Calvin Synod Herald, 1985 (85. évfolyam, 1-5. szám)
1985-08-01 / 4. szám
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD — 4 — REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA Rev. Bela Bacsó to celebrate 50th year of ordination ELYRIA — In observance of the 50th anniversary of his ordination to the ministry, the Rev. Bela P. Bacsó of Elyria preached at the Magyar United Church of Christ, Elyria, a church he served for 22 and-a-half years in two bilingual (English/ Hungarian) pastorates from 1935-1939 and from 1957-1976. He also preached June 16, Father’s Day, at the Hungarian and English services at Calvin (Magyar) United Church of Christ, Toledo, where he was ordained. His daughters also participated in the service — Rosalie (Bacsó) Gainer was the organist, Magdalene (Bacsó) Pullar was the vocal-soloist, Elizabeth M. Bacsó presented a resume “50 Years of Ministry,” and Ida (Bacsó) Hizer read scripture. Bacsó began his pastoral services at the Magyar United Church of Christ, then the Magyar Reformed Church, Elyria, in December, 1935 and was called to the Hungarian Reformed Church, Gary, Ind. in October, 1939, where he initiated the English worship services. In 1943 the Hungarian Reformed Church of Fairport Harbor, Ohio, elected him pastor. Bacsó also began English services at this church and served the congregation for 14 and-a-half years. He also served as treasurer of the Magyar Synod, now the Calvin Synod Conference of the United Church of Christ. Bacsó was called back to the Magyar United Church of Christ, Elyria, beginning his second pastorate in November, 1957. He served the church until his retirement from active ministry in June, 1976. The church has horored him with the title “Pastor Emeritus.” During his 22 and-a-half years in Elyria, Bacsó has served as president of the Elyria Ministerial Association, president of the Greater-Elyria Council of churches and has been a 27-year member of the Elyria Kiwanis Club, having a 25-year perfect attendance record. He became president of the club in 1965. Bacsó has also served as general chairman of the Elyria Public Library Fund Campaign, sponsored by the Elyria Kiwanis Club, which raised $227,000 toward a goal of $600,000 which went toward the construction of the new library building on Washington Avenue. In 1969 Bacsó served as Lt. Governor of Division 13 of the Ohio District of Kiwanis International and he and his wife, Ida, have attended six Kiwanis International Conventions and seven Ohio District Conventions. Bacsó is a member of the Frank S. Harmon Lodge 663, Free and Accepted Masons, and for the last seven years he has served as chaplain of the Elyria Senior Fellowship Club. Bacsó has also served on the Northeast Ohio Evangelical and Reformed Synodical Council, and attended a General Synod Meeting of the United Church of Christ, St. Louis, Mo. Upon his retirement, Bacsó has served as interim minister of the Columbus Hungarian Reformed Church, North Ridgeville Congregational, Lorain Hungarian Reformed, Lake Avenue Congregational, and St. Peter Church, Amherst. He has also preached at a number of other churches in Ohio and Michigan. At the annual meeting of the Western Reserve Association, held May 4, Bacsó and his wife were honored by the Rev. Dr. Jacob Wagner, association minister, who presented him with a certificate of recognition for his 50 years of ministery. Bacsó, his wile and daughter, Elizabeth, attended the 50th anniversary of his 1935 class of Lancaster Theological Seminary, United Church of Christ, Lancaster, Pa. at which the Rev. Dr. Avery Post, president of the United Church of Christ, spoke, congratulating this year’s graduates and those of 1935. The Rev. Dr. Peter Schmiechen, president of the seminary, welcomed the Class of 1935 and presented them with certificates of recognition. The Lonely, The Old, The Forgotten... They sit there waiting patiently And wipe away a tear, Wishing that a visitor Would suddenly appear. Someone to say, “How are you?" And greet them with a smile... Someone to sit beside them And chat a little while. It's hard for them to understand Just what they’re doing there. What happened to their family And the friends who use to care. How come they've been abandoned Like some old worn-out shoe? What crime have they committed? What bad thing did they do? True, they have a bed to sleep in And they’re sheltered from the rain, But there’s precious little else To ease their loneliness and pain. They 're only one of many In oldsters homes today Who finds the price for longer life Is much too high to pay. That picture could be quickly changed. If all of us would spend Some extra time just visiting A relative or friend Who 's shut away from all the things That once were held so dear And needs to be reminded That at least someone is near... To take them by the hand and say, ‘How are you? with a smile, And sit close beside them And just love them for awhile. Cornerstone Laid On June 1st, several hundred guests and visitors from near and far joined us, when Governor Thomas Kean of New Jersey and our chairman, E. Eugene Oross, laid the cornerstone for Hungarian Heritage Center. This long awaited event represents the beginning of construction on the museum, library, archives, research and conference facilities and visitors center. This also represents a strong impetus to help raise the $2.9 million needed to build and endow the Hungarian Heritage Center. Members of our board and councils attended the cornerstone laying ceremonies along with the city, county and state elected officials, community leaders active in the revitalization and redevelopment of New Brunswick, representatives of Johnson & Johnson, Rutgers-The State University, and local and national Hungarian American organizations and churches. This joyous occasion on a bright, sunny day attracted over ten thousand persons for the 10th annual Hungarian Festival in New Brunswick, which was a tribute to the 30th anniversary year of the American Hungarian Foundation. Representing the tradition of Hungarian heritage in America to be passed on to others, three elderly Hungarian-born ladies, long time residents of New Brunswick, joined us in laying the cornerstone with two five year old youngsters representing the future, Mark Roczey and Kinga Horvath. The ladies were Mrs. Caroline Kish, 99; Mrs. Anna Horvath, 93; nad Mrs. Julia Weiss, 85. During the ceremonies, it was re-emphasized that renovation and reconstruction of the former Potter needle factory for the Hungarian Heritage Center also symbolizes a process the Hungarian immigrants went through in the new land of America, while still maintaining the base of their Hungarian cultural heritage. Thus, in the cornerstone ceremonies, the elderly ladies handed the trowel on to the two young children, the future. August J. Molnár
