The Hungarian Parliamentary Prayer Group held a spiritual practice again on January 30, 2025, in the prayer room located in the Dome Hall of the Parliament, for the fourth time.
Similar to previous exercises, the speeches of the event were grouped around a central theme. This time, faith and medicine, faith and politics, and faith and the 21st century issues of youth were the topics on which those present shared their personal experiences and thoughts, and then delved into them during their conversation. Imre Vejkey opened the meeting with a message from the daily Gospel passage (Mk 4:21–25) related to the selected topics, which teaches that our task is to enlighten the lives of our fellow human beings with the example of our Christian life.
The first speaker was Dr. Ferenc Rényi–Vámos, thoracic surgeon, university professor, and member of the Board of Trustees of the Hungarian Parliamentary Prayer Group Foundation, who spoke about the relationship between faith and medicine. Drawing from his own life and work, he gave countless personal examples of cases that are difficult to explain based solely on professional considerations, and in which, looking back, divine providence is tangible.
Mónika Bartos, Member of Parliament, and member of the Board of Trustees of the Hungarian Parliamentary Prayer Group Foundation, shared her thoughts on the topic of faith and politics. The third topic of the pratice, faith and young people, was addressed by Péter Palkovics, high school teacher and school principal, also member of the Board of Trustees of the Hungarian Parliamentary Prayer Group Foundation. Each presentation was followed by a short silence, during which those present could reflect on what the words had awakened in them.
Dr. György Bakondi, Emeritus Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Hungarian Parliamentary Prayer Group Foundation, spoke about the salutary effect of examination of conscience and spiritual communion, emphasizing that there is a possibility of spiritual communion when we long for the heavenly bread with active faith in love, but our physical circumstances prevent actual communion. The Emeritus Chair stated that it is sometimes the case that a routine and careless Holy Communion will have less fruit than a spiritual communion born of concentrated, fervent, sincere love.
Following the presentations, and also as the closing of the event, those present prayed the Angelus together with the leadership of Dr. Katalin Tóth, Chair of the Hungarian Parliamentary Prayer Group Foundation.