A local clergyman celebrates six decades of service to the church.60 years ago..Monsignor Dezso Torok was ordained as a priest. The monsignor served as pastor of St. Stephen of Hungary Church in Youngstown and Our Lady of Lourdes Church in East Palestine. A noon mass was held today in his honor at Our Lady of Hungary Church on Belle Vista Avenue. Monsignor Torok spent time in the military before his bilingual skills in Hungarian led him to the position at Our Lady of Hungary Church.

"I CAME TO YOUNGSTOWN IN 1950. THEY WERE LOOKING FOR A HUNGARIAN SPEAKING PRIEST AND I WAS YOUNG. MY PASTOR SAID TO THE BISHOP 'I NEED ONE WHO IS YOUNG, YOUNGER THAN I AM', AND THEY FOUND ME IN GERMANY."--Monsignor Dezso Torok Our Lady of Hungary

Monsignor Torok helped many Hungarian immigrants find homes and jobs in the Mahoning Valley. Although in retirement, the Monsignor occasionally conducts mass at Our Lady of Hungary Church.