SCOUTS IN CATACOMBS

After 1945 the Communists dissolved – among other organisations – the Hungarian Scout Association and its members were forced to join the state-sponsored ranks of atheistic Pioneers. Many of the dedicated,

Catholic leaders of the scouting movement decided to honour their scout oath by their continuing commitment to God, country and neighbours. In the spirit of the scout law they carried on their common activity secretly by concealing their meetings as young hikers and nature enthusiasts touched by the romantics of Native American or ancient Hungarian culture.

Under this cover – heavily influenced by the spirituality of the scout movement – they continued to promote the ideal of a “Christ-like humanity”.

This kind of “scouting in catacombs” was best organised in Pécs by underground scout leaders: László Arató and Mátyás Ivasivka. The two independent groups were united in 1953 under the name “Grotto Camp” with the spiritual leadership of a Pauline priest, Pál Bolváry, who had just been released from prison. The “Grotto Camp” consisted of several boy and girl scout groups who secretly organised meetings, excursions, catechesis lessons, and camps in the summer. Although their ac tivity was protected by a strict law of silence, the leaders were arrested in1961, and Father Bolváry was incarcerated for six years.

Bakk István

Fathers in the Americas / Pálosok Amerika földjén http://www.szentozseb.hu/modules.php?name=topics&file=olvas&cikk=palosok-4f7005cd60f23

István Bakk: Pauline Fathers in the Americas Missionary Work and Service in the New World (pdf)

Bakk István: Pálosok Amerika földjén avagy az Újvilági küldetéses szolgálat (pdf)

István Bakk: Pauliner auf dem Gebiet Amerikas, oder in der neuen Welt angenommene Missionsdienst
http://kutasi.blogspot.com/

Istvan Bakk: Pauline fathers in the Americas missionary work end service in the new world
http://kutasi.blogspot.com/2007/12/istvn-bakk-pauline-fathers-in-americas.html
http://jozsef-kutasi.de/blogger/palospassioen.pdf