Seeing the difficulties in the village, the Jesuits decided not only to help with
donations but also to establish their Roma mission to support the locals
through solidarity and presence. The Jesuits arrived in the village in 2020 to
work in cooperation with the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta to
make essential services accessible. They also took over leadership of the local
church and started to work in the local school as well.
The staff of the Jesuit Presence Program maintain regular contact with hundreds of
locals. Every day, they offer assistance to families in need, organize
mother-and-baby groups and kindergarten programs, and teach young people to
dance, play music, and cook. In fact, a music group of Roma children has been
formed and they are beginning to perform more and more frequently. They even
performed for Father General Arturo Sosa, showcasing their first original
composition about love.
Recently, the Jesuits launched a fundraising campaign because the village previously had
no playground – something essential for healthy child development. Donations
came in quickly, and the playground was built in the yard of the Jesuit
Presence House. It was blessed by Father General.