Today’s
Good People, Good Works
will be presented
in Hungarian,
with subtitles in Arabic,
Aulacese (Vietnamese),
Chinese, English,
French, German,
Hungarian, Indonesian,
Japanese, Korean,
Malay, Mongolian,
Persian, Portuguese,
Russian, Spanish
and Thai.
Welcome, smiling viewers,
to another edition of
Good People, Good Works.
Today we travel
to the city of Déva
in southern Transylvania,
Romania
to meet Brother Csaba,
a monk of the
Franciscan Catholic order
and the founder of the
Saint Francis Foundation
of Déva.
The Foundation,
with a 200-member
strong staff and 1800
volunteers, is dedicated
to caring for those children
in Romania
without homes
or that cannot live
with their parents
for various reasons at 50
“child protection centers”
throughout the country.
Most of the children
who are taken in
are ethnic Hungarian
and thus only speak
Hungarian as previously
Transylvania
was part of Hungary.
Let us now hear from
Brother Csaba, who is
an ethnic Hungarian
from Transylvania,
on the humble beginnings
of this caring
charitable organization.
I was placed in Déva
as a parish priest in 1992
and it was very difficult
to preach on Sunday
knowing that there were
hungry children
in front of the church.
I invited them for lunch
after the Mass
and then I asked them
to take a shower,
put on this T-shirt
and hurry up because
the soup gets cold.
And then, if you invite them
into your home
it’s difficult
to send them away
because they
start feeling attached.
And later
we organized a camp for
children in need
who lived in the street and
it was amazing how well
they had behaved there.
They were very attentive,
kind and furthermore
at the end of the camp
one of them added,
“Why don’t we organize
a one-year-long camp?”
First I thought
it was just a good joke.
But that night
I couldn’t sleep
because I was thinking
these kids had no home
to go to and couldn’t
go to school.
I believed
it would be better
if I took them in and
they could go to school
from here.
And later we made it happen
so this year was our 17th
“camping” year here.
And now we have
1800 kids in the “camp”
in more than 50 places
continuously.
Did the story start here
in Déva?
Was this beautiful
big building the first one?
Yes, we started
our endeavor here.
In the beginning
we were with the kids
in the monastery,
but it was too small
and I remember
a Dutchman arrived
and as the church
is next to the road
he stopped to take part in
the Sunday Mass, and
the kids were singing.
I invited him for lunch
and then he set out to leave
and when we came
out of the house,
there was a mother
with three children
in front of the monastery.
Of course it was evident
that they were in need
and in trouble.
He asked me
to invite them in, and
I replied that there was
no more place for them.
Then the Dutchman asked:
“How come
there is no place?
You can see that
these people are
in big trouble, and
there are so many kids
here (already).”
I answered: “Sure,
there were two (kids)
in each bed.”
Then he suggested
that I buy a flat
somewhere here.
I replied there were
more reasons
I could name, but I would
only mention one thing,
not having money.
Then the Dutch gentleman
went home and sent us
money for two flats.
So we bought them.
Until today I have no idea
who this man is,
as he didn’t send
a business card later.
But the fact is that
the whole thing has started.
Later we bought
two, three flats
or one every year
depending on
how much money we had
and slowly we were able
to buy the whole block.
Now our kids are
in 20 flats,
learning and laughing.
As news of the
Foundation’s good work
spread far and wide,
the people of
Transylvania and beyond
were inspired
to lend a helping hand
in the effort to protect
vulnerable children.
So like the root in the soil,
we were slowly
but nicely developing.
After Déva,
other properties were
offered in different areas
and we were spreading
like this.
At the moment
we are present in almost
50 different places.
I always say, “God created
a good world.
If there is a kid somewhere
who cries to be hugged
then there must be
a woman or a family who
is crying for a kid to hug.
And there must be an
empty house somewhere,
whose dusty silence
is waiting to be filled
with kids’ laughter.
I think it would be great
if we could try
to put the pieces
of this puzzle together
to make God’s Kingdom
visible on Earth.
It happened that
a lady left her house to us
at Balaton Lake (Hungary)
so that the kids
can go on holiday there.
If good values are instilled
in youngsters,
they will carry
these virtuous qualities
with them
throughout their lives.
Ms. Mihály Kinga is
a kindergarten teacher
who is looking after
some of the residents
at one of the child
protection centers and
thus is directly helping
to shape the lives of
future community leaders.
I think everyone tries
to give whatever is
most important to them.
So, you discipline best
by showing
a personal example.
So, for me, it is important
to live my connection
with God every day;
it is important to teach them
to be tidy and hygienic,
and all the way
from basic things
up to their studies,
so that when
they go into first grade,
it won’t be an issue
where they came from,
that they were neglected,
and they require
special attention, no.
I am strict with them
all the same,
if not even more than
with other children, so that
when they leave here,
they can find their way
in life.
When we return,
we will learn more
about the Saint Francis
Foundation of Déva.
Please stay tuned
to Supreme Master
Television.
Children who are here
at Déva are from a
disadvantaged background;
children who didn’t get
love from their families
or financial support,
but here they can
change completely.
I have also changed;
I not only grew older
but I feel I also
get more (than before),
we get a real home
and a family;
we are one big family.
Welcome back to
Good People, Good Works
on Supreme Master
Television.
The Saint Francis
Foundation of Déva,
based in Déva, Romania
provides children
without homes
or who cannot live
with their parents
for various reasons
a place to live that
features foster parents
who care very much
about them and a
loving family environment.
So this is the biggest
building here in Déva;
how many flats
and how many kids and
foster-parents are here?
About 230 kids,
with 8 to 10 kids
in one flat plus one
foster-parent or adult.
It means we have about
22 “social families.”
Every family has
one independent
full-time staff member.
Every family
is independent.
Besides this,
there is a handyman,
and we have two
office workers as well.
There are single
foster-parents and
there are married couples,
who raise their kids
along with the other 10 kids.
So there are
no mixed families;
a family is made up of
either girls or boys.
My name is Róbert
and I like it here because
there are kids to play with.
How many kids are there
in your family?
Nine.
That’s very cool.
Do you like to be
in the family? (Yes.)
Do you have one
foster-parent, or two?
(Two.) What do you like
the best here?
I can play games,
play football,
we go on excursions
to the banks
of the Maros River and
I like to play basketball.
Basketball? (yes.)
(My name is)
Vitális Denisz Gábriel.
I’m 12 and I am from
Szászváros (Romania).
What do you like the best
here?
That we have friends here;
I can play;
I have a place to learn.
We trust each other
and we believe, because
if we don’t believe in God
and each other,
we couldn’t exist,
and this is
what keeps us together,
this is a bond, which
the whole world needs.
And the people
who need it most are those
who have lost their faith,
and these children,
the children of Déva,
can give faith to people
with their everyday love,
a smile, a hug.
God’s love
is indeed everlasting
and touches all beings.
Brother Csaba also now
speaks about how we can
all share this love
with one another.
I know that God
didn’t only create us,
but he also lives in us,
he speaks to us.
I believe
that my only duty
is to show how good it is
to do good deeds,
how good it is
to live in love,
and I have to show that
these kind of children
can also be educated.
God did not create the
wealthy man’s children
from this and
the underprivileged
man’s children
from a different bucket.
My goal
is to convince people
about how good it is to
reach out to the fallen one.
In the block, in the street
where he lives,
he should dare
to practice clemency.
Let us dare to be open
towards other people!
Let us not live in our little,
closed, separate worlds,
but just like people adopt
a puppy, or a kitten,
why shouldn’t we dare
to invite the kids in need
next door for lunch?
After my ordainment
my motto was that,
“God wants humanity
to become a big family
and wants us
to be brothers and sisters
of each other.”
Of course, what counts
as a big thing,
and what counts
as a small thing...
whatever is done with love
is a big thing.
And I think this is
what humanity needs.
We deeply thank
Brother Csaba
for establishing
the child protection centers
which provide
loving, nurturing care
to so many vulnerable
young ones in Romania.
May the Saint Francis
Foundation of Déva
continue to successfully
shelter homeless children
in the years to come
and beyond.
For more details on the
Saint Francis Foundation
of Déva, please visit:
www.Devaigyerekek.hu
Thank you for company
today on our program.
Please join us
next Sunday on
Good People, Good Works
for part two
of this two-part series
on Brother Csaba and the
Saint Francis Foundation
of Déva.
Next is
The World Around Us,
after Noteworthy News.
May the spirit of love
blossom within you.
Today’s
Good People, Good Works
will be presented
in Hungarian,
with subtitles in Arabic,
Aulacese (Vietnamese),
Chinese, English,
French, German,
Hungarian, Indonesian,
Japanese, Korean,
Malay, Mongolian,
Persian, Portuguese,
Russian, Spanish
and Thai.
Never give up;
you should always go on
if something
doesn’t succeed.
Never give up.
Welcome, gracious viewers,
to another edition of
Good People, Good Works.
Today on the second part
of a two part series
we travel once again
to the city of Déva
in southern Transylvania,
Romania
to visit with Brother Csaba,
a monk of the
Franciscan Catholic order
and the founder of the
Saint Francis Foundation
of Déva.
The Foundation,
with a 200-member
strong staff and 1800
volunteers, is dedicated
to caring for those children
in Romania
without homes
or that cannot live
with their parents
for various reasons at 50
“child protection centers”
throughout the country.
Most of the children
who are taken in
are ethnic Hungarian
and thus only speak
Hungarian as previously
Transylvania
was part of Hungary.
Brother Csaba, himself,
is an ethnic Hungarian
from Transylvania.
Currently there are
1,800 children looked after
by the Foundation.
The child protection centers
feature what are called
“social families”
that are comprised of
one or two foster parents
and eight to 10 children
living together in a large
apartment owned by
the Foundation.
Each social family
is independent.
I think I believe in
what we started here,
not because it was our idea,
but because
it is a good system.
As it is not
a state institution,
it is much easier to
involve citizens as well,
the worshippers
and others,
and it’s easier to
maintain financially and
somehow more realistic.
And it is so nice
the worshippers
arrive to the church
in the morning, bring bread,
put it in front of the altar
of Saint Anthony
and we eat it at noon.
In other words,
the connection is so real.
Recently one house was
in need of firewood,
and I told them
to go out to the riverbank
to pick up the garbage
and after finishing
to go to the mayor
and sing for him,
and the mayor sent them
some firewood indeed.
And by doing so
kids learn that
they should participate
in earning their living.
Externally it may seem
to be a bit ad hoc, but
my experience in 17 years
is that this system
works well and
it is living and healthy.
Kids are calm and silent.
In these 17 years
I didn’t have
any police involvement.
I have never been
to the police-station;
the kids haven’t committed
anything against the law.
“If you behave badly,
we will take you away
from your parents and
put you in an institute.”
Our system is not like that.
Rather the parents
and kids themselves
apply in writing for us
to take the child in.
And if he or she cannot
behave, then I say:
“Sorry about that, but
if I cannot cultivate you
with nice words, and
I won’t do that with force,
I will take you home.”
And that kid becomes
more silent
and manageable.
My father and I
used to go to the church
and there was a priest
who used to come here
to hold the Mass.
And he said
that there is a foundation
and the priest visited us
and he asked
if I wanted to come here
and I said, "yes."
It is easier here because
here we have a place
to sleep, there is hot water,
there is a bed,
you can go to school
and become intelligent.
We study German,
Hungarian, English,
Latin, and how to say
"hallo” nicely,
how to have good manners,
and how to eat nicely.
Besides offering shelter,
Brother Csaba has always
strived to provide
the youngsters
under his care with
an excellent education
so that they are prepared
to succeed in life.
The first batch of children
that he rescued
from the streets in 1992
became academic all-stars.
Following completion
of their studies,
14 out of the 15 students
were accepted to university.
Recognizing
that higher education
is not something
that all children
may wish to pursue,
today vocational training
is also offered
and youngsters can learn
furniture making skills.
By learning this trade,
they can find
gainful employment
after leaving
the Foundation’s care.
Most kids –
thanks to God –
take their school exit exams
and over half of them
can get into universities
or colleges.
So for example,
we have two houses
in Cluj (Romania)
for those kids
who have already passed
their school exit exams
and would like to study
at universities.
If someone is honest,
punctual, neat,
well-disciplined,
then he is a useful citizen
of this planet.
These children leave here
at the age of 18 to 20 and
I would like them to earn
their living righteously,
and to have that
standard of life like what
we can provide them here
in the name of God.
Otherwise
they become frustrated
when they go out from here
and they feel bad
about just working,
working and cannot
get ahead in their lives.
I expect them to be happy,
cheerful and full of
vitality and strive
to earn their living and
so they become like that.
After these messages,
we will learn
more about the lives
of the children cared for
by the Saint Francis
Foundation of Déva.
Please stay tuned
to Supreme Master
Television.
In this world,
only God’s mercy
is endless,
everything else has an end.
And whatever has an end,
we can finish it.
So, all those troubles
and problems
that weigh down our soul
and probably extinguish
the optimism
and constructive thinking
in many, these have an end.
These (problems),
if we join together,
we can end them.
Welcome back to
Good People, Good Works
on Supreme Master
Television.
The Saint Francis
Foundation of Déva,
based in Déva, Romania
provides children
without homes
or who cannot live
with their parents
for various reasons
a place to live that
features foster parents
who care very much
about them and a
loving family environment.
Pente Andrea
is a foster parent
for the Foundation and
genuinely cares about
the welfare of the children
she looks after.
I’ve been working here
at the Foundation
for three years,
at this child protection
center in Déva,
and I’ve been trying
to guide 10 boys
for these past three years.
At first I arrived
as a volunteer, then later on
as I got acquainted
with the work
of the Foundation ,
then I desired to work here.
Volunteer means that
you get to know the work
of the Foundation more;
you help several
foster-parents and
accomplish various tasks.
The foster parent is
in charge of 10 boys,
solely for those 10 boys,
and is spending time
with them 24/7.
Firstly I came here
because we’ve often heard
Brother Csaba saying
that, “If you love,
it will spring forth
their goodness.”
Basically, I came here
to try to see whether or not
this is doable.
I succeeded in the
first year, and I saw
that the kids develop
through my love for them,
and through
my daily work with them.
So these three years
turned into three years
because it is very hard
to depart from these kids.
There is a connection.
We are humans and we love
and it is very hard
to end this relationship.
With 10 children
in the household,
the family’s schedule
is always hectic.
What are the days like
for this busy foster parent
and the youngsters?
Weekdays are
naturally different.
When the kids go to school,
study comes first.
Weekends are free.
We have time to get out
a lot, play, that’s
a whole different story.
On weekdays we have
breakfast together,
then the kids go to school
at eight o’clock
and come home
only in the afternoon.
We have various tasks
and have time to
run our personal errands
in the morning.
In the afternoon we study.
In the evenings
we have different courses
for the kids,
like guitar lessons,
folksong lessons,
and flute lessons.
They can come
to the library as well.
The junior school students
are coming here,
to this monastery,
right next to us.
The kindergarten is here
as well, and
the senior students are
going to a state school.
Now let us meet
two of the residents of
the child protection center
in Déva.
My name is Kakucs Sándor,
I’m 15,
I am from Târgu Mureş.
I like living here very much,
because there’s a place
where I can learn.
I have been here
for a long time
since kindergarten.
And what do you like
the best here?
Oh, a lot of things.
Doing sports and learning.
What sports do you do?
Football, and
sometimes basketball.
I’ve been here
since I was three
and I feel happy here.
Will you tell the viewers
how old you are?
I’m 16.
What would you like to do ?
Have you got plans
for your life and
where to study next?
Yes, I would like to work
as an assistant in Cluj.
And what does (working
as an) assistant mean?
That means
taking care of people
and curing them.
Could you tell us
an interesting story,
as many things
have happened here
since you were three
that you remember well?
Well, Brother Csaba
came after me
and brought me here.
It was a great experience
and I enjoy myself here
and I am very grateful.
To close, here are some
inspirational thoughts
from Pente Andrea
and Brother Csaba.
Faith is extremely
important for me,
and for the kids.
I know of myself that
without God, without faith,
I could not do this.
Because you spend
every day with 10 kids,
and the 10 kids have
different problems.
They are of different ages,
either teenagers,
or little kids
and you cannot do this
without having faith
and love.
I’d like to ask you if you
have any special message
for the broad viewership
of Supreme Master
Television?
I rejoice that there’s
a television channel
like this and
I ask God’s blessings to you
and I ask and encourage
this television channel
to strengthen
the brotherly togetherness
among people.
I jokingly have said
many times that
Jesus Christ in Heaven
will not set different tables
for different people
and for different religions
but we’ll have to
sit at the same table.
And I rejoice that
there are communities
that build
humanity’s huge family
in a conscious
and loving manner.
May God’s blessings
be upon your work!
We sincerely
thank Brother Csaba,
the foster-parents,
and the volunteers of the
Saint Francis Foundation
of Déva for touching
the lives of so many
vulnerable children
in Transylvania and
greater Romania through
their love and dedication.
May Heaven bless them
for their selfless work
and all the children
with bright futures.
For more details on the
Saint Francis Foundation
of Déva, please visit:
www.Devaigyerekek.hu
Thank you
for joining us today on
Good People, Good Works.
Next is
The World Around Us,
after Noteworthy News.
May your life be filled
with abundant joy
and inner peace.