Rábakethely
After his ordination as a priest, János Brenner was assigned to Rábakethely in 1955, where he served alongside parish priest Dr. Ferenc Kozma. The parish included four filial communities: Máriaújfalu, Magyarlak, Farkasfa, and Zsida. The young chaplain quickly won the affection of the churchgoers and became popular among the youth. This displeased the communist authorities, who repeatedly warned and threatened him. Due to growing pressure, Bishop Sándor Kovács of Szombathely offered to transfer him elsewhere, but he replied, “I am not afraid, I am happy to stay.”
Here, in Rábakethely, stands the old parish building from which János Brenner was lured away on the night of December 14, 1957 on the pretence of a call to a sick person. Dropping in to the church to take the Blessed Sacrament and the oil of the sick, he hurried towards to the house of the supposed patient. Instead of going through the village, he took the so-called “Mass path” to reach the sick person as quickly as possible—so that the man would not die without receiving the sacraments.
According to accounts, János Brenner was first attacked not far from the church. He could have turned back to the parish house, but his commitment to his priestly mission, to bring the sacraments to the dying, meant more to him than his own safety. At the end of the road, near the sick person’s home, his attackers lied in wait and beat him and stabbed him 32 times, killing him with brutal cruelty. He was unable to defend himself as he used his right hand to shield the Blessed Sacrament hanging from his neck, determined that no harm should come to the Eucharist. The commotion woke the neighbors, who turned on the lights. Upon seeing this, the assailants fled.
His priestly motto was: “And we know that all things work together for the good of those who love God” (Romans 8:28).
Zsida
After his ordination as a priest, János Brenner was assigned to Rábakethely in 1955, where he served alongside parish priest Dr. Ferenc Kozma. The parish included four filial communities: Máriaújfalu, Magyarlak, Farkasfa, and Zsida. The young chaplain quickly won the affection of the churchgoers and became popular among the youth. This displeased the communist authorities, who repeatedly warned and threatened him. Due to growing pressure, Bishop Sándor Kovács of Szombathely offered to transfer him elsewhere, but he replied, “I am not afraid, I am happy to stay.”
On the night of December 14, 1957, he was called to a sick person in Zsida. He took the Holy Eucharist from the church and set out along the so-called “Mass path” that connected the two villages. On the way, he was ambushed and brutally murdered, stabbed 32 times. Although the exact circumstances of his murder remain unclear, the motive of the murderers was to intimidate believers and the clergy.
When the villagers of Zsida once asked János Brenner how he liked their small village, he replied: “To see Rome and die, to see Zsida and die… I would like to die here, be buried somewhere by the stream, and listen to the murmur of the water.” Indeed, it was here in Zsida, just a few meters from the stream, that he gave his life in martyrdom.
János Brenner was beatified in 2018.
His priestly motto was: “And we know that all things work together for the good of those who love God” (Romans 8:28).
Farkasfa
BLESSED JÁNOS BRENNER (1931-1957)
After completing his seminary studies, János Brenner was assigned to Rábakethely in 1955, where he served alongside parish priest Dr. Ferenc Kozma. The parish included four filial communities: Máriaújfalu, Magyarlak, Farkasfa, and Zsida. The young chaplain quickly earned the affection of churchgoers and became especially popular with the youth. This however displeased the communist authorities, who repeatedly warned and threatened him. Due to growing pressure, Bishop Sándor Kovács of Szombathely offered to transfer him elsewhere, but Father Brenner replied, “I am not afraid, I am happy to stay.”
On the night of December 14, 1957, he was called to a sick person in Zsida. He took the Holy Sacrament from the church and set out along the so-called “Mass path” that connected the two villages. On the way, he was ambushed and brutally murdered, stabbed 32 times. Although the exact circumstances of his murder remain unclear, the motive of the murderers was to intimidate believers and the clergy.
His parish priest, Ferenc Kozma, received the news of János Brenner’s death in Farkasfa. János Brenner regularly visited Farkasfa to celebrate Mass and teach religious education. He was beloved by both adults and children, especially by the latter as he often stayed to play after class. In the early days he travelled to Farkasfa on foot or by bicycle, and later by Csepel motorcycle. One evening in late autumn, as he was returning home through the forest from Farkasfa, unknown individuals hurled logs in his path to harm him. but he could skillfully avoid them. When he got home, he said to the parish priest, “Well, I got away. They had no luck,” and he had a good laugh at their failed attemp.
János Brenner was beatified in 2018.
His priestly motto was: “And we know that all things work together for the good of those who love God” (Romans 8:28).
Črenšovci
DANIJEL HALAS (1908–1945)
Danijel Halas was born in Črenšovci on June 24, 1908, and was baptized the next day in the local parish church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. He completed his elementary education in his hometown, then attended grammar school in Murska Sobota, graduating later in Ljubljana. After finishing secondary school, he entered the theological seminary in Maribor. Upon completing his studies, he was ordained a priest in 1933. He celebrated his first Mass on July 16 in the parish church in Črenšovci. He chose as his mentor the retired parish priest and Catholic newspaper editor Jožef Klekl, a long-time resident of Črenšovci and was a close friend and supporter of the Halas family.
His priestly motto was: “If there is any joy to be found on earth, it belongs to the pure in heart ” (Thomas à Kempis).
Velika Polana
DANIJEL HALAS (1908–1945)
Danijel Halas was transferred from Lendava to Velika Polana in 1939, where he continued his dedicated and fruitful pastoral ministry as parish priest. He led the Mary Society for young people, subscribed to religious newspapers, and also took an active role in the cultural life of the parish.
Shortly after his arrival in Velika Polana, at a time when the Mura region had once again come under Hungarian control during World War II, he was arrested at the end of October 1941 on charges of collaborating with Slovenian communists. He spent seven months in Budapest prisons alongside fellow Mura-region priests Ivan Camplin and Mihael Jerič. After nine months, his sentence was suspended and he was allowed to return to his parish.
On March 16, 1945, he set out for Lendava to hear the confessions of the local nuns, but he never arrived. Near Hotiza he was stopped and murdered by unknown assailants.
His priestly motto was: “If there is any joy to be found on earth, it belongs to the pure in heart.” (Thomas à Kempis)
Kot
DANIJEL HALAS (1908–1945)
Danijel Halas was ordained a priest in 1933. He first served as a chaplain in Ljutomer, then in Lendava. In 1939 he was transferred to Velika Polana, where he continued his dedicated and fruitful pastoral ministry as a parish priest.He led the Mary Society for young people, subscribed to religious newspapers, and played an active role in the cultural life of the parish.
Shortly before the end of the war, the bishop appointed him confessor to the nuns in Lendava. On March 16, 1945, he set out for Lendava to hear the confessions of the local nuns, but he never arrived. Near Hotiza he was stopped and murdered by unknown assailants. His body was thrown into the Mura River. Three days later, it was found washed ashore near Kot.
His priestly motto was: “If there is any joy to be found on earth, it belongs to the pure in heart. ” (Thomas à Kempis)
Lendava
DANIJEL HALAS (1908–1945)
After his ordination as a priest in 1933, Danijel Halas served as a chaplain in Ljutomer for six months, before being assigned to Lendava. There his kind heart and warm, approachable nature quickly endeared him to churchgoers. To serve the Hungarian-speaking members of his parish, he founded a religious newspaper in Hungarian and even learned the language so he could preach the Gospel to them in their mother tongue. . During his ministry in Lendava, he led the Mary Society, encouraging devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary. Before his death, the bishop appointed him confessor to the Sisters of Lendava. His last journey was meant to take him there, but near Hotiza he was stopped and murdered by unknown assailants.
His priestly motto was: “If there is any joy to be found on earth, it belongs to the pure in heart.” (Thomas à Kempis)