Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017:
Varga, Zoltán

Hungarian chaplain; born Arad, Transylvania, Romania, 5 September 1916; died Melbourne, 5 November 1988, aged 72.

In 1920 the Varga family were forced to flee from Transylvania, as this part of his homeland was given to Romania. For almost a year they lived a harsh refugee life in a railway carriage. They finally settled at Bekescsaba, not very far from the Romanian border.

Varga's secondary education was in a Lutheran school. He did not perform well at studies, but excelled in sport. After matriculation he worked in an office for a year, and then went to Szeged to apply for admission to the Jesuits. He was accepted and entered the noviciate, 14 August 1936, with his violin under his arm.

The noviciate was at Manresa in Zugliget, near Budapest. After philosophy studies he taught in the Jesuit secondary school, Pius, in Pecs. His three years as prefect gave him a good training and understanding of young boys and young adults. Theology was in Szeged, and he was ordained, 22 June 1947. He did his tertianship in St Andrä in Austria, and in 1949 became spiritual director of Hungarian university students in Europe.

In 1951, when Archbishop Mannix asked for a Hungarian Chaplain, Varga was sent to Melbourne. He arrived in June and went to the migrant camp at Bonegilla in northern Victoria before his arrival at the Jesuit parish of Hawthorn.

During his long ministry to the Hungarians, he organised a parish council, a Sunday school for the little children and various youth groups: St Emericus for the young men, St Margaret's group for the girls, Scouts for the teenagers, and a free university for the young and middle-aged to continue their cultural life. He said two Masses each Sunday, one in the city at St Augustine's Church, and one at South Yarra, at St Thomas' Church. He baptised about 2000, celebrated 800 marriages, and conducted over 600 funerals.

After the Hungarian revolution of 1956 his work grew with an increase in the number of migrants. In 1958 Archbishop Mannix gave them a residence at 21 Elgin Ave, Armadale, for their work, and it became a home for unattached young men. This lasted until 1970. In 1974 Varga organised the visit of Cardinal Mindszenty to Australia, and, in 1987, was nominated for an Order of Australia.

He spent 37 years in the Jesuit community at Manresa, Hawthorn. He was a tireless worker for his people, showing fine leadership, care and support; a welcoming 'bridge' for newcomers. He was also a good community man, constantly affirming and encouraging others, always cheerful and positive, never critical, a man of deep prayer and faith, and an excellent spiritual father. He had a great love of music, reading and painting, and was a good singer. He was forever making light of his troubles while being kind and considerate with others: an inspiration of selflessness and dedication. It was unfortunate that so many Australian Jesuits did not know Varga, or what he did, well. The migrant chaplains usually worked in unfortunate isolation from the fraternity of the Society.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)