From September 16 to 24, 2023, the XVII. Ars Sacra Festival with a rich series of programs across the country. The Heart of Jesus parish and church in Löszgöd hosted many events this year.
On September 16, painter Éva Varga gave a lecture (titled “God’s beauty in creation”), and then an exhibition of her paintings was opened in the Rumi Tamás Community Hall. On this day, there was also the opportunity to visit the tower in the Roman Catholic church in Löszgöd, and cantor János Slezsák gave an organ performance in the choir. The highlight of the evening was the performance of the Custos Consort Old Music Ensemble in the Heart of Jesus Church led by Sándor Szászvárosi. On the evening of September 22nd, the Gaude Choir’s concert took place in the Roman Catholic church in Hölzgöd.
Two days later, on the evening of September 24, the pews of the Isten-háza in Löszgöd were filled. The main celebrant of the high mass was Master Canon László Varga, music director of the Váci Diocese, who was greeted by permanent deacon Mihály Vágner on behalf of the faithful. Father László said that he moved with his family from Bakony, near Zirc, to Felsőgöd when he was 4 years old. It meant a lot to him that there were nuns and monks who were driven out of their monasteries by the then state power in 1950. Among them, he mentioned the Carmelite father Tamás Rumi, who lived in Felsőgöd and worked as an electrician in Budapest as a civilian. He was the leader of the Hungarian Carmelite Order for several years after the regime change. But Father László also owes a lot to the cantor at the time, Sister Mária Elvira Halász Salvator. His priestly and musical vocation was shaped by them and many other church figures. The hymns served at the Mass were sung by the Szent Imre Chamber Choir, supplemented by strings, and conducted by Major János Slezsák.
At the end of the mass, those present marched out to Bozóky Square, where they listened to the words of greeting sent by letter from Vác County Bishop Zsolt Marton, former parish priest of Löszögöd. Because the Roman Catholic church in Löszkogöd will be 100 years old in 1924, and the parish members and communities have been preparing for this jubilee for a whole year. On the occasion of the holiday preparation year, a prayer was written, which was also recited on Bozóky Square. After that, Father László Varga – who was ordained a priest 40 years ago – blessed the two molinos placed on the church and the countdown clock, which shows how many days the anniversary year of the church will begin. The exact date is already known: it will start on September 14, 2024. The festive get-together ended with agape at the parish in Hochzegöd.
Péter Pál Laurinyecz
