Editorial - November 2025

As an exercise of memory, and to recount our progress, agreements, achievements, and, why not, also our setbacks along the way, we begin this monthly installment of Reflections from Casa VEHU. Our goal is to be closer to the community and our friends, who always support us in integration, in our struggles, and in preserving our collective memory.

October: Joy and Canonizations

This October was a month of special joy, as we witnessed the canonization of our first two Venezuelan saints: Mother Carmen Rendiles and Dr. José Gregorio Hernández, which took place on October 19 in a public ceremony presided over by Pope Leo XIV at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican.

For the Venezuelan Catholic community, this is a dual achievement: the recognition of their sainthood and their civic and social work. Our new saints reflect how action should be in harmony with thought and feeling, and how supporting others is one of the noblest goals we should maintain in our actions.

In commemoration, the Spanish-speaking Catholic Mission of Budapest – MCHB celebrated a Holy Mass in honor of the new saints on October 25, at the Parish of Saint Elizabeth of Alsó-víziváros (Capuchin Church of Buda), the new venue for Spanish Masses. A summary of the celebration is available on our blog: Canonization in Budapest.

This recognition is also a tribute to the parishioners who follow them and the symbol they represent: unity, altruism, and sanctity.

Commemorating History: The Hungarian Revolution of 1956

In October, we also remembered another significant event: the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, which marked Hungary’s history and connects with those who fight for democracy, institutions, and the preservation of historical and cultural heritage. This event also influenced the formation of the Hungarian diaspora in Venezuela, as discussed in our blog: October 23, 1956.

The importance of this event was experienced in a lecture conducted by our historian Ákos Farkas on October 17 at Casa VEHU, where children and grandchildren of those who fought and escaped the revolution shared family experiences. A summary of this activity is available here: Lecture at Casa VEHU.

The New Nobels and Inspiration for Our Community

October also brought news of current achievements, with the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to our compatriot María Corina Machado, for her tireless work towards a free, democratic, and just society, based on clear laws, transparency, and mutual agreements.

The Nobel Prize in Literature went to Hungarian author László Krasznahorkai, “for his compelling and visionary work which, amid apocalyptic terror, reaffirms the power of art.” Krasznahorkai challenges readers and translators alike: of his more than 20 works, only six have been translated into Spanish. His work Herscht 07769 is a remarkable challenge, with a continuous flow of ideas, no conventional punctuation or paragraphs, combining fiction, contemporary narrative, Baroque musical structure, and symbolism.

A summary of these awards and their impact on our community can be read here: Celebrating the Nobels.

Start of the 2025-2026 Lecture Series

Our dear Professor Alicia Fedor inaugurated her cycle of Lectures on Hungary, its culture, language, and people on October 31. From that date until early summer 2026, every last Friday of the month, Casa VEHU will open its doors to those wishing to deepen their understanding of Hungarian history, language, and culture.

Please register in advance, as spaces are limited. A summary of the first lecture is available here: Lecture Series 2025-2026.

Stay Connected

Follow us on social media @venezolanosenhungria and our website www.venezolanosenhungria.com to stay up-to-date with all our activities, projects, events, and news.

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Marcos.