Magyar News, 2001. szeptember-2002. augusztus (12. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

2001-12-01 / 4. szám

language was Hungarian but many of the mass parts, readings and hymns were recited and/or sung in Latin and English. This is in keeping with the multi-ethnic nature of the parish. According to Father Neil, "The parish numbers members from a wide variety of world cultures, has served as the primary gateway for thousands of Hungarians into the American way of life, and strives to preserve Hungarian language and culture."

Father Dominic Csorba, O.F.M., Hungarian-born Parochial Vicar of Saint Stephen's, offered a brief synopsis of Archbishop Seregely's homily, which focused on King Saint Stephen's importance in Hungarian history. "The Archbishop reminded us that in addition to celebrating the church's 100th anniversary, we are celebrating 1000 years of Hungarian Christian statehood, 1100 years in the Carpathian Basin and 1000 years of Hungarian Christian education." According to Csorba, Archbishop Seregely also talked about keeping the saint's great example alive and following the "virtues of our great Christian ancestors."

The colorful opening and closing processions featured adults and children bearing the flags of Hungary, the United States, the Vatican, the host parish and some of its organizations. The children were appropriately dressed in either colorful native Hungarian costumes or in the uniforms of

the Hungarian scouts. Volunteers from two groups, including the Hungarian Knights of Malta, served as bearers of the Arm Relic of Saint Stephen. Parishioners from Saint Margaret of Hungary Parish in Yonkers carried a replica of Saint Stephen's Holy Crown. Once again, a spirit of brotherhood and unity permeated the occasion.

The carefully selected music served to enhance the solemnity and beauty of the processions. Acclaimed music director Gwendolyn Toth of Saint Francis of Assisi Church in New York assembled a choir of eight professional singers for the event, while Saint Stephen's provided organist Antonio Procaccini, soprano Kathleen Kilbane and trumpeter Richard Titone.

From the opening prelude, the crowd was both attentive and mesmerized. Among the selections performed were Franz Lizst's majestic Hymn to the Virgin Mary and, at the conclusion of the mass, the Hungarian national anthem, known as Himnusz, followed by "America, the Beautiful." The congregation sang fervently throughout the ceremony.

At the luncheon, the headtable dignitaries included Hungarian Vice Consul Marian Orencsak and priests and ministers from other tri-state area churches. Among them were Reverend Stephen Mustos, Sch. R, Pastor of Saint Stephen Magyar Parish of Passaic (NJ) and Reverend Emeric

Szlezak, O.F.M., Senior Friar in Residence of Saint Emery's Church in Fairfield (CT) and former Parochial Vicar of Saint Stephen's.

In a sign of brotherhood, the parish invited Hungarian ministers from local non-Catholic churches to the luncheon, including Reverend Arpad Drotos of New York's Hungarian Reformed Church and Reverend György Cseh of the First Hungarian Reformed Church (also in New York). The invitation was one of a continuing number of reciprocal social and ecumenical functions in which these neighborfriends have participated together in the last few years.

With such a great start to the parish's centennial year fresh in our collective minds, we look forward to the final celebration of the centennial scheduled for August 2002. It is hoped that His Eminence Edward Cardinal Egan, Archbishop of New York and former Bishop of the Diocese of Bridgeport (CT), will be the main celebrant at that mass.

Archbishop of Eger, the Most Rev. Dr. István Seregély and Antonio Procaccini

Eileen McCarthy, bearer of the Arm Relic of St. Stephen (left top); Bearers of the Holy Crown (left bottom);

To the right: Rev. Joseph Erdei, Father Neil, Archbishop Seregély, Father Dominic. Photos by Robert Essenyi & Antonio Procaccini.

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by Antonio Procaccini