Letter Written Asking for the Return of Beloved Priest

Following the expulsion of Franciscan priest Cirill Zoltán Kovalcsik from Nové Zámky (Érsekújvár) in southern Slovakia, local Hungarian parishioners expressed their dissatisfaction with the priest’s exile in 2023, by sending letters of protest to various church forums. These letters of protest certainly contributed to the dismissal of Franciscan superior Patrik Golha on August 1, who had initiated the removal of the Hungarian priest, highly esteemed by the Hungarian faithful.

Father Cirill’s return to the monastery in Nové Zámky would mean final peace and a solution. To this end, the faithful of Érsekújvár wrote another letter to Father Andrej Mihály, OFM -, provincial superior of the Franciscan Province of Slovakia, asking him to renew Father Cirill Kovalcsik’s auxiliary spiritual service to the Hungarian faithful who attend the Franciscan Church in Nové Zámky.

In 2001, the then provincial superiors of the Franciscan Order in Slovakia and Hungary were asked for the first time to provide a Hungarian-speaking Franciscan priest for the Franciscan monastery in Nové Zámky. Following their agreement, Cirill Zoltán Kovalcsik, a Hungarian Franciscan priest and high school teacher from Szentendre (near Budapest), began his weekend ministry in the city. For 22 years, he conscientiously and tirelessly guided and cared for the spiritual lives of Hungarian parishioners who attended the Franciscan church, preserving their Hungarian community, until the Slovak Franciscans, at the initiative of the Franciscan provincial superior in Nové Zámky, unexpectedly and unjustifiably expelled him from the city.

Following the departure of former superior, Patrik Golha, on August 1 this year, there may now be an opportunity for Father Cirill to return, according to parishioners.

Currently, the Franciscans lack a Hungarian-speaking priest who lives with the community and has a close and ongoing relationship with the parishioners. The Hungarian-speaking priests who come to the parish for Mass are unable to fully replace him due to their other commitments, the Voice of Friends (Barátok Hangja) choir is not functioning, there is a lack of community-building activities, there is no work with young people, no organized events for altar servers, no permanent and well-functioning priest-parishioner relationship, no contact with schools, civil organizations, and people, no joint and dignified celebration of our national holidays, no mutual trust and respect, and no active participation in the community life of the city. These were things that came naturally to Father Cirill, states the letter drafted by local parishioners.

The letter writers refer to the fact that, to their knowledge, Father Cirill would gladly accept the invitation to renew his service in Nové Zámky, so the Hungarian faithful asked the Franciscan provincial superior in Slovakia to consider their request. If the provincial superior makes a favorable decision, negotiations will be initiated with Father Piusz Berhidai, the provincial superior of the Franciscan Province of Our Lady of Hungary, as well as with the new superior of the Franciscan church and monastery in Nové Zámky.

The letter was signed by lay Catholic organizations in Nové Zámky, including the György Széchenyi Friendship Circle, the Old Scouts Club, the Fatima Prayer Group, the Altar Servers’ Organization, young families, the Association of Saints, the Gergely Czuczor Scout Troop, the Voice of Friends Choir, and representatives of the Via Mariae Civil Association.

The Franciscan order has been present in the formerly Hungarian town since 1626, invited by the great educator, Archbishop Péter Pázmány.

Via Ma7. sk; Featured Image: Ma7.SK