"Hungarians living in Prague are actually Hungarians living in the diaspora, whose identity preservation is not only an order of the day for all of us, but also an internal motivation. The basic law adopted ten years ago also states that Hungary bears responsibility for Hungarians living outside its borders. The practical realization of this principle is also the current college handover in Prague," emphasized Katalin Szili.
The ten-room Hungarian ecclesiastical student dormitory in Prague, named Adalbertinum, was created by rebuilding the attic of the parish church of St. Henry and Kunigunda in the city center. The costs of the transformation of the historic building opposite the church, which amounted to around 400,000 euros, were covered by the Hungarian state and the Hungarian Catholic Episcopal Faculty, Zoltán Balga, parish priest of the Hungarian Catholic Personal Parish in Prague, informed MTI.
Zoltán Balga initiated the establishment of the church student home in the parish building.
"The image of a community center has been outlined, where young Hungarian native speakers who actively practice their Catholic faith can at the same time fulfill their tasks related to learning, and build a fruitful community based on common foundations, with which they can join the life of the parish," - described the role of the student home .
The ceremonial handing over of the new student residence was preceded by a thanksgiving Mass in the Church of St. Henrik and Kunigunda, which is also the center of the Hungarian Catholic Personal Parish in Prague.
The Holy Mass was celebrated by Cardinal Dominik Duka, Archbishop of Prague, Primate of the Czech Republic, and György Udvardy, Archbishop of Veszprém, Vice President of the Hungarian Catholic Bishops' Conference, in a church completely filled with believers. Katalin Szili, prime minister's representative, former president of the Parliament, former Slovak deputy prime minister Pál Csáky, and Miklós Boros, Hungarian ambassador in Prague, were present. In her celebratory speech in the parish building, Katalin Szili thanked Cardinal Dominik Duka on behalf of the Hungarian state for his support of the Hungarian community in the Czech Republic, and on behalf of the Czech Catholic Church, she undertook and supported the establishment of the Hungarian Church Student Home in Prague.
"In the third decade of the 21st century, Hungarians living outside the borders are particularly important for Hungary, regardless of whether they are Hungarians who want to prosper in their homeland or those living in the diaspora," Katalin Szili told MTI's correspondent .
"Hungarians living in Prague are actually Hungarians living in the diaspora, whose identity preservation is not only an order of the day for all of us, but also an internal motivation. The basic law adopted ten years ago also states that Hungary bears responsibility for Hungarians living outside its borders. The practical realization of this principle is also the current college handover in Prague," emphasized Katalin Szili.
"Now, when we are preparing for a new election on April 3, I can't avoid saying it here in the diaspora: it is extremely important for us that Hungary continues to have a government that considers national values important so that there is no backsliding. in the national policy measures that have been implemented in the past 12 years, and which I think should be continued," said Szili.
More than a hundred Hungarian university students are currently studying in Prague, the vast majority of them are young people from Slovakia. The majority of Hungarian university students join the Ady Endre Student Club, which is the oldest Hungarian student club in the former Czechoslovakia, and this year celebrates its 65th anniversary.
Students from Hungary usually come to the Czech capital for one or two semesters through exchange programs.
The new dormitory will also be able to provide accommodation for them. The walls of the student dormitory are decorated with the pictures and graphics of Zsuzsa Lőrincz, a Hungarian visual artist from Prague.
Source: MTI
Photo: Zoltán Balga and György Udvardy, archbishop of Veszprém, vice president of the Hungarian Catholic Bishops' Conference in the student dormitory (Photo: Zoltán Balga, facebook)
