Common prayer, dialogue, and fraternal meeting – a priest meeting was held in Gyomaendrőd

Between August 28 and 30, Gyomaendrőd hosted the priests’ meeting of the Northern Catholic Church’s Saint Stephen Region. The three-day gathering focused on communal prayer and liturgy, as well as the situation of the communities, sharing pastoral experiences, and the tasks ahead for the region.

The meeting began on Friday, August 28, on the feast of Saint Augustine, with a holy mass. On Saturday, the program continued with communal prayer, holy mass, and evening vespers, and the three-day gathering concluded on Sunday with a thanksgiving holy mass.

A special feature of the liturgical occasions was that each time a different pastor delivered the sermon or meditation. Thus, the various pastoral experiences and approaches appeared not only in personal conversations but also during communal prayer.

An important part of the meeting was the informal conversations. The participants shared their experiences, joys, and difficulties of their ministry with each other, as well as reviewed the current situation of the local communities and the tasks ahead for the Saint Stephen Region. The time spent together also provided an opportunity not only to discuss specific issues but also to strengthen personal relationships and trust among the pastors.

The Gyomaendrőd meeting took place in a peaceful, fraternal, and constructive atmosphere. One important realization of the gathering was that the pastors serving in the region need regular meetings that are not exclusively linked to a particular liturgical feast. Communal prayer, personal meetings, and honest dialogue about the life of the Church can all contribute to strengthening joint ministry and the church community.

According to plans, the next similar priests’ meeting will be held in October, in Rožňava.

The three days in Gyomaendrőd simultaneously meant spiritual nourishment, joint reflection, and fraternal fellowship. The participants parted from each other in the hope that these meetings will become a regular part of the life of the Saint Stephen Region in the future.