Budapest (Hungary). On 5 August 2022, on the 150th anniversary of the foundation of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, the FMA Community of Mary Help of Christians in Budapest and some of the Community of St. John Bosco of Mogyórod, of the Province of St. Mary D. Mazzarello (ITV), renewed their religious vows in the presence of more than 200 young people from the Salesian Youth Movement (SZALIM).
The young people were gathered in Pelifoldszentkereszt, in the province of Esztergom, at Holy Cross Spirituality Center of the Salesians of Don Bosco of St. Stephen King Province (UNG), to experience a four-day “Festival” (STÉG Szalézi Tófesztivál), a meeting of prayer, listening to testimonies and formative interventions, and fun at the lake, to be together, go deep into faith and reflect on one’s vocation.
Among the interventions, the young people listened to Sr. Sylwia Ciezkowska, FMA of Polish origin, Professor of the Pontifical Faculty of Educational Sciences “Auxilium”, who presented the holiness of women in the Salesian charism. Sr. Sylwia spoke about the holiness of Mother Mazzarello and the first sisters and the relevance of the Charism, arousing the interest and enthusiasm of the participants.
On 5 August, the Holy Mass was concelebrated in the morning by the young Salesians who accompanied the young people. The homily was on the themes of grateful memory and hope for the future, nourished by a charism that is very current because it responds to the needs and demands of young people for life.
In the afternoon, during Eucharistic Adoration at the Pelifoldszentkereszt lake, the FMA, including 101-year-old Sr. Anna Bognar, renewed their vows in front of the young people. The Blessed Sacrament was carried in procession by Fr. Nguyen Ha Ly James, a Vietnamese SDB, a missionary in Hungary, followed by the FMA and young people, including some Salesian Cooperators. The feast continued with dinner and cake.
The FMA of Hungary officially celebrated the 150th anniversary on 14 May 2022 in Budapest, on the occasion of the Feast of Mother Mazzarello, with all the members of the Salesian Family, and the pupils and teachers of their schools. Before the end of the year, a third appointment with a round table is scheduled at the Catholic University of Budapest.
