pleased because He blessed us by helping to build a school, auditorium, rectory, and convent. This process started with the first pastor, the Rev. Geza Messer Schmiedt, and the pastors after him. The parish flourished with the Rosary Society, PTA, Holy Name Society, Altar Boys, Boy Scouts and Mary's Sodality. We had wonderful sisters of whom three attended the Jubilee. One of the sisters was my first teacher in this country, Sister Claveria(1948). The church was not only a place of worship, it was a place for family gatherings. Our families gathered to celebrate holidays, baptize our children, celebrate First Holy Communion, Confirmation and weddings and bury our dead. This church reached out to many people in sickness and need. This celebration was a testament to all, the past to the present. It was a grand and solemn occasion. The church was heavenly, the choir sang like angels, the banquet was royal, and the company was great! God Bless the committees for their hard work and dedication. May the Patroness of Hungary protect our heritage for another thousand years. In Brief New Brunswick to host Hungarian fest NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ - Want to visit Central Europe? No need to take a plane, just load the car and visit a little bit of Hungary at the 28th Annual Hungarian Festival in New Brunswick, N.J., on Saturday, June 7, from I 1:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. You’ll be surrounded by Hungarian music, crafts, art, folk dance and, of course, food and desserts. Featured at the Museum of the American Hungarian Foundation will be a photo exhibition of Budapest and Transylvania by Stephen Spinder, a Budapest Coffee House and a twilight concert featuring Hungarian music. Pull out the map and drive down to Somerset Street. For more information, call 732- 846-5777. Hungary's adoption of Euro delayed BUDAPEST - Recent disappointing economic performance could delay Hungary joining the common European currency to as late as 2009 or 2010, Hungarian central bank governor Zsigmond Jarai said recently. Both the bank and the government last year put the entry date at 2007, later easing that to 2007-08. Jarai said he expects serious overshoots in the budget deficit in both 2003 and 2004 could delay Euro entry. Have news to share? If you know of news or events in the American Hungarian community, then please send your information to: John E. Lovász, William Penn Life, 709 Brighton Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15233. William Penn Life, June 2003 11
