Gypsies in the parish” “” “

“Europe must learn the lesson of coexistence, of patience and of respect for all those who are different. Gypsies have been living among us for a thousand years but are always forgotten”. These are the words of Msgr. Szilard Keresztes , Greek-Catholic bishop of Hajdùdorog (Hungary), who will welcome the 150 delegates to the 5th World Congress for the Pastoral Care of Nomads. The congress will be held in Budapest from 30 June to 7 July on the theme: “The Church and Gypsies, for a spirituality of communion” (cf. SIREurope 43/2003 and 39/2002). The huge number of gypsies in Hungary (between 400,000 and 700,000) has given rise to the creation of fully autonomous parish communities celebrating in both rites (Latin and Greek-Catholic). We posed a number of questions to Msgr. Keresztes: Hungary is getting ready to host the world congress. What does this mean for your Church? “This is the first world congress on the pastoral care of nomads to take place outside the Vatican. I made the proposal because there are many gypsies here. They live in houses but have that idea of movement that is typical of their culture. The pastoral care we offer them is fairly well developed and has produced reasonable results. Many communities have their own churches, schools and other structures. This type of pastoral care is very difficult and we have to encourage people, give them an idea of what is involved, convince bishops and priests to take on the task. This occasion will be an incentive for the entire Hungarian Church to recognise this form of pastoral care. Great interest has already been expressed in the event. On 22 June, the episcopal conference requested a day of prayer for gypsies in all churches. We sent a common prayer and a letter of appeal to all parishes. The Amnesty Report 2002 denounced episodes of mistreatment of nomads in some East European countries. How are things in Hungary? “At times, the international press makes reference to situations of this kind, but not always truthfully. Episodes sometimes occur in Slovakia and Romania because the position of gypsies there is more difficult. I would like the attitude of the Hungarian State and Church, and the efforts they make, to be known. The population and the gypsies harbour suspicions and prejudices against one another, and our work consists in overcoming such suspicions”. What aspects characterise the pastoral care of gypsies in your country? “Unlike other countries, neither in the Byzantine rite nor the Catholic rite do we have special pastoral care workers for gypsies. This is because the gypsies are distributed over all parishes and, consequently, are part of ordinary pastoral care. The reason behind this is that under the Communist regime they were obliged to have a fixed abode; a measure that had positive repercussions, in the sense that they are no longer nomads, but also negative consequences, because it was implemented by force”. What are the worst social problems? “They no longer want a nomadic life but seek a more tranquil existence, economically better-off and with fewer prejudices. During the Communist period, everyone had to have a job. Today, however, unemployment is very high and there is no more work to be had in building, agriculture or the mines. They are asked for qualifications, but few of them are able to obtain serious employment”. For a bishop, what does it mean to have dealings with gypsies? “I have been dealing with them for 15 years and find this gives me patience, charity and humility. Patience in understanding their way of life and thought, because we must not change them but make them Christians just as they are. Humility in not seeking to impose our own way of working and, above all, charity, because if they feel that someone loves them then that solves everything. We in the Byzantine Church are fortunate because our liturgy is entirely sung and this is something the gypsies like. When they add their music, the liturgy becomes something very special. On 6 July, during the congress, there will be a Byzantine liturgy sung by the gypsies with a procession of 20 choirboys”.