(ANS - Košice) - The Salesians of Slovakia have pledged themselves to restore and redevelop a housing complex in the largest Roma settlement in the country, in Košice, in the Luník IX district. The project, which has an educational and pastoral dimension, aims at providing housing assistance to the Roma settlement living with social disadvantage and is a further step in the implantation of the Salesian presence in the neighbourhood.

"We see signs of hope in some people and families," Provincial Delegate for the Missions Fr Peter Jacko, told the SiR Agency (Religious Information Service), "and we interpret these as an opportunity to create a community of people who want to grow and show their neighbours a new way. The Salesian community's main mission is to provide marginalised, socially disadvantaged people and youth with the help they need."

The Salesians bought the building from the town council for the symbolic price of €1 with the intention of rebuilding about 30 modest apartments that will house around a hundred people. Through this programme of assisted social accommodation, the congregation wants not only to provide living quarters but also to lead the inhabitants to join in in its reconstruction. "Not all of them are used to work because their attitude was more about ‘using’ than about ‘creating’. This is something we want to change. We don’t know how fast they will be able to adopt this model of behaviour but we're willing to invest all our efforts in it”, said Fr Peter Besenyei who is in charge of pastoral care for the Roma.

The Luník IX district is currently inhabited almost exclusively by Roma, who live in overcrowded conditions and often lack minimum services. The Church began devoting specific pastoral care to the residents of the district in 2003, first by sending two diocesan priests, who provided traditional religious services (Mass, catechesis, sacraments ...), and then with the construction of a genuine Pastoral Centre for the Roma.

The Salesians began in Košice in July 2008 and immediately set to work to redevelop the neighborhood and provided its inhabitants with a public church, a youth centre and a pastoral centre. The Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, the Salesian Cooperators and several young volunteers work with the Salesians, and together now form a team of about 12 people.

From 21 June the Salesian presence in Luník IX has been canonically erected and dedicated to "St Francis de Sales."

Published on 08/07/2013