#CatholicIdentity

Due to the dynamic economic environment and increasing urbanization, there is a significant Slovak minority in Rajka and a large Hungarian minority in Bratislava, many of whom already experience it in their daily lives, but many are still looking for the retaining power of Roman Catholic communities. The project CatholicIdentity aims to build and strengthen minority Roman Catholic communities living in the dispersion of the Hungarian-Slovak border region by renovating important local built heritage sites where they practice their religion and by strengthening their religious identity. The wet walls of the St. Martin’ Church in Rajka have been repaired by the church itself, but a proper historical renovation of the interior is impossible without support. The ancient Franciscan church in Bratislava is a central venue for countless community, ecclesiastical and cultural events, but the façade is in a poor state of repair and the community spaces are in need of major renovation and innovative equipment.
The project will include the restoration of the woodwork of the St Martin’s Church in Rajka, the painting of the interior and the artistic restoration of the wall paintings, as well as the installation of a security system. In Bratislava, the façade of the Franciscan church will be restored, a digital projection system will be installed and the refectory will be renovated.
In addition to infrastructural interventions, the applicants and associated partners not receiving fund will carry out pastoral and community cultural programmes, as well as the purchase of equipment (digital information kiosks, furnitures) to link tangible and intangible heritage and to develop sustainable tourism functions. The investments and new features created will ensure a more adaptive use of under-utilized buildings, while encouraging community participation. The refurbishment of the two cultural sites will be carried out by 2 project partners and 5 associated partners, i.e. 7 organizations in total. The estimated number of visitors per year to the two cultural venues supported is 15,000, and the number of partners collaborating after the project is completed is 7.