The
notable theologian and spiritual
counselor, Johann Ettinger, is one of
the most important personalities of the
Sathmar Germans. Born on January 5,
1883, he was ordained a priest on June
30, 1907, at the conclusion of his
studies. His fruitful work in Scheindorf
began on July 28, 1914, after Bishop
Boromisza had appointed him as pastor on
July 14, 1914. The new pastor hardly had
time to get settled, when mobilization
of the soldiers began.
In spite of his Hungarian
upbringing and education, Pastor
Ettinger was the first Sathmar Swabian
intellectual after World War I to allow
traditional singing. When Bishop
Boromisza opposed the introduction of
the mother tongue in the teachings in
the Swabian communities and ordered an
opinion poll regarding this, the
Scheindorf Swabians decided unanimously
under Ettinger's leadership to use
German in teaching. The faithful in the
rest of the parishes, in the dispute
between the state and community, took
the same position as their pastor.
Unfortunately, at that time in Sathmar, there was only one Pastor Ettinger!
Because of his poor health and the
delicate situation of opposing the
Hungarian bishop and being among
Hungarian-minded colleagues, Ettinger
was not openly political or popular.
However, he was a German priest to his
Swabian people, and he experienced in
his isolated parish every phase of the
development of freedom for Swabians in
Sathmar with endless happiness and the
endless pain of his sensitive nature.
Pastor Ettinger and the community
of Scheindorf were both a model and hope
for the Swabian movement. This fact was
even known by the diocese. In 1928, when
Ettinger wanted financial help for the
teacher of the religious school from the
bishop, he received the following answer
on March 14: "The bishop's office cannot
grant your application, since the
Swabian movement has caused a lot of
trouble for the last ten years, and has
been especially supported in the parish
of Scheindorf". At the same time, the
Catholic diocese of Sathmar supported
the Hungarian party and their candidate,
Arpad Paal.
Johann Ettinger in 1928
distributed German prayer and hymn
books, and made therein an important
contribution to the religious and
cultural life of the Sathmar Swabians.
When the breakdown in 1945 forced
the religious school to close its doors,
it was Pastor Ettinger who opened the
first and only elementary school in
Scheindorf. Two years later, on July 29,
1947, he closed his eyes for the last
time in Scheindorf. Since he was able to
serve both the faith and his people,
Johann Ettinger became a shining example
for the Sathmar Swabians.
