Péliföldszentkereszt, Hungary – March 2022 - The Salesian Province of St. Stephen of Hungary celebrated its 12th Provincial Chapter from 2022 March 27 to April 1 at Péliföldszentkereszt.

The Chapter began with a short silent adoration of the Blessed Sacrament after which Fr. János Andrásfalvy, Provincial, welcomed the Chapter members and presented the report on the state of the Province. The Provincial celebrated the inaugural Mass of the Chapter and encouraged the members to continue the salesian pastoral work enthusiasticall, effectively and fruitfully.

During the sessions, members of the Salesian Family (FMA, DBV, Cooperators, Past-pupils) lay collaborators exhibited their involvement and collaborations with the Salesians in the mission among youth.

The carrying out of the Provincial Chapter was indeed a process of dicsernment to seek God’s will in our response to the expectations of the Congreation and of youth. In the following days the Chapter members worked on the action program of Rector Major in which the members deepened their reflections on growing in Salesian identity, in being present among youth together with lay people and by giving priority for the poorest and the needy.

A historic moment of the Chapter was as the members made a pilgrimage to Nyergesújfalu where they paid homage at the tomb of Károly Zafféry, the first Hungarian salesian and prayed for the flourishing future of the province.

Fr. Derosi Raja, Vice Provincial and the moderator of the Procvincial Chapter convoked discussions to rivise the Province Directory and to vote on the Final Document of the Chapter. The Chapter members participated in a recollection which was preached by Fr. Gábor Csépányi, the Spiritual Director of the Diocesan Seminary at Esztergom.

On the concluding Eucharist, the Provincial Emeritus Fr. Béla Ábrahám recalled in his homily that the province was blessed with many new vocations when Stephen Sándor, salesian martyr brother was beatified and he recommended the confreres to seek his intercessions for vocations.