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Father Imre Kozma turns 80
Father Imre Kozma, Ch.G.C.C.H., founding President of the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta, celebrated his 80th birthday on June 4.
On this occasion, he was awarded the Commander's Cross with Star of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary. (See link to the related article in Magyar Kurír - in Hungarian only.)
The Grand Chancellor Albrecht von Boeselager and Kristóf Szabadhegÿ, President of MMLSz, as well as his colleagues from MMSz, greeted him with a video message (see here, in Hungarian only).
The message from the Grand Chancellor reads:
"Dear Monsignor Kozma,
it is scarcely believable that you have already completed your 80th year; and you are still in the fullness of your strength! I remember well our first meeting in that memorable August 1989, in front of the church that is still your church today. I got to witness your active love, stemming from deep faith, under dramatic circumstances. It is still expressed today through the presence of MMSZ next to the church. It was due in many respects to your charisma that people were inspired to serve others in the spirit of Christian discipleship.
Shortly afterwards, I got to know your courage and steadfastness, as MMSz found itself, shortly after its foundation, in the middle of a heavy storm: but together, we were able to save it. Today the organisation is indispensable in Hungary, and carries on faithfully the mission you established for it, assisting the neglected and the marginalised.
I express my heartfelt thanks to you for this, in the name of the entire Order of Malta.
I hope that you will be able to celebrate fittingly, in spite of the restrictions imposed by the coronavirus."
