LATROBE, PA – Father Albin Juhász-Laczik, O.S.B., headmaster of the Benedictine High School of Pannonhalma, Hungary, delivered the annual Saint Vincent College Founders’ Day reflection on Thursday, Nov. 20, in the Saint Vincent Archabbey Basilica.
“Somehow, somewhere, I once heard that there is actually a synonym for the word Christian … gratefulness,” Father Albin said. “That's how you recognize a Christian, and sure, it is easy for me to feel grateful right now. You might say, ‘That's fine, Father, but what about when it is not easy? When we are so lonely? When everything seems to be falling apart and the dream collapses, what then? How can we still be grateful then?’ That's why we celebrate our founding. That's why it's good to look back and remember how our predecessors did it.”
Father Albin recounted the story of Archabbot Boniface Wimmer, O.S.B., founder of Saint Vincent Archabbey, who traveled to America to serve as a missionary to German immigrants who left their homes to pursue a better life. Despite being advised many times to abandon his mission, Archabbot Wimmer persevered.
“Whatever it was, it kept him going,” Father Albin said. “And that's the point. When you feel misunderstood, when you start to lose heart, find something, anything. Find one reason to be grateful and move forward.”
Father Albin reminded the Honors Convocation attendees that while they will not succeed in all their endeavors, they are called to serve.
“Success is the icing on the cake. The cake itself is life every single day … every moment of service, of mission, of responsibility, of giving. If you can be grateful, even for the smallest thing, you won't be crushed by failure,” Father Albin added. “Gratefulness makes you generous. If you practice gratitude, then you are no longer hostage to success or failure. You move forward, resilient. And that's what the world needs today.”
During the College’s Honors Convocation, Father Albin was conferred an honorary degree by Father Paul Taylor, O.S.B., C’87, S’91, PhD, president of Saint Vincent College.
A lifelong learner, Father Albin studied theology at the St. Gellért Theological College in Pannonhalma, then at the Einsiedeln Abbey in Switzerland and the Saint Meinrad Abbey in Indiana. He later earned history and English degrees as a student at the Eötvös Loránd University and a doctorate in law at the Pázmány Péter Catholic University, both in Budapest, Hungary.
Father Albin has been teaching at the Benedictine High School of Pannonhalma since 2007 and from 2011 to 2018 served as deputy headmaster. He is the editor of the “Pannonhalmi Szemle” and the editor-in-chief of the “Pannonhal-MA” magazine. Father Albin is the leader of the Gregorian choir of the monastic community and teaches Gregorian music theory and practice in the theological training in Pannonhalma.
In 2018, he was named the director general of the school and dormitory, as well as the director of the newly established Education Directorate at the Pannonhalma Archabbey.
Father Albin has a variety of publications and writings to his credit, including his 2019 book, “The History of the Hungarian Calvary of Fatima,” and has made multiple contributions to the Pilgrimage Booklet series. He also served as co-editor of “Heritage and Mission: Benedictines in Hungary,” published in 2012.
Father Albin in 2019 was awarded the Justitia Regnorum Fundamentum Award in recognition of his leadership in the Pannonhalma Child Protection Program. The initiative is a model for educational institutions and an example to follow in terms of preventing and reducing school abuse.
“For his longstanding dedication to protecting children, his tireless work in the service of the Gospel, his academic excellence and his devotion to aspiring future generations, Saint Vincent College is honored to confer upon Father Albin Juhász-Laczik of the Order of Saint Benedict, PhD, the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters,” said Father Paul.
