Campers in the Parliament

Szöveg: Tamás Zilahy | 2011. november 7. 10:03

The MoD Catholic Military Ordinariate organised a visit to the Parliament for the participants of this year’s Zalavár camp on Saturday, October 29. At the event present were the Parliamentary State Secretary of the Ministry of Defence Dr. István Simicskó and Colonel Tibor Berta, the Catholic vicar-general of the Military Ordinariate.

The around 30 teenagers arrived with accompanying persons at Kossuth Square, Budapest. Many of the students coming from almost all parts of the country have entered the Parliament’s gate for the first time in their lives. Besides the Parliamentary State Secretary, a tourist guide was waiting for them there and provided the students with lots of interesting information.

“It has already occurred to me during my visit to Zalavár this year that it would be good to see the campers meeting more than once a year – not only in the camp, as they should have another occasion for a get-together. We thought that a visit to the Parliament building would offer a good opportunity for this" – said Dr. István Simicskó, adding: “The aim was to further strengthen this community, to deepen the feeling of unity, and the message was to make the youth know that maintaining contact with them on a continuous basis is our priority because they are important to us."

Tibor Berta also emphasized this, and told us: “According to our plans, next year we will meet honvéd officer cadets of the HDF Ludovika Battalion, who also participated in the Zalavár camp of the Military Ordinariate more than once in the previous years.

They would provide the students with lots of new information and experiences, especially those who are preparing for the military career. It is not a secret that even in this group there are several such students."

After visiting the Holy Crown, the Crown Guards, and then the Session Room, the children had opportunity to ask Dr. István Simicskó about the work of the Parliament, the activity of the MPs, and about the politician’s career in general, who was very pleased to answer the questions.