We Hungarians protect our Christian heritage, we consider our Christian culture to be the foundation of our social and spiritual life, said Minister of Finance Mihály Varga at the handover of the renovated Franciscan church, parish and the new community center in Budapest on Sunday.
In his greeting, the minister pointed out that the renovation of church buildings is not only good for the church, but also contributes to the renewal of villages and towns and to the improvement of the quality of life of the people living there.
He emphasized: the government considers it important to support the life of faith, and is committed to the preservation of Europe's Christian roots, culture and values. That is why it helps the churches in the performance of their public duties and community-building service.
Mihály Varga pointed out that while the churches did not receive the support they were entitled to according to the law, since 2010 more than 3,000 churches have been renovated and almost 150 have been built in Hungary and in the Hungarian-populated parts of the Carpathian Basin with the support of the government. The number of students in church kindergartens, primary and secondary schools has also doubled, so that 220,000, or every seventh student, attends church institutions.
This year, the Hungarian church renovation program was also launched, within the framework of which the renovation of 1,400 churches in the country and 400 abroad will be started and continued with the support of the government, he added, noting that in addition to all this, the government also supports the implementation of church programs, pilgrimages, religious education and scout camps.
The head of the ministry emphasized: "as long as Hungary has a civilian government, all necessary resources are available to protect families, preserve the nation, and support religious life, and crises cannot override this."
Mihály Varga thanked the church for "doing their part" in the work to protect human lives during the coronavirus epidemic, adding that thanks to this joint work, the Hungarian economy is once again in a position to provide support.
Source: Hungarian Courier
Cardinal Péter Erdő, Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, who blessed the buildings, emphasized: as new spaces are built and opened, "our souls must open as well".
He said: the construction of the community center is a "part of a big process", for twenty years in the diocese and throughout the country they have been striving to create physical opportunities for community life, so that people of faith can meet each other not only in the church.
"Joint programs and personal acquaintance make us a community that can think and act together in the light of Christ's faith and love," he said.
Budapest, October 24, 2021.
President János Áder and his wife Anita Herczegh arrive, in the front row is Minister of Finance Mihály Varga/MTI/Zsolt Szigetváry
Among others, the President of the Republic János Áder and his wife Anita Herczegh, Miklós Soltész, State Secretary for Church and Ethnic Relations at the Prime Minister's Office, Attila Fülöp, State Secretary for Social Affairs at the Ministry of Human Resources and Gergely Őrsi (Momentum-DK-MSZP- Dialogue-LMP) II. district mayor.
The ground floor of the newly built, four-story, 700-square-meter community building has a room for 120 people and a children's playground, a chapel and a gym on the first floor, three religious rooms and a conversation room on the second floor, and the building's service rooms in the basement.
In addition, the parish building was rebuilt and expanded.
The construction was carried out with a HUF 2.9 billion grant from the government.
Source: gondola.hu/MTI
Featured image: Magyar Kurír
