Őcsényi Szent István király templom, Roman Catholic church in Őcsény, Hungary
Őcsényi Szent István király templom is a modern Roman Catholic church built in 1938–1939 to designs by Pécs architect Gyula Gosztonyi, facing the Reformed church in the village centre. Its arcaded side and tower were added in 1940, and the tower holds three bells, the oldest cast in 1890. Inside, an Empire-style marble altar about 250 years old came from Pécs Cathedral.
The parish became independent on 28 July 1932, with János Pulay appointed first parish priest; the 1930 census counted 1,814 Catholics in Őcsény. The foundation stone was laid on 7 August 1938, construction began on 31 August, and Bishop Ferenc Virág consecrated the church on 19 November 1939. The tower and arcade followed in 1940, and the tower cross was placed on 23 June.
In 1938, the parish's folk-artist and craftswomen, joined by local Reformed women, made a complete set of vestments for Pope Pius XI as a gift for the Budapest Eucharistic Congress. The church's patron is Saint Stephen King, and its altar was consecrated in his honour together with Blessed Mór, Bishop of Pécs.
The church stands in the centre of Őcsény, facing the Reformed church. Mass is held on Sundays at 11:00, and because the parish is served from elsewhere, about half of these occasions are word services led by a deacon with communion rather than a full mass.
The church's marble altar was a gift from Pécs Cathedral and was already about 250 years old when it was installed before the 1939 consecration. The 135 kg Szent István nagyharang was cast by László Szlezák in Budapest in 1942, while the oldest bell, a 30 kg soul bell, was cast by the Ruepprecht brothers in Pécs in 1890.
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