In the spring of 2024, we announced our nationwide online religious education competition, which focused on the lives of Cardinal József Mindszenty—Prince Primate, Archbishop of Esztergom, Bishop of Veszprém—and martyr Magdolna Bódi Mária. The goal of the competition was to help children learn about virtues that can serve as examples for today’s youth and future generations through the lives of these two outstanding figures.
As part of the competition, 3rd and 4th-grade students were encouraged to create lap books related to Magdi, while 5th-6th and 7th-8th graders were tasked with composing their own thanksgiving prayers.
Given the high quality and beauty of the submissions from both within and outside the diocese, we decided to showcase them to a broader audience using roll-up banners. Thus, five series of roll-ups were launched.
In the coming weeks, we will provide updates on the locations where the roll-ups will be displayed. Our first reports cover the exhibitions in Hévíz and Várpalota.
At the Saint Luke Elderly Home in Hévíz, a celebration was held on October 18, 2024, marking the 22nd anniversary of the institution’s founding. As part of the event, they hosted an exhibition of roll-ups presenting the life of Magdolna Bódi Mária.
The institution’s director, Mrs. Enikő Karácsonyné Kiss, and her colleagues shared that the residents of the elderly home had eagerly awaited the exhibition and were delighted by the topic. During the celebration, one elderly lady expressed that she felt her prayers had been answered by bringing this exhibition into the walls of their institution. She shared that she had read extensively about Magdi and deeply respects her life and work.
Residents unfamiliar with Magdi were very open and receptive, listening attentively to the exhibition opening and continuing to observe, read, and reflect on the drawings, prayers, and texts displayed on the roll-ups.
The home’s residents are preparing for Magdi’s beatification through prayer, and they remember her during their daily rosary prayers.
At the Nepomuki Saint John Roman Catholic Elementary School in Várpalota, students discussed the life and legacy of Magdolna Bódi Mária during a religious education class, using the roll-ups as a teaching aid. These roll-ups served as interactive learning materials, bringing Magdi’s story closer to students through images, texts, and children’s drawings. Her profound faithfulness and commitment to God serve as an inspiring example.
During the discussion, students shared their own thoughts and feelings, collectively exploring how Magdolna Bódi Mária’s example can be applied in daily life today, especially in the areas of love, service, and faithfulness.
