Cleveland Latin Mass Community Feeds Poor to Help Historic Hungarian Church’s Fundraiser

So how did young Catholic adults from the suburbs wind up distributing free Chicken Paprikash dinners next to an abortion clinic in a struggling Buckeye neighborhood while raising nearly a thousand dollars for a historic Hungarian church and parish?  Fools for Christ...it’s a marvelous tale that exemplifies how the Latin Mass in Cleveland has helped bring together a wide variety of people in the service of Christ our King.

One of the great blessings resulting from Pope Benedict making the Traditional Latin Mass more widely available was that it brought the energy and enthusiasm of active, young Catholics into urban areas where most incredibly beautiful churches tend to reside.  The Jewel on Buckeye, St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church, is a fine example.  The Traditional Latin Mass is celebrated there most Saturdays at 9 am by Benedictine monk, Father Bede O.S.B..  So when a couple of young adults learned that St. Elizabeth of Hungary was holding a fundraiser, they decided to get creative.

The young adults had recently become involved with The Oliver Plunkett Social Group and the club was looking for ways to help some of the urban parishes that host Latin Masses.  St Elizabeth’s  Friends and Alumni Appreciation Dinner seemed perfect.  Initially, the thought was to rally some of the Plunkett members and try to buy a couple ten-man tables for the event.  Absorb some Hungarian culture and maybe snag some Palacsinta.  It sounded fun….but too late... most folks had plans.

Then someone had an even better idea.  Purchase dinners “to go” and distribute them to the elderly and poor in the Buckeye neighborhood.  Everyone loved the idea.   But on short notice, where and to whom would they distribute the meals on Sunday afternoon?  And then another good idea. 

Some of the folks who help run the Solanus Casey Project also regularly attend the Latin Mass on Buckeye.  For the past couple years, almost every Friday afternoon, the Solanus Casey Project has distributed free coats, gift cards, baby clothes, diapers, snacks, Rosaries and Miraculous Medals in front of PreTerm - less than a mile away from St. Elizabeth.  “Overcome evil with Good.”  The Solanus Casey Project had made countless friends in the PreTerm neighborhood - they had once distributed 25 free pizzas on a Friday afternoon.  “Experts!” - they quickly signed on to help distribute on Sunday.  

On short notice, The Oliver Plunkett Social Club pledged to purchase twenty $18 “dinners to go” from the fundraiser.  Any funds raised over that would go straight to the parish.  A GoFundMe drive quickly raised $530, and there were cash donations as well raising the current total to over $900. (You can stil donate through August 1).

Game day.  One of the Plunkett volunteers got there early for the Hungarian Mass and his own Chicken Paprikash dinner.  The rest of the Plunkett volunteers came later.  When one of the founding members showed up at the hall to pick up meals to distribute, there was her brother,a Benedictine novice, Brother Gregory NOSB enjoying some Hungarian music.. Such a small world.  

The twenty dinners were packed up and taken over to in front of PreTerm near the apartment next to it.  A table was set up on the tree lawn for the bags filled with dinner.  One yard sign was planted near the meals - “Love Will End Abortion.”   Bob was first out the apartment door.  He threw his hands over his head like a prize fighter:  “My friends are here!”  Another long-time friend from the apartment came by with her son and two grandchildren.  Another familiar face grabbed a meal for himself and his dad.  New friends arrived as well.  All were very thankful.   A car pulled over.  “Can I have one?”  “Sure!”  

The volunteers knew they had a second stop, so when there was a brief pause, they left with the remaining 5 dinners to a second apartment where some of the other PreTerm neighbors resided.  Good friend Pricilla greeted them in the parking lot with a beautiful smile and joy in her eyes.   “Joy is the echo of God’s life within us” - Blessed Columba Marmion.  She helped take the remaining bags into the lobby and thanked the volunteers profusely.  

None of this, of course, should overshadow the tremendous work of the St. Elizabeth volunteers at the actual fundraiser - all leading to a smashing success that day.  The wonderful Hungarian culture was highlighted in music and dance.  It was stunning. While there were many others, the tireless Virginia Kachmar certainly deserves high praise.  And she never misses the Latin Mass on Saturday or the Hungarian Mass on Sunday at St. Elizabeth.  The event was catered by  Balaton Restaurant, the food was superb.  Mark Berringer, a Latin Mass supporter from Akron, did an extraordinary job advertising the dinner on social media. And of course a job well done by Father Bona who made it all possible.

As the volunteers drove home that day, they discussed the amazing cast of characters and the unique confluence of events. Their involvement had all been set in motion by a humble Benedictine monk celebrating Latin Mass at a beautiful, old Hungarian church.  Indeed, “beauty will save the world.”  

Finally, remember to see Christ in your neighbors eyes.  To all who helped make this happen, may you hear Bob’s greeting when you get to the Gates of Heaven - “My friends are here!”  Or perhaps, maybe, you will be greeted by the Lord himself, “I was in the neighborhood that day.  Thank you for the Chicken Paprikash.  C’mon in.”

‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”