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Parish Raising Funds for Statue in Hungary of Cardinal Mindszenty
By James McEvoy
Source: Catholic News Service
Published: Sunday, November 08, 2009

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NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (CNS)—At the crossroads of the past, present, faith and heritage, members of St. Ladislaus Parish in the Metuchen Diocese are commemorating their roots by raising funds for a statue of Cardinal Jozsef Mindszenty in Budapest, Hungary.

The statue was blessed at an Oct. 25 Mass celebrated by Cardinal Peter Erdo of Esztergom-Budapest at the Szent Mihaly Church in Budapest.

Cardinal Mindszenty is fondly remembered for his opposition to the oppressive communist regime in Hungary following World War II.

The New Brunswick parish raised approximately $1,000, said Franciscan Father Capistran Polgar, pastor.

The parish grounds feature a full-size statue of the prelate, erected following his visit to St. Ladislaus when he celebrated the parish's rededication Mass in 1973.

Father Polgar said Cardinal Mindszenty stood for his beliefs and faith despite persecution and imprisonment. His perseverance and faith endeared him to Hungarians and Catholics throughout the world.

"You cannot overstate that he suffered for his faith," Father Polgar told The Catholic Spirit, newspaper of the Diocese of Metuchen. "To me, that's one of the most significant things about him. He paid the price."

Father Polgar expressed confidence that Cardinal Mindszenty will eventually be canonized, because of his unwavering faith.

"He was beloved by everyone," he said. "He was highly admired."

Judit M. Tormasi, a parishioner at St. Ladislaus and executive director of the Camp Kilmer Alumni Foundation, said remembering Cardinal Mindszenty was a matter of pride in ethnic background and faith.

"We strive to preserve our heritage," she said. "He was an icon."

The foundation seeks to connect those who immigrated to the United States from Hungary through Camp Kilmer.

Part of maintaining Hungarian pride is passing down customs and traditions, as well as the courageous story of Cardinal Mindszenty, she said.

Laszlo Hajdu-Nemeth, a parishioner at St. Ladislaus, described the cardinal as "a hero to almost everyone" regardless of ethnicity or faith practice.

"For us Hungarians, he remains a hero across all denominations. You don't have to be Catholic to show respect for him," Hajdu-Nemeth said. "He represented the desire for freedom for everybody, for all Hungarians."

Cardinal Mindszenty did not merely defend the church in Hungary, but also openly condemned the communist regime.

"He had a backbone and he spoke out," he said, adding that the cardinal also was a great shepherd who never forgot his humble roots.

"He was a good manager from a spiritual aspect," Hajdu-Nemeth said. "He always felt even when he was a cardinal that he was a pastor."

Cardinal Mindszenty was born in Hungary in 1892 and survived persecution of both the Nazis and communists, according to the Cardinal Mindszenty Foundation's Web site.
Ordained to the priesthood in 1915, he became bishop of Veszprem, Hungary, in 1944.

Months after becoming bishop, he was arrested by the communist government and charged with treason. He was named a cardinal by Pope Pius XII in February 1946.

He was eventually released after the Hungarian revolution in 1956, but was confined to the U.S. Embassy in Budapest when the Soviet Union reclaimed power. He would remain there for 14 years, unable to leave because of the Soviet occupation.

Cardinal Mindszenty died at age 83 on May 6, 1975.

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