Hungarian Americans of Cleveland

Cleveland Press Articles

Marks 25 Years for St. Emeric's

Plain Dealer, May 19 1930

Celebration Is Followed by Play Given by Parish Children

Twenty-five years of progress of St. Emeric's Catholic Parish was observed by the people of this congregation and their friends yesterday with a solemn religious service in St. Emeric's Church at 10, a banquet in the afternoon and a religious play, based on the life of St. Emeric, by school children in the evening. The parish ministers to many people of Hungarian ancestry living on the West Side.

Rev. Joseph Hartel, pastor since 1920, was celebrant of the anniversary mass; Rev. Clement Budka of Welland, Ont., was deacon, and Rev. Joseph Toth of Cleveland was sub-deacon. Dr. Budka preached, taking the life of the patron of the parish as his subject.

When the original church at Bridge Avenue N. W. and W. 24th Street was burned some years ago, Father Hartel rebuilt it on its present site, 1902 W. 22nd street. The property now includes a brick church, school, convent for the Daughters of the Divine Redeemer, who teach in the school, and a rectory.

Councilman Louis Petrash was toastmaster at the banquet, attended by 400. Petrash announced that a bust of the Hungarian poet Petofi would be unveiled in the Public Library at 2:30 Sunday. The bust is a gift of the Hungarian people to the library. A dinner at Hotel Cleveland will precede the ceremony at the library and a mass meeting of Hungarians at Public Hall will follow.

Speakers at the banquet yesterday included Father Hartel, Msgr. Charles Boehm, pastor emeritus of St. Elizabeth's Church; Joseph St. Ibanyi, Hungarian vice consul; Mayor John D. Marshall, Rev. Eugene Tabakovics, pastor of St. John's Greek Rite Hungarian Church; Joseph Muzsley, editor of the Szabadsag and the Hungarian Sunday.

Representatives of 21 Hungarian societies in Cleveland brought greetings to the assembly. John B. Toth, one of the founders of the parish, was chairman of the committee in charge of the program.

Mayor Marshall's address embodied an appreciation on behalf of the city of the contribution to the general welfare the people of Hungarian ancestry had made to the community.