Living Icons

A parish finds its identity

"We didn't try to reach the crowds but rather to form a small community which would have as its only law reciprocal love as Jesus commanded". This is the witness of two Hungarian middle-aged priests, sent by their Bishop to an area of Budapest which had recently been constructed: 40,000 inhabitants without chapel or presbytery, born and educated during the years when communism reigned, starved of religious knowledge and experiencing a considerable level of psychic deviancy and illness. It was an area considered taboo vis-a-vis the Church until last year.

"We didn't work out pastoral plans. The only plan we had was for ourselves to be a living gospel, and so every morning we promised each other that above everything else, we would be ready to give our life for one another, so that Jesus would be in our midst to guide us in what had to be done. To those who called around for a visit our message was simply: live one phrase of the gospel every month and love one another. Then they started to tell each other the experiences of the gospel they had lived and this way of living the word brought about a revolution in their lives. It created a living community which sees itself as responsible for the problems of everyone". A communion of goods developed. So too, care of the sick. We looked at political questions with new eyes. Our attitude to the Jews, Muslims and non-believers changed. "There is no Mosque here where I can pray", said a Muslim who used to come to the community together with his wife, "but here with you I feel the presence of God and I can pray".

Already many non-believers have come into contact with the community and have started to live as true Christians. A good number from various sects have come and found a spiritual home in the community.

At the ceremony of the laying of the foundation stone of the church, the President of the Republic came. "I am really moved", he said, "I came to lay the foundation stone of the church but I have found a living Church. One can see that you do not preach too much, but you live, and I am convinced that the love which I have felt among you will renew all of this area". One of the policemen confided: "I am not a believer, but I would like to join a group such as yours".

On the national radio the following day, the President was interviewed about the economic and social difficulties of the country. Among other things he said: "Yesterday I was in a Catholic community... and I must tell you two things: the economic situation in Hungary cannot get much better in the coming years; but if the Hungarian people could learn to live like that Catholic community, the problems we have could be quickly resolved. The fact, however, that such communities exist gives hope".