From September 19–21, 2025, the city of Vác will come alive for the KATTÁRS Festival of Families and Communities. The three-day event will span multiple iconic locations throughout the city—imagine the garden of the Bishop’s Palace and the historic Constantine Square (Konstantin tér) outside the Cathedral. This isn’t just another community fair: KATTÁRS dives into the big questions of protecting life and creation, confronts the challenges posed by artificial intelligence, and features a host of concerts, shows, games, and acts of charity. It’s a living showcase of how the Catholic Church engages with families and society, addressing today’s issues through interactive programs and lively dialogue. Entry to all activities is completely free.
A Platform for Faith, Innovation, and Hope
KATTÁRS is more than a festival—it’s an annual opportunity for dioceses to demonstrate how the Church is present in daily life, especially for families, and how it addresses contemporary concerns. In 2025, Vác and its diocese will play host, opening up revitalized venues like the newly renovated Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary (Mária mennybevétele-székesegyház) and its surroundings. The central question for this year’s edition: How can faith, innovation, and creativity serve society, making it more just, hopeful, and united in brotherhood?
Day One: Faith, Ecology, and Artificial Intelligence
Friday kicks off with a conference marking the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’s Laudato Si’ encyclical. The morning features a musical journey through the poetry of Sándor Weöres, exploring heaven, earth, body, and soul, performed by the Komp Collective. After official greetings, there will be an exploration of the ecological worldview and the place of creation in Catholic thought, led by theologians and association leaders.
Ilona Keresztes, president of the “Together for Life” (Együtt az Életért) Association, will take the stage to explore humanity’s paradoxes: we worry about overpopulation even as our numbers decline, are obsessed with the beginnings of human life yet can’t pinpoint its exact start, face climate anxiety yet are rekindling our care for creation. A roundtable with bishops, sociologists, researchers, and pro-life advocates will debate the theological and social implications of protecting life and the planet.
Lunch breaks up the day before attention shifts to the digital frontier. Gábor Prószéky, a linguist and AI expert, will unpack the revolution brought by massive language models like GPT and their Hungarian counterparts, including the PULI family, trained on a 60 billion-word Hungarian corpus. Why is this important? Hungarian institutions can operate these models in-house, securely processing sensitive data without handing it over to tech giants. Researchers are able to examine and compare results in ways that closed platforms like ChatGPT or Gemini simply don’t permit.
Next is Dr. Zoltán Gloviczki, discussing how AI presents both challenges and catalysts for change in education. The session sparks a lively roundtable discussion on AI’s growing role in schools and daily life, featuring university heads, educational researchers, leaders of linguistic groups, and others.
Ceremonial Opening and Evening of Spiritual Culture
At 4:00 pm, the grand opening will take place at Constantine Square (Konstantin tér) with speeches by Bishop Zsolt Marton, the mayor of Vác, and the area’s Member of Parliament, accompanied by impressive musical performances from the Central Military Brass Band and the Saint Cecilia Choir. The day concludes with a festive Mass in the Cathedral, broadcast live, followed by a rare treat: Pál Feri, priest and mental health expert, will explore self-realization and community in his talk, “Me, Us, Everyone.” Immediately after, the Eucharist Band (Eukarisztia együttes)—a beloved duo on Hungary’s Christian music scene—will take the stage for a rousing worship concert.
Saturday: Families, Games, and Community
The weekend is all about families and local communities. Saturday morning on the main stage, Catholic schools from across the diocese will showcase their talents. The audience can enjoy a high-energy juggling and dance show set to live music, and the Garagulya Stilt Company’s giant puppet performance.
There’s something for all ages: creative competitions and awards, hands-on charity activities, educational displays, music, theater, and even a family game zone. Throughout the day, various church and community groups will present their missions and invite visitors to participate in acts of service or artistic workshops.
Everyone Is Invited
KATTÁRS 2025 welcomes everyone: individuals and families, young and old, locals and visitors, Catholics and the simply curious. The goal is to spark genuine encounters, promote thoughtful discussion on the future of faith and technology, and prove that fun, music, and spirituality can exist side by side. Whether you’re interested in debates on AI, vibrant concerts, or just a wholesome day out, this is the weekend to experience Vác at its liveliest.
