Father Anaras Antal and Robert Purgert Interview, 2011
Abstract
This is an interview conducted with Father Anaras Antal, Pastor of St. Elizabeth of Hungary and Robert Purgert, Parish Council Chairman. A little background is given about Father Antal and then the history of St. Elizabeth since the 1890s and the founding pastor Father Karolyn Boehm . The church was built in 1893. Construction of a school followed and had an enrollment of 1114 students by 1918. St. Elizabeth was the first Hungarian church in the United States. The next part of the interview talks about change within the parish and increase and eventual decline in enrollment. The school closed in 1965. More discussion is held about the architecture of the church and past pastors. Talks continue about the church serving the Hungarian community and how cultural and language tradition is preserved.
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