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On the 8th of February 2019, with the participation of H.E Michael August Blume Nuncio, H.E Ferenc Cserháti, the Bishop of Hungarians living abroad, Rev. Elemér Vízi SJ, the Hungarian Jesuit Provincial, a conference and prayer event took place in Budapest, in the House of Dialogue. It was organized by the SOLWODI Hungary Association and the House of Dialogue, the Jesuit Spiritual and Cultural Centre.
Since 2015 the Hungarian religious sisters have organized the prayer event in the Jesuit Church, calling all to join in prayer for the victims of HT on the feast day of St. Josephine Bakhita.
Father Szabolcs Sajgó SJ, Director of the House of Dialogue, was the moderator of the programme, having initiated the inaugural meeting at this venue by the sisters of SOLWODI Hungary in 2018. In his opening speech, H.E Michael August Blume Nuncio echoed the pope’s call addressed to all of us: to welcome the victims of violence. The example of St. Bakhita is very powerful witness of God’s healing love.
Ms. Ágnes Németh, a police colonel, gave a talk entitled: Human trafficking in Hungary, possible ways of collaboration between the Police and the Church. On the one hand she clarified the key notions and concepts of Human Trafficking; on the other hand, Ms. Németh offered some possible ways of cooperation for the Church. She emphasised the awareness-raising and prevention programmes and the welcoming presence of the Church people and communities could offer a great help for the victims.
Sr. Gabriella Legrádi SCSC, president of SOLWODI Hungary Association began with a very touching personal experience of how had she met a trafficked woman. Then she presented the short history of the Association.
Sr. Judit Knab CJ spoke about the Associations’s activites: awareness raising workshops for Church people, networking and prevention. She underlined the specific strength of the organization: the members believe in the power of the prayer – network and also are connected to different international religious networks against Human Trafficking.
After a short coffee-break, a round table discussion followed with the participation of Ms. Ágnes Németh, Katalin Radics and Sr. Gabriella Mézinger SJC – both founders of SOLWODI Hungary.
The event concluded with Holy Mass which was celebrated in the Jesuit Church.
Photo: Merényi Zita
Text: Kiss Péter/Magyar Kurír.
Translation; RENATE member Sr. Gabriella Mézinger.