The government believes its most important task is to cater for survival and growth, the Minister heading the Prime Minister’s Office stated on Sunday in Budapest, at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the community centre of the Istenhegy St. Ladislaus Parish Church to be built from funding provided by the Prime Minister’s Office.
Gergely Gulyás said this is why family-friendly measures are being implemented, and this is why it is perhaps somewhat easier for churches to perform their duties and to serve their mission today.
He underlined that “only faith, faith experienced and converted to life is able to create culture”.
He drew attention to the fact that churches built over centuries, the knowledge preserved in religious texts copied in monasteries over many-many lives, the tunes of Gregorian chants revived in liturgy, or for that matter, the Ják Church embody not merely the power of an institution or the greatness of the church, but the strength of Christian faith. The fact that our lives point beyond this world, that we are all brothers and sisters of one another. It also follows from this that we must do things for one another, he stressed.
Mr Gulyás said “in the world of counter-cultures, at a time when different cultures mix, during the decades of the denial of faith, culture can only revive with difficulty”. Europe is in trouble today, he stated, adding that many say that this game is over, Europe will change, we must accept this and adapt to it.
If we fail to reverse these processes here, the fate of Christian communities in the Middle East clearly shows that while the number of Christians in the world increases year after year, “our continent could remain without Christians within a foreseeable historical time,” and then “The four rivers will see a different homeland, new proclamation, new attitude,” the Minister heading the Prime Minister’s Office warned.
Mr Gulyás stressed that we, however, belong to those who believe that there is hope. Faith is the source of hope above all, and communities living from faith. Communities in which we can find a home, and which carry the signs of the times for the people, he pointed out.
He said we must know that this country and nation needs such communities for survival, and not a single government is able to build communities. “A government can only help as best it can, doing what it can, and can be happy if this help – thanks to the efforts and commitment of many – achieves the goal it intends to serve, and hope is fulfilled,” Mr Gulyás said.
The ceremony was also attended by Mayor of Budapest István Tarlós and Cardinal Péter Erdő.
Talking to the public service media, Mr Erdő said each parish is a community of believers, not a mere building and not a mere church. This 12th district community, too, has been planning for a long time to build a community centre where they can come together.