Transylvania Tidbit - Contacting Rev. Mihály Bálint, Francis David Youth Conference in October

In February we posted a Transylvania Tidbit introducing Rev. Mihály Bálint, the interim minister replacing the now-retired Rev. Dénes Pálfi. It proved difficult to make contact and for months we got no response. However, recently at a concert at the Shelter Rock UU church on Long Island, Gabor made contact with their Partner Church Committee, and thereby obtained a contact in Transylvania who was able to facilitate communication with the new minister. He has now replied to our email, and confirmed that he is an interim. We don't know yet how or when a permanent replacement will be named.

In the meantime, Gabor has been named to the Board of Directors of UUWYN, the UU World Youth Network, an organization that promotes and facilitates worldwide UU youth exchanges, in Transylvania of course, but also India, Philippines, Africa, Latin America, etc. In this capacity Gabor will be attending the 48th Francis David Unitarian Youth Conference in Kolozsvár (Cluj) Romania, in October.

While he is there, Gabor will visit personally with Rev. Bálint, probably in Sinfalva, which is an hour drive from Kolozsvár. He will clarify the timing of naming the permanent replacement minister, and confirm our desire to continue our 30+ year relationship.

In addition, the 125th anniversary of the birth of Ferenc Balázs, the influential Transylvanian minister who was described in the book ALABASTER VILLAGE: OUR YEARS IN TRANSYLVANIA By Christine Frederiksen Balazs (we have a copy in the Partner Church Corner) https://www.biblio.com/book/alabaster-village-our-years-transylvania-morgan/d/160851176

The village of Mészko (Alabaster Village) is literally 5 minutes drive from Sinfalva, right across the Aranyos river, so Gabor will participate in that event also. Here is a map showing the relationships between these places.