Fraternity-Testvériség, 2007 (85. évfolyam, 1-3. szám)
2007-01-01 / 1. szám
HRFA’s Board Member Reverend Leslie E. Martin Hears God’s Call. By Rev. Leslie E. Martin From Transportation Planning to Eternal Planning: former NJDOT Section Chief hears God’s Call. It is not often that one hears of engineers or transportation planners who move from their interest in earthly sciences to answer God’s Call to lead a spiritual community. Rev. Leslie E. Martin, who became pastor of the Federated Church of Livingston on April 1, is the exception to that rule. Pastor Martin attended Mercer County Community College and Drexel University earning degrees in engineering science and civil engineering. He began his carrier in Ewing Township at the New Jersey Department of Transportation as an assistant highway inspector and during his tenure was promoted several times, attaining the position of section chief, long range transportation planning, where his section developed New Jersey’s long range, statewide, multi-modal, transportation plans. During his tenure, he also, served as a liaison to New Jersey’s toll road and bridge authorities. and felt that God was calling him once again to serve the church. Pastor Martin and the Federated Church of Livingston look forward to serving God and Livingston community together. ♦ ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ Saint Margaret of Hungary Parish Yonkers, New York The Archdiocese of New York contemplated the closing of the church Saint Margaret of Hungary in Yonkers, which has been serving the Hungarian community in the area for over 100 years. HRFA petitioned His Eminence, Edward Cardinal Egan, along with others to reconsider the closing of the church, and the Cardinal responded that the Parish will remain open. Bellow copy of letter from the Vicar General. Office of the Vicar General Archdiocf.sf. of New York For most of his life, he attended the Hungarian Reformed Church in Trenton, where he was baptized, confirmed and married to his wife Linda. They have two adult sons, Steven and Eric Martin, who both live in Bristol Township, Pennsylvania. As a member of the church, Pastor Martin was elected to lay leadership positions including elder and chief elder. As his interest in serving the church grew, he began hearing God’s call to the ministry. With encouragement form several ordained ministers, he answered the call by applying to Princeton Theological Seminary. At age 52 in the fall of 1997, Pastor Martin took early retirement from the NJDOT and entered Princeton Theological Seminary as a full-time student in the three- year program. He earned a master of divinity degree (Mdiv) in May 2000, and was ordained into Christian ministry in June of that year. Pastor Martin served as pastor of two small churches, Staten Island Hungarian Reformed Church and the Roebling Hungarian Reformed Church until April 1, 2001, when he was elected pastor of the Calvin Reformed Church in Norwalk, Connecticut, where he served until 2005. He accepted a job as director of development at the American Hungarian Foundation in New Brunswick and served there for almost a year. He missed being a pastor, March 28, 2007 Dear Mr. Megyeri: On behalf of His Eminence, Edward Cardinal Egan, I write to acknowledge receipt of and thank you for your letter of March 13, 2007, concerning Saint Margaret of Hungary Parish in Yonkers. Your thoughtfulness is deeply appreciated. While the parish realignment process has carefully studied and considered the future of Saint Margaret of Hungary Parish, it was decided that no action will be taken at this time. Hence, for the time being, the Parish remains open. Assuring you of His Eminence's prayerful best wishes and my own as well, may I remain Sincerely yours, Most Rev. Dennis J. Sullivan Vicar General Mr. Leslie L. Megyeri Secretary/T reasurer Hungarian Reformed Federation of America 2001 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20036-1011 1011 First Avf.nue, New York. N.Y. 10022 Tel: 212-371-1000 Fax: 212-826-6020 12 Fraternity - Testvériség / Spring 2007
