The Salesian Oratory of Óbuda and the nearby community building have already been in very poor condition when they had to be demolished in 2019. The new Provincial House has been built in place of the community building, and the new Oratory connects to it via the courtyard, complete with a Saliesian chapel, a monastery, dormitory and now a new Provincial House.

The three-story Don Bosco Oratory building erected on a 1714m2 lot – which includes a lobby, a mini kitchen, an auditorium, as well as public spaces, playgrounds and sport grounds – is designed to promote Christian community and social life. The Provincial House with its 614m2 floor area will be a fitting headquarters for coordinating the numerus Salesian Houses, Oratories and educational institutes of the Hungarian Salesian Province of St. Stephen.

Many members of the Salesian Family have come together to celebrate the event and several distinguished guests have also been present. Fr. János Andrásfalvy Provincial has said in his welcome speech that the total cost of the investment was 2,2 billion HUF, which has been financed by the Hungarian state, for which they are very grateful, and this has been further complemented by the funds of the Salesian Congregation. Although the maintenance and operation of the facilities will be a happy burden for the local Salesians and the community, but they still welcome any kind donation to complete the furnishing of the new buildings.

Mihály Varga Minister of Finance highlighted in his speech that Don Bosco’s spirituality and personality shines like a beacon in our difficult days. He stated that the government appreciates the pedagogical traditions of the Salesians of Don Bosco and the work they are doing for the young people, especially those, who are the most underprivileged.

He ended his speech with the following thoughts:
“We need the help of the Salesians, who labor for the good of the young people in need, or in the risk of going astray. I am confident that many of us can only agree with the timeless advice of Don Bosco: “Do not lose any time. Do good, do all the good you can, and you will never regret doing it.”

Cardinal Péter Erdő praised the Salesian education, which has “flourished” in the last thirty years in Hungary, and the quick increase in the number of the institutes managed by them poses a challenge to the Catholic church, which is unique in Europe. He expressed his hopes about the Salesian Oratory of Óbuda becoming a major center for the Christian and the European culture. The cardinal reminded us that when a home is being blessed, not only the building is affected, but also the hearts of those entering it, because sacred and profane do not exist separate from each other, people do not “switch realities” when exiting the church after mass, similarly, the everyday things, like studies, sport or play are all lived out in the spirit of Don Bosco. God can be present in our lives in many different ways, but He is always present, and this connects our own life and the life of our community. This unity is called culture.

After the speeches, the Cardinal blessed the new facilities, in the presence of the Provincial and the guests.
The national flag colored ribbon was cut by Cardinal Péter Erdő, Mihály Varga Minister of Finance, Fr. János Andrásfalvy Provincial and Zoltán Fürjes Deputy Minister of State for Relations with the Church and Ethnic Communities, and so the facilities are now open for use.

• Title Title
• Title Title
• Title Title
• Title Title
• Title Title
• Title Title
• Title Title
• Title Title
• Title Title
• Title Title
• Title Title
• Title Title
•  

Tweet