The Community of the Beatitudes has been present in Pécs since the summer of 2022. Our desire was to be present in a rural university town, where we could meet young people in everyday life. As this desire grew stronger, it met with the vision of Mgr László Felföldi, Bishop of Pécs. He came to us with the idea of helping the people of the diocese to encounter God through our presence and our services.

Pécs is in south-west Hungary, 30 km from the Croatian border. With 140,000 inhabitants, it is the 5th largest city in the country. It has a long Christian and cultural tradition: it has been a university town since the 14th century, and is home to Palaeochristian tombs dating back to the 4th century, unearthed in the city centre and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The bishopric was founded by King Saint Stephen in 1009. Pécs has 34,000 students, many of them foreign. By car, Budapest is 210 km away and our house in Homokkomárom 150 km.

The house we are moving into is a former home for the elderly located right next to the cathedral. Because of major renovation work, community life began in a small family house on the outskirts of Pécs. We arrived there on 23 August, the 1013th anniversary of the foundation of the diocese.

For the moment, three sisters are present, but the prospect is that lay people and brothers will join us in order to show the richness of the Community. Our activities will focus on youth ministry, but we will also seek to serve in the accompaniment and formation of adults. And, of course, we want to make known the graces of the Community – the beauty of its liturgies, evenings of prayer and adoration – and make them accessible to as many people as possible.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)