Szent László R. K. Egyházközség

The history of the Hungarian Catholic community in New Brunswick, New Jersey, dates back to the 1870s, when the first Hungarian immigrants settled in the town. In 1903, the rapidly growing community sent a delegation to the Bishop of Trenton to request permission to establish an independent Hungarian Catholic parish and church. The charter was signed in October 1904, and the cornerstone was laid in 1905 in the presence of some 5,000 to 6,000 people. The church, dedicated to Saint Ladislaus, soon became the religious, cultural, and social center of the Hungarian community in New Brunswick. In 1914, the parish founded its own school, where instruction was conducted in both Hungarian and English. Sisters from the Congregation of the Daughters of Divine Love taught at the school. The school was destroyed by fire during World War I but was rebuilt shortly thereafter. Following World War II, and especially after the suppression of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, new Hungarian immigrants arrived in New Brunswick, further strengthening the parish community. The church became one of the defining spiritual and cultural centers of the Hungarian diaspora on the East Coast of the United States. In 1973, Cardinal József Mindszenty visited for the rededication of the renovated church. A statue of the cardinal was erected next to the church, which was the world’s first statue of Mindszenty. The event became one of the most significant religious and community celebrations of the Hungarian diaspora. By the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century, the city’s ethnic composition had changed significantly. The number of Hungarian residents declined, while the proportion of parishioners of Latin American origin increased. As a result, on January 14, 2014, the St. László Parish was merged with other local parishes, and its independent legal status was dissolved. The church continues to operate as part of the Holy Family parish community. However, the Hungarian pastoral ministry continued even after this. Father Imre Juhász regularly celebrated Mass in Hungarian and published a parish newsletter in Hungarian. The church continues to play an important role in the life of the local Hungarian community. St. Ladislaus Church remains the central venue for Hungarian Day in New Brunswick. The annual event attracts thousands of visitors and plays a significant role in preserving Hungarian cultural heritage. St. Ladislaus Church has served the Hungarian-American community for over a century. Although its original role as a Hungarian national parish has largely ceased, its history serves as a good example of the formation, flourishing, and gradual transformation of Hungarian Catholic communities in the United States throughout the 20th and 21st centuries.