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Pastor Johann Ettinger
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.
[Credits,
Originally Published by Jody McKim Pharr at the DVHH.org 29 Sep 2006]
[Published by Sarah Coraggio
at the DVHH on 2 October 2018]
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Last
Updated:
13 Oct 2018 |
Keeping the Danube
Swabian legacy alive!
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