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In January 1998 our congregation voted to become partners with the congregation in the village of Adamos, Transylvania. Rev. Csaba Mezei, who was the minister in Adamos at that time spent six weeks in Franklin during May and June following his year of study at Starr King Theological School in Berkeley, CA. Our first emissaries were Ann Willever, our DRE and her son Dan Jacobson who visited Transylvania in August 1998. Our congregation has provided funding for the renovation of a religious education space in the parish house and sent several shipments of school and art supplies for the children. The Adamos congregation created some beautiful needlework hymnal covers, altar cloths and banners for FUSF. The children of both congregations have exchanged pictures and stories about themselves. Rev. Csaba Mezei was called to serve a larger congregation in the city of Kolosvar (Cluj) in May of 2001. In 2002 a quilted banner representing our partnership was created by Pat Slovacek and Judy Swaim as a gift for their 16th century sanctuary. This was delivered by Rev. Carol Rosine when she visited Adamos in March 2002 during her sabbatical. FUSF also provided funding to enable critical renovations to the Parish House to be completed. Rev. Zsolt Solymosi, head of the Unitarian High School in Kolosvar, visited Franklin in Aug. 2002. One of the students at the school, Istvan Miklos, is from Adamos, and our congregation is supporting his attendance. Rev. Alpar Fulop was appointed minister in Adamos in the summer of 2002. Current members of the Partner Church Committee are Pat Slovacek, Harriet Fisher, and David Kassay. In August of 2004 four members of our congregation, Rev. Carol Rosine, Harriet Fisher, Pat Slovacek and David Kassay visited Transylvania and Adamos. They spent time in Kolozsvar with Csaba and Melinda Mezei and the second Unitarian congregation. The group spent a week in Adamos with Rev. Fulop, his wife Erika and their congregation.  A journal of the pilgrimage is available here. |
 Rev. Alpar Fulop and his lovely bride Erika at their wedding.  Rev. Zsolt Solymosi Click here for pictures.  This banner was presented to our partner church in Adamos, Transylvania by Rev. Carol Rosine during her trip at the end of March. Sewn by Pat Slovacek and based on the design in our Meetinghouse by Judy Swaim.  Former Adamos minister, Rev. Csaba Mezei with Rev. Carol Rosine, 1998 |