Péter Cardinal Erdo is Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest and Primate of Hungary. He was ordained a Priest in June of 1975, ordained a Bishop in January of 2000 and elevated to Cardinal in October of 2003 at the age of 51. Cardinal Erdo is the youngest Cardinal in the College of Cardinals.

Cardinal Erdo is visiting the Hungarian communities in the United States and is seeking to repair or expand a seminary for the growing numbers of religious in Hungary.

Our Lady of Hungary had the honor of welcoming Cardinal Erdo to our parish on July 25, 2004. Last summer, South Bend businessman and former Hungarian Freedom Fighter, Joseph Szalay and his wife Emma, met with the Cardinal. This opportunity was arranged for them by Arpad Csurgay, a visiting professor at the University of Notre Dame for nine years and ordinary professor at the Catholic University in Budapest, Hungary; and Professor Tamas Roska, dean of Catholic University in Budapest.

The Cardinal, upon sharing his vision for the Catholic Church in Hungary with Joseph Szalay, also shared his challenge of renovating the seminary in the Archdiocese of Esztergom-Budapest. Mr. Szalay invited the Cardinal to visit South Bend and offered to organize an effort to raise funds to renovate the seminary building.

Cardinal Erdo celebrated a Hungarian Sunday mass at Our Lady Church, followed by a reception dinner in his honor.

Our Lady of Hungary Parish was presented a plaque (below) by Bishop John M. D'Arcy and the Diocese of Fort Wayne - South Bend, to commemorate this memorable event.

** Click here to see a Photo Gallery from that special day **

photos taken by
Rudy Prikosovich & Dick Wroblewski