Bishop Nelson Perez had a busy week after returning from a nine-day pilgrimage for peace to the Holy Land with nine other Hispanic bishops.
His first day back, Jan. 29, he stopped at St. Emeric Parish in Cleveland to visit with a group of priests hosted by Father Andras Mezei, St. Emeric pastor. Father Mezei cooked a Hungarian-Transylvanian style meal for his guests.
After dinner, Bishop Perez toured the church and visited with students of the Hungarian School and Scouts. Father Mezei said St. Emeric is a place where Hungarian Catholics can attend Sunday Masses in their native language and enjoy social activities. He said the parish has about 700 members coming from many communities in the diocese.
At the Hungarian School, children and adults learn the language and learn to improve their language skills. The Scout-Regösök Folk Dance Group also trains at the parish.
Children and teachers helped the bishop learn to say a few words in Hungarian including ”Hogy vagy?” (How are you?) and “Isten áldjon meg” (God bless you). Father Mezei said the bishop easily learned how to say “pizza” in Hungarian, since it’s the same as in English.
He said Bishop Perez spoke with everyone and encouraged them to cherish and save their Hungarian heritage.
This was the second time the bishop visited a Hungarian parish in the diocese. In October, he celebrated Mass at St. Elizabeth of Hungary for the 125th anniversary of the parish, the oldest Hungarian parish in the diocese. St. Emeric was founded in 1904.
Bishop Perez also travelled to Holy Spirit Parish in Garfield Heights on Jan. 31 to install Franciscan Father David Nestler as pastor. A reception followed the Mass.
Father Nestler has served at Holy Spirit since summer 2017. A Pennsylvania native, he is a graduate of Borromeo Seminary in Wickliffe. He was ordained in 1989 and worked as a parish priest for six years, then as director of his community’s novitiate program for 10 years. In 2006, he became director of the Paul VI Pastoral Center in Wheeling, West Virginia, followed by six years’ work in provincial administration.
Holy Spirit is a collaboration of the former St. Catherine of Alexandria, St. Timothy and St. Henry parishes. It was established on Jan. 1, 2008, with the first Mass celebrated on Jan.; 6, 2008 by Auxiliary Bishop emeritus Roger Gries.
Bishop emeritus Richard Lennon entrusted the parish to the care of the Capuchin-Franciscan Friars of the Province of St. Augustine. Since its establishment, Holy Spirit also has welcomed parishioners from nearby St. Cecilia, Epiphany and St. Adalbert (which reopened), as well as several other nearby parishes.
Father Nestler replaced Franciscan Father Philip Bernier, the first pastor, who was reassigned to a new ministry with Capuchins in formation by his province.
Source: dioceseofcleveland.org
