This year's drawing competition for children of the Diocese of Debrecen-Nyíregyháza, with the theme "Behold, I make all things new!" (Rev 21:5), joined the message of the World Children's Day announced by Pope Francis. This competition is becoming increasingly popular, as evidenced by the approximately 500 entries received, which also represents the participation of 500 families.
The results of the Diocesan drawing competition were announced on 11/06/2024 in Debrecen, at St Anne's Cathedral. The awards were presented by Ferenc Palánki, Diocesan Bishop of Debrecen-Nyíregyháza.

A child's heart and eye immediately perceive God in life, in the family, in the Church, in the world – His beauty, His almighty power, His recreative love. The organisers expected these moments to be captured in the drawing competition announced in five categories (Nursery, Years 1-2, Years 3-4, Years 5-6, Years 7-8).

As usual, the jury – István Kovács, chairman; Julianna Némethné Székely, EKIF director; László Papp, parish priest; Zsolt Bessenyei and Tímea Szabó, art teachers – had a difficult task evaluating the many visualised stories among the five hundred entries.
This was expressed by István Kovács, the chairman of the jury, who briefly evaluated the received drawings. "Behind every drawing, a story can be discovered, which children have presented with countless creative ideas," he emphasised, then added that during the hours-long evaluation, he constantly wondered what the children might have been thinking while working, and how the challenging theme of "Behold, I make all things new!" might have taken shape in their minds.

He then thanked the preparing teachers, the parents, but most of all the participating children for their work, and encouraged them to continue drawing and always capture their own stories and thoughts, which will also be a defining experience in their lives.

What might have been on the children's minds during their work? Continuing István Kovács's thought in his welcoming address, Bishop Ferenc Palánki added: We become what we occupy ourselves with. If someone tries to grasp in their mind and draw what Jesus's saying "Behold, I make all things new!" means, then they begin to occupy themselves with it with their mind and heart, and it transforms them too, because we are all part of the 'all'.

Change, recreation begins when I myself start to change and want to be better. Not like others, but compared to myself. Today, for instance, we want to be better than yesterday, so that we can increasingly grasp, feel, and pass on this goodness, allowing the re-creation, which is thanks to Jesus, to take place in the world.

The world needs us to improve, to become better. God is the source of goodness. By working on the drawings, you yourselves became better, because your thoughts revolved around what it means to preserve the created world, and to pay more attention to living more consciously, to constantly improve.

Also present at the award ceremony were: Dr Zoltán Krakomperger, Vicar General and parish priest of the Cathedral; István Németh, Episcopal Secretary; the directors of EKIF; staff of the Catechetical Office; the winning children, their parents, preparing teachers, catechists, and clergy.

Congratulations to the winners of the Diocesan Drawing Competition!

Nursery
I. place: Milka Mira – Svetits Catholic Nursery, Primary School, Grammar School and Boarding House DEBRECEN
II. place: Czibere Balázs – Széchenyi István Catholic German National Minority, Hungarian-English Bilingual Primary School and Nursery – MÁTÉSZALKA, Tamaskovics Anna – St Imre Catholic Grammar School, Bilingual Primary School, Boarding House, Nursery and Basic Art School – NYÍREGYHÁZA
III. place: Vári Bence –  Széchenyi István Catholic German National Minority, Hungarian-English Bilingual Primary School and Nursery MÁTÉSZALKA
Koi Izabella – Tamási Áron Catholic Primary School and Basic Art School, Nursery and Crèche of Ajak – AJAK
Special Prize: Jászberényi Zsófia  – St Joseph Nursery, Primary School, Grammar School and Boarding House, St George Branch Nursery – DEBRECEN
Angyal Dorka – GÁVAVENCSELLŐ
Teremi Aisah Freta and Drabik Elizabeth – St Imre Catholic Grammar School, Bilingual Primary School, Boarding House, Nursery and Basic Art School – NYÍREGYHÁZA

Years 1-2
I. place: Bálint Anna Lujza – Széchenyi István Catholic German National Minority, Hungarian-English Bilingual Primary School and Nursery – MÁTÉSZALKA
II. place: Kövér Nóra – St Imre Catholic Grammar School, Bilingual Primary School, Boarding House, Nursery and Basic Art School – NYÍREGYHÁZA
Szálka Míra Bella – KISVÁRDA
III. place: Makai Dóra – Svetits Catholic Nursery, Primary School, Grammar School and Boarding House – DEBRECEN
Faragó Nóra – Our Lady of Hungary Main Parish – NYÍREGYHÁZA
Special Prize: Orosz Kristóf – LEVELEK

Years 3-4:
I. place: Vágányik Johanna – NYÍRCSAHOLY
II. place: Bákonyi Ádám – Széchenyi István Catholic German National Minority, Hungarian-English Bilingual Primary School and Nursery – MÁTÉSZALKA
Bereczki Lilien – NAGYKÁLLÓ
III. place: Biró Dominik – MÁTÉSZALKA
Special Prize: Hasulyó Noel – OUR LADY OF HUNGARY PARISH NYÍREGYHÁZA

Years 5-6
I. place: Rell Mirabella – MÁTÉSZALKA
II. place: Horváth Ágnes – GESZTERÉD, Molos Flóra – MÉRK
III. place: Molnár Zsófia – Széchenyi István Catholic German National Minority, Hungarian-English Bilingual Primary School and Nursery – MÁTÉSZALKA
Special Prize: Tasi Lara Hanga – St Anne Catholic Nursery and Primary School – GESZTERÉD
Karász Dóra Kata – St Anne Catholic Primary School – NYÍRTELEK
Simon Dominik – St Joseph Nursery, Primary School, Grammar School and Boarding House – DEBRECEN
Cserkuti Patrik – ÚJFEHÉRTÓ

Years 7-8
I. place: Kovács Abigél Tamara – KISVÁRDA
II. place: Rubóczki Eszter – St László Catholic Grammar School, Technical College, Bilingual Primary School, Boarding House and Nursery – KISVÁRDA
III. place: Balogh Dávid – St Anne Catholic Nursery and Primary School – GESZTERÉD
Special Prize: Gdovin Boglárka – St Anne Catholic Primary School – NYÍRTELEK
Lubiczki Barbara – St Anne Catholic Primary School – NYÍRTELEK

Further photos from the event can be viewed and downloaded on the Debrecen-Nyíregyháza Diocese Facebook page or in the photo album.

Joyful News Press Office/Diocese of Debrecen-Nyíregyháza