Rev. Pius (Laszlo) Horvath of the Order of Saint Benedict passed from this life on the morning of June 22nd in the Benedictine monastery of Woodside Priory. Father Pius was 88 years old at the time of his death and had just celebrated 65 years of his priesthood the day before.
Father Pius was born in Hungary in 1930 and lived his early years in the challenging years before, during, and after the second world war. At the end of WWII Eastern Europe found itself under the domination of the Russian Communist regime causing difficulties in his plans to enter the seminary to fulfill his desire to become a priest of the Order of Saint Benedict. He was eventually ordained to the priesthood at the monastery of Pannonhalma in his beloved Hungary in 1953.
The Hungarian uprising of 1956 afforded Fr. Pius the opportunity to escape the religious suppression of the Communist government. In a daring and dangerous journey by night he crossed the border into Austria and later went to Fribourg where he studied and mastered French and German at the University.
In 1960, he emigrated to the United States and ultimately arrived at Woodside Priory where other Hungarians who had escaped had already established a monastery and school. After graduate work at Stanford University, Fr. Pius began his long teaching career at Woodside Priory School as a Latin and German teacher and head of the language department. As a teacher, he was known for his wit and subtle humor and was loved by students and faculty alike throughout his long career in the classroom.
Father Pius also served in the Archdiocese of San Francisco as he provided weekend assistance in many parishes throughout his many years. He was particularly well known and loved for his service in Saint Denis Parish in Menlo Park and Our Lady of the Wayside in Portola Valley.
There will be a viewing on Saturday, June 30th at 9:00 AM followed by a 10:00 AM Mass of Christian Burial at the Woodside Priory Chapel, 302 Portola Road, Portola Valley. Sign guestbook at www.crippenflynn.com
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
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Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
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Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.