William Penn Life, 1973 (8. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)
1973-10-01 / 4. szám
THOUSANDS WELCOMED CARDINAL MINDSZENTY Diamond Jubilee of Branch 8 History was made September 29, 1973 when Branch 8 observed the 75th Anniversary of its founding. The event Elmer Charles, National President arui Jidius W. Petruska, Branch 8 President. was celebrated with a Dinner-Dance in St.Emerich’s Social Hall. The occasion was appropriately commemorated with a short but interesting program. Julius W. Petruska, President of Branch 8 served as Toastmaster. Father Thomas Maher gave invocation. The principal speaker for the evening was our much respected National President Mr. Elmer Charles, who stressed, among other things, the importance of good fellowship and fraternal behavior towards one another. He congratulated the officers and members for their fine efforts and encouraged them to carry on with their fraternal activities for the betterment of the Association. His address was acknowledged with enthusiastic response. Mr. Charles has provided the Association with excellent leadership and may he continue to guide us to greater achievements. Continued on page 2. Women knelt on the pavement to pray. Men and children stood reverently at attention. For some 10,0(X) persons, most of them Hungarian-Americans, it was a day never to be forgotten - the first American visit in 27 years of József Cardinal Mindszenty, the exiled senior bishop of Hungary. Loudly and clearly, lyrics of ancient Hungarian folk songs rang out on New Brunswick’s Somerset St. as the throng cheered the 81-year-old prelate, who had been imprisoned by Communists in his homeland. As part of a four-day side trip to the United States from Canada, which concludes today, Cardinal Mindszenty had consented to dedicate the newly renovated St. Ladislaus Church on Somerset Street. Greeted by the strains of the Hungarian national anthem and signs reading ”God Brings the Cardinal,“ the primate was led by processional to a flowerbedecked platform from which he delivered a half-hour talk in Hungarian. Gesturing vigorously and speaking in a strong, deliberate tones, he urged the CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PARTIES As in the past, all Branches of the Association are requested to arrange for a CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PARTY. A letter has gone out to each Branch and forms have been included on which to order printed invitations and carol books. The Board of Directors has again enthusiastically supported this wonderful fraternal activity by providing for the same financial support to those Branches which will participate as was provided last year. In order to your Branch to participate, all members are urged to attend the Branch meeting to help formulate plans for a successful Children’s Christmas Party. faithful to preserve church traditions and customs of the homeland, declaring“The clear continuance of the ancient family life is the only way to survival.“ CARDINAL MINDSZENTY Addressing parents, he emphasized the necessity of keeping ’’the Hungarian language and spirit alive.“ He praised the parishioners of St. Ladislaus for renovating their church at a time ’’when there is a loss of interest“ and urged other parishes to follow suit. The New Brunswick parish has a membership of about 800 families. The Cardinal spoke out vehemently against divorce, birth control and abortion, castigating the Soviet Union and the United States for popularizing these practices. Citing a declining birth rate in the United States, despite its affluence, he noted; ’The Christian spirit seems lost in this country.“ A two-minute synopsis of the Cardinal’s message was given by the Rev. Continued on page 2.
