When I was young, I remembered the Franciscan Friary being built and opened on South Belle Vista. I walked or rode past there many times on my way to the James L. Wick Recreation Area (“Rocky Ridge”). Later, I walked past there daily on my way to and from Chaney High School. Once, I stopped by and walked through the Stations of the Cross. But, like many, I had little idea of the story of this place that reaches back over 400 years to the Transylvania region of present day Romania.

For much of its history, Transylvania was part of eastern Hungary and contains a Hungarian population. One of the most famous religious sites for these people was the Madonna of Csiksomlyo. Her sanctuary was served by generations of Franciscan Friars since the 16th century and she was seen as the Protectress of the Hungarian people in the region. The statue survived an attack by Tartars in 1661 when the church was burned down.

Sadly, Transylvania came under Romanian control after World War II and thus under communist rule. Bishop of Transylvania, Aaron Marion, was arrested while conducting a Marian pilgrimage to the shrine and the communists sealed the shrine. The Franciscan Friars fled to America, assisted by the American Hungarian population, keeping alive their love for the Madonna. (A full history of the Madonna of Csiksomlyo is available at the Shrine website.)

Then in 1957, Bishop Emmet Walsh gave them permission to build a monastery in Youngstown. They purchased the site, located on the east side of South Belle Vista south of Price Road, from Ward Beecher and Eleanor Price Beecher. Eleanor was a descendent of the Price family who had acquired this land as early settlers on Youngstown’s Westside. The old homestead served as the Franciscan Friary, for which the Beechers later gave a substantial gift for improvements.

In 1963, the Bishop approved establishing a shrine under the name Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted. On October 8, 1963, the cornerstone was blessed and by the end of the year the shrine chapel construction was advanced to the point of being opened to the public. The following year, a copy of the statue of the Madonna of Csiksomlyo was enshrined in the chapel and dedicated by Bishop Walsh on October 4, 1964.

In addition to the Shrine Chapel, there are several notable features on the grounds. Reflecting the history of suffering under communism, there is a unique rendering of the Stations of the Cross known as the Stations of the Iron Curtain Cross. Amid the Stations is the Cathedral of Pines, capable of accommodating outdoor services of up to a thousand. Over the altar is a shrine to the Blessed Virgin of Fatima, one of four statues sent by the Bishop of Fatima to the four corners of the world. This is the only one in the Western world. There are several other statues of the Virgin Mary including one from the Our Lady of Hungary Church across the street and a Shrine to the Unborn.

Visible from the parking lot and reflecting the history of the Shrine is the statue of St. Stephen of Hungary, the first monarch to be canonized. The statue was featured at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York. A Cleveland millionaire purchased the statue. He donated it to the Franciscans on learning of their construction of the shrine.

The Shrine offers Sunday and weekday masses and “Spirituality Days” preached by the Franciscans. The Shrine is located at 617 S. Belle Vista Avenue and more information may be found at their website.

The Madonna of Csiksomlyo. A band of Franciscans fleeing religious persecution under communism. An invitation from Bishop Walsh. The old Price farm and homestead. All these combined to create a unique space for religious devotion commemorating the struggle of Hungarian Christians under communism while serving the spiritual needs of all who come.

To read other posts in the Growing Up in Working Class Youngstown series, just click “On Youngstown.” Enjoy!