Order of Malta

Budapest, December 9. Three awards of the Sovereign Order of Malta were presented during the Advent day retreat of the Hungarian Association. Our confrere András Schumicky was promoted to the grade of Knight Grand Cross. His daughter, Mária Schumicky, was awarded the Merito Melitensi Cross with Shield, and his brother György Schumicky was awarded the Merito Melitensi Officer's Cross.

 

In the case of András Schumicky, this promotion recognized decades of assiduous work. As a young man, during the epic summer 1989, he was a key figure, together with Father Imre Kozma, in hosting East German refugees in Zugliget and helping them on their onward journey. Now, at the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, he "jumped into service" immediately, and since then, he is continuously at the service of those in need in Ukraine, with his old enthusiasm. He is organising aid shipments - mainly from Germany - as a volunteer of the Berehove District Charity Service of the Order. He believes that it is necessary to be as close as possible to the problem, so that we can provide not only material, but also spiritual help: so he regularly brings aid to Ukraine beyond the Carpathians, close to the front. It is symbolic that at the start of the refugee flow, the assistance point set up on the Ukrainian side of the border, in Beregsurány, sported the same flag of the Order, with the eight-pointed cross on its red background  - kept as a relic since 1989 - that had signaled to the East Germans in Zugliget during the regime change: they are in a safe place here, they can get help.

 

Following her father's example, Mária Schumicky quit her job and moved to Beregszász for many months. Among other things, commuting across the border, she was a valuable link between the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order and the Berehove Charity Service - János Makuk and his team.

 

György Schumicky also spent many months in Transcarpathia, commuting from Budapest with truckloads of aid, organizing the Hungarian volunteers, but he also did his share of physical work. All working hands are really needed there.

 

For the Schumickys, the awards are not a reward for a job completed. As long as the war lasts, and given the situation in Transcarpathia, they continue to work hard, helping where they are most needed.