Cardinal József Mindszenty was honored once with a statue in a garden outside of St. Ladislaus Church. Now, parishioners are fundraising for another statue of the Hungarian Cardinal to be blessed in Budapest Oct. 25. — James McEvoy photo

 

By James McEvoy
Staff Writer

NEW BRUNSWICK — At the crossroads of the past, present, faith and heritage, parishioners of St. Ladislaus Parish are commemorating their roots by raising funds for a statue of Cardinal József Mindszenty to be erected in Budapest.

The statue will be blessed at a special Mass at the Szent Mihály Church on Oct. 25. The Mass is to be celebrated by Cardinal Peter Erdo, archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest.

The Cardinal Mindszenty is fondly remembered for his opposition to the new oppressive regime in Hungary during the late 1940s through 1956.

The parish had raised approximately $1,000, said Franciscan Father Capistran Polgar, pastor of St. Ladislaus.

The parish grounds feature the first full-bodied statue of the cardinal which was erected following his visit to St. Ladislaus when he celebrated the parish’s rededication Mass in 1973.

Father Polgar said that 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 said. “To me, that’s one of the most significant things about him. He paid the price and we will never pay the price.”

Father Polgar expressed confidence that Cardinal Mindszenty will eventually be canonized due to his unwavering faith.

“He was beloved by everyone,” he said. “He was highly admired.”

Judit M. Tormasi, a parishioner of St. Ladislaus and executive director of the Camp Kilmer Alumni Foundation, said remembering Cardinal Mindszenty is 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, parishioner of 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,” Hasdu-Nemeth said. “What he went through, 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 oppressive communist regime.

“He had a backbone and he spoke out against it,” he said.

He said the cardinal was also a great shepherd who never forgot his humble roots.

“He was a good manager from a spiritual aspect,” he added. “He always felt even when he was a cardinal that he was a pastor.”

Cardinal Joseph Mindszenty was born in Hungary in 1892 and survived persecution of both the Nazis and communists, according to the Cardinal Mindszenty Foundation website.

Cardinal Mindszenty was ordained to the priesthood on June 12, 1915 and became bishop of Veszprem, Hungary, in 1944.

Months after becoming bishop, he was arrested by the communist regime and charged with treason. Later, he was appointed 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 due to Soviet occupation.

Tormasi appreciated the United States protecting Cardinal Mindszenty against the Soviets for all those years.

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