Bethlen Almanac 1998 (Ligonier)

The Hungarian Reformed Federation of America

This year the festival attracted over 15,000 persons from not only the New Brunswick and Greater New Brunswick area but also from the tristate area and beyond, including Canada and even Hungary. Busloads of visitors come annually from Cleveland and Pittsburgh.

The PRINCETON PACKET reporter, Derek Beres, called the event “the biggest little bit of Hungary - to make its way from the shores of the blue Danube to the banks of the old Raritan. A thousand years of culture and good food make it easy for Hungarians to celebrate their heritage in New Brunswick.”

The festival each year is brought to a close with the “Twilight Concert” at the Hungarian Heritage Center’s Courtyard.

By the time the churchbells in the neighborhood herald the Sunday morning worship services, on the day after the festival, the hundreds of festival volunteers, with the help of the city sanitation employees, have cleaned the streets, removed the flags from the trees and poles, folded the tents, packed away the tables, chairs, grills, and showmobile, along with all other traces of the music, dancing, and the magic of the festival - for another year.

Yolan Varga, Chair, Festival Coordinator

Maria Poes Fraternal Day

On a resplendently beautiful Sunday, August 2, 1998, the St. George District and combined branches of New Jersey held their 6th Annual MariaPocs Fraternal Day. The setting was the serene Basilian Father’s Monastery grounds in Matawan, NJ. The Very Reverend Joseph Erdei, O.S.B.M. is Superior of the Basilian Father’s Monastery.

During one of my earlier visits to survey the Monastery grounds, I approached an old wooden bridge spanning the Aberdeen Creek, which empties into a fish-laden lake at the rear of the Monastery property.

My travel was brought to an abrupt halt when out from the underbush came a duck and her brood plodding across the street in single file oblivious to vehicular traffic.

Their safe passage held as much importance as my timely arrival at MariaPocs. As it turned out, both of us reached our destination safely, albeit a few moments later.

This year’s event attracted over 375 people including Gerry Williger who traveled from Washington, D.C.

The Rt. Rev. Dr. Francis Vitéz, former Bishop of the Calvin Synod, UCC gave the invocation in English and Hungarian. Alex Kubik gave a beautiful rendition of the American and Hungarian National Anthems.

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