New Church and Community Center in Neratovice

The total cost of the building shell is CZK 204,406,807 including VAT. We will cover most of this through the appreciation of donated real estate. The remaining part consists of direct financial donations from donors. We also actively seek grant opportunities and subsidy programs.

Churches have always been built where people were. The newly formed agglomeration of Neratovice included neither a church nor community spaces. Our community organizes dozens of events annually for children, youth and adults, cooperates with Caritas, and organizes food collections. The problem is not a lack of interest in a church, but that we don't have a suitable one. This project responds to a real, documented need of a living community.

The project was designed by world-renowned architect Prof. Zdeněk Fránek (* 1961), whose buildings stand in many countries around the world. In every cultural period, churches were built in the spirit of their time. The building was inspired by traditional architectural patterns, but reflects the needs and sensibilities of 21st-century people. A significant element is the double-shell structure referring to the dome of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, which carries the symbolism of the Jerusalem Temple with a liturgical space inside and a courtyard for meeting and listening. The tower represents a person touching the mystery of God present in the world and in community. The shape of the ark refers to the presence of God in history and space and a place of safety and continuity. The 21st century also deserves bold, original architecture that may one day become a protected cultural monument. We believe you will love it!

Compared to other projects from recent decades, it is not priced differently; however, events in recent years have significantly increased the project cost. Both the price of materials and labor have risen significantly. We believe in the uniqueness of the project, which expresses the permanence of values that a community creates in the place of its life for future generations.

Schools and hospitals, as well as other publicly beneficial institutions, are certainly needed and the Catholic Church invests considerable resources in them. However, the Foundation was established here for the purpose of building a church and community center, and all the donations it has collected are provided by donors solely for this purpose. The community center will also serve as a base for Caritas Neratovice, which directly helps people in need in the region — so these goals are not mutually exclusive, but complementary.

The Catholic Church consists of individual parishes and many of them support us through both prayer and donations. The Prague Archdiocese paid for the project documentation and continues to support us in every way. The church and community center will not belong to the Church, but will be owned by the Foundation that builds and operates them. It is a return to the roots, where local communities were responsible for their own functioning and churches. The fact that the project stands largely on voluntary donations from individuals and companies rather than institutional money is a source of pride for us. Each donor is a co-founder of something that will last for centuries.

The church will serve the entire Neratovice parish, which includes 13 surrounding municipalities, and will be cadastrally located on the territory of the municipality of Libiš — access to it will be from Neratovice. From Neratovice's main square, it is only 800 meters.

On the territory of Neratovice there is only a small chapel of St. Adalbert, kindly lent by a private person — but it holds only about 40 people. On Sundays, more than 200 parishioners attend mass! We therefore mostly gather in the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Lobkovice, where we also exceed capacity and some faithful stand outside, following the service via loudspeaker. We also lack spaces for social gatherings and education. The community center with the church is therefore a real need, not just a wish.

Construction of the church and community center is currently underway and should be completed in 2028. Follow our news and Facebook, where we regularly share photos from the construction site.

The Cardinal Josef Beran Church and community center will be open to all people of goodwill — regardless of belief. We plan to host concerts, exhibitions, weddings and community gatherings here. Facilities will be available for associations, organizations and individuals throughout the region. It will be a place for quiet reflection and meditation. Simply a place for everyone. We already sense that architect Zdeněk Fránek's project will become an architectural gem that will transcend our region in significance and contribute to the cultivation and development of the surrounding area.

The project is covered by the Neratovice Community Center Foundation registered in the foundation register. We publish annual reports (available for download on the website). The Foundation is headed by Fr. Peter Kováč, administrator of the Neratovice parish, and a large part of the members of the local community. The project is also supported by well-known public figures — MEP Tomáš Zdechovský and director Jiří Strach. We have been featured in Czech Television, iDNES.cz, ČTK and many other media.

Yes! After filling out the donation form, we will send you a confirmation of the received donation, which you can use in your tax return. Individuals can deduct donations exceeding 2% of the tax base or with a total value of at least CZK 1,000; legal entities can deduct donations from CZK 2,000.

Share our story — mentioning it to friends, sharing on social media, or talking to your employer about a corporate donation has a huge impact. Companies and associations can get involved through non-financial donations (materials, services, real estate) or as media partners. Write to us at fundraiser@kostelneratovice.cz and together we will find a way to cooperate that suits you.