You are welcome at the home page commonly built up by the Roman Catholic Parishes of St. Stephan and St. Emeric of city Dunaharaszti, and St. Anna of village Taksony, Hungary.      Our habitations are located in the centre of Hungary, south of capital Budapest, in its immediate neighbourhood. Dunaharaszti has appr. 20000 inhabitants, it has won the title of city on 1 of July 2000. Driving on the main road no 51, between Budapest and Dunaharaszti can be measured some 300 meters only. Taksony is the immediate south neighbour of Dunaharaszti, it has appr. 7000 inhabitants. Two settlements are parted by an area of few 100 meters and the Danube-Tisza canal. Face of region is formed by the Danube, coming out of the mountains.  Here the ground is typically sandy, in the Middle Ages was the exquisite vine growing acclimated. The Soroksári branch leaves Main Branch of Danube  at the south part of Budapest, and after its 58 km section returns to it again. The islets of Danube belonging to Dunaharaszti and the artificial pools in the direction of villages Taksony, Bugyi and Alsónémedi, from which earlier river gravel was mined, offer excellent possibilities of open air bathing and sport. Anglers also find exceptional good conditions at the shore of mentioned Danube-Tisza canal and the angler lakes, and Danube as well.    Here, the sandy, gently sloping region near water has its own characteristic flora and fauna. Thanks to the advantageous geographical features, in this region of Hungary there were already settlements 3000 years ago. This is given proof by the numerous archaeological finds. At Harast, a big fortified stone camp was built by emperor Diocletianus, which is mentioned in the historical documents as Contraacquincum or Trans-acquincum. Being an ecclesiastic possession, both Harast and Taksony had own churches at the beginning of XV. century, and at Harast a school was also functioned.Because of Turkish ravaging Harast and Taksony were depopulated, because owing to their central situation they were locales of continuous devastation.

At the beginning of 1700 years were the first German families settled.     They built church, and they had their own parson, an Austrian Benedictine friar. This time became Harast Roman Catholic centre of an extensive, but rarely populated area, which the environing villages belonged as filiae to. During the years of independence war against Austria inhabitant of two settlements were again constrained to run away.        After suppressing war of independence, on initiative of empress Maria Therese numerous German families were anew settled. In 1762, at Harast new stone church was built up, while in 1730, at Taksony the old and several times renewed church began again it’s functioning. In 1762, inhabitants of Harast and Taksony commonly built up a Calvary-chapel on the boundary of two villages. Taksony built up a new church in 1804. The cultural and religious lives of Harast and Taksony were closely bound to the Roman Catholic Church and its institutions. Essential characteristic of the society is the religious homogeneity. By the end of the XIX. century our settlements took to effectual quick developing. Railways were laid down in 1882, after which to Harast many people again settled. The Suburban Railways began their service, in 1887. This time, more than 80 % of population declared their selves German origin, and spoke the Swabian language. Before the First World War, because of strong moving in, number of population doubled. In such a way, about 1920 already the population of Hungarian native language had the greater part. Increasing of population required to build up a new church, which was ordained in honour of Saint Stephan, the Saint King of Hungary on 20 August 1904. In the new, strongly developing district of Harast, named Rákócziliget was also be arisen  claim to build new church, which was ordained in honour of Saint Emeric on 8 of May 1932.     By the year of 1938 was the recent form of settlement evolved. It was a great economical development realized, which was crowned by prospering of cultural life.   The second World War spred a dreadful desolation. All four the churches were demolished.

demolished. In 1956 an earthquake of force 7 shook the region, in consequence of which church of Taksony being just finished crumbled, and church of Harast being then rebuilt seriously damaged. At Taksony thanks to the local collaboration the new church was very soon built up. The recent church of St. Anne was ordained in 1958. At Harast the renewal of church of St. Stephan got its completion very slowly, this church was again ordained in 1976. Then its outside reconstruction has commenced in 1999, and this summer we set about renewal of the church interior so that by 20 of August 2004, by the c       In 1956 an earthquake of force 7 shook the region, in consequence of which church of Taksony being just finished crumbled, and church of Harast being then rebuilt seriously damaged. At Taksony thanks to the local collaboration the new church was very soon built up. The recent church of St. Anne was ordained in 1958. At Harast the renewal of church of St. Stephan got its completion very slowly, this church was again ordained in 1976. Then its outside reconstruction has commenced in 1999, and this summer we set about renewal of the church interior so that by 20 of August 2004, by the centenary of our church it could receive people with renewed exterior and interior.   At the district Rákócziliget of Harast, after the blowing up in the Second World War,  a new church was not built up because of finances, while as place of religious service functions the old parsonage, which was ordained as chapel in 1949. A bell-tower was built up in 1954 next to the chapel. For long yeas we plan to build up new church at Rákócziliget of Harast, and this is getting now to realization. The show-plan of the new modern church is completed, and now the plans for permission of works are being carried out.    Recently, many people moving out of cities with preference choose for place of residence Harast, which offers pleasant, spacious small city environment  near Budapest. Harast is getting strongly industrialized. Taksony is up to the recent days an agricultural settlement, the inhabitants of which in 80 % declare themselves German origin and they keep their traditions. Both of settlements have their German nationality autonomy and nationality schools of German language. People go to song and dance circles, follow nationality habits so keeping the Swabian traditions. Nowadays also often can we hear Swabian speaking. It is remarkable, that Swabian languages of two settlements are strongly different of one another. However this is not a dividing wall, We are hold together by closeness, common history, traditions and religion. The Roman Catholic Parishes of Harast and Taksony commonly issue their periodical review with title Krisztus fénye (Christ’s Light), which is published to our great feasts, four times a year.     Nations of Hungary experienced many storms. Way out is shown by the solidarity, love and belief. In peace to work, foster our children, build the future, fight for our worth and give helping hand. This is the principal task of people believing in Christ. We wish the possibility of peaceful creation for all our sisters and brothers.           Laudetur Iesus Christus!