The Hungarian Catholic Bishops' Conference (MKPK) held its spring ordinary meeting on 05/03/2024. In accordance with custom, the body of bishops gathered at the Budapest headquarters of the Hungarian Catholic Bishops' Conference. Archbishop Michael W. Banach, Apostolic Nuncio to Hungary, also participated in the meeting.

A national pilgrimage will take place in Rome from 23-25/04/2024, on the first anniversary of Pope Francis' Apostolic Visit to Hungary in 2023. On all three days of the pilgrimage, there will be a Holy Mass in Hungarian in one of the great Roman basilicas. On the first afternoon of the pilgrimage, there will be a joint Holy Mass in the Lateran Basilica (16:00), and on Wednesday, 24/04, in St Paul's Basilica (10:00). On the closing day of the national pilgrimage, 25/04, Pope Francis will receive Hungarian pilgrims in a private audience in the Paul VI Audience Hall, followed by a Holy Mass in Hungarian, expected to take place at 11:00 in St Peter's Basilica. Those arriving individually can indicate their participation by email.

Pope Francis has proclaimed a Jubilee Year for 2025. As preparation for the Holy Year, Pope Francis has declared 2024 the Year of Prayer. In connection with this, dioceses are organising their own programmes and liturgical events, and are encouraging parish and church communities to do the same.
In accordance with Pope Francis' decision, the First World Children's Day will be held in Rome on the last weekend of May 2024. The motto of the event is: "Behold, I make all things new" (Rev 21:5). In connection with the event, the Holy Father also formulated a message, in which he urges: "Do not forget those who are still very young, those who are already struggling with illnesses and difficulties in hospital or at home, those who are victims of war and violence (...), or abuse. In short, all those children whose childhood is still cruelly stolen today." The Hungarian Catholic Bishops' Conference also joins this series of programmes, with several Hungarian dioceses organising various children's programmes on the last weekend of May.

The Catholic Social Days, or KATTÁRS, will be held from 27-29/09/2024. This year's event will be hosted by Budapest, and its motto is: "Be Present!". The central theme of the event series will be Catholic education. The programme will include – in addition to Holy Masses and praise evenings – concerts, exhibitions, a conference, round-table discussions, and stage performances.

Quito, the capital of Ecuador, will host the LIII International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) from 08-15/09/2024. The Holy Father gave his consent in March 2021 for the South American country to host the next IEC after Budapest, on the occasion of Ecuador being consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus 150 years ago.
Loneliness is a bitter reality in the lives of many elderly people, who are often victims of the throwaway culture, as the Holy Father has repeatedly warned. Therefore, the body of bishops decided that the Family Committee of the MKPK would launch elderly pastoral care training. The task of the mentors trained by them will be, among other things, to organise small communities and programmes locally, at the parish level.

The Conference is organising a Lenten non-perishable food collection for the 13th time, titled "Lasting Love". The faithful can place their donations in churches or hand them in at one of the collection points listed on the Catholic Caritas website between 03-10/03. It is also possible to join Caritas' relief work through online donations or by calling the telephone number 1356. Each call contributes 500 Forints to support those in need. The Caritas Support Foundation, similar to previous years, is pleased to accept +1% personal income tax donations in 2024, with which the faithful can support the aid organisation's daily mission: to help others with personal love. Catholic Caritas is present year-round alongside needy families, the elderly, the sick, people with disabilities, those suffering from addiction, the persecuted, and victims of humanitarian disasters. They express gratitude for all support.

This year, the Hungarian Catholic Church also strives to assist donors in navigating the 1% campaign. The recently launched #nekemazegyhaz series also aims to showcase the social commitment of the Catholic Church. Anyone who submits a personal income tax return is entitled to designate 1+1 percent of their tax. This designation can be made by filling out the form named 24EGYSZA, or on the eszja.nav.gov.hu website. The declaration submitted in 2018 for the technical number of a registered church remains valid until a new declaration is submitted or the previous one is withdrawn, and the National Tax and Customs Administration (NAV) will take it into account in 2024 as well. Please make your donation to the Hungarian Catholic Church even if your personal income tax is zero forints due to certain allowances (e.g., family tax credit). The state takes these designations into account when counting the number of donors. The distribution of additional support provided to churches is based on the number of those making designations, which includes declarations of zero forints.

Budapest, 07/03/2024.

Dr. Tamás Tóth
Secretary of the MKPK

Diocese of Debrecen-Nyíregyháza