Debrecen4U January 27, 2026

Svetits Catholic Institution Joins as a New Venue for the ‘Move, Debrecen!’ Initiative

From 26 January 2026, those interested will also have the opportunity to take part in the indoor body-shaping aerobics and Pilates classes organised by the “Move, Debrecen!” initiative in the Margit sports hall of the Svetits Catholic Kindergarten, Primary School, Grammar School and Dormitory. The sessions will be held three times a week — on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

Details were presented at a press conference on January 26, 2026, by Deputy Mayor Diána Széles, Eszter M. Sára Geröly, Director General of the Svetits Catholic Kindergarten, Primary School, Secondary School and Dormitory, Csaba Papp, professional leader of the Move, Debrecen! movement, and József Hetei, municipal councillor.

Deputy Mayor Diána Széles highlighted that another indoor “Move, Debrecen!” program venue had also opened recently at Kinizsi Primary School. This is part of a conscious process, as in this form they also wish to reach and encourage teachers and parents to be physically active at numerous locations across the city. The special feature of the Kinizsi School is that it also cares for children with special educational needs, and at “Move, Debrecen!” programs the parents of these children are welcomed with particular warmth for some refreshing exercise while their children are being looked after at school. Initial experiences show that this initiative has been well received there. The deputy mayor also mentioned that another key objective was to ensure there is a permanent opportunity to hold “Move, Debrecen!” physical activity programs in the city center as well. For this purpose, the Health Promotion Center of the Debrecen Primary Care and Health Promotion Institute on Szent Anna Street has proven to be an excellent choice; however, demand has since significantly outgrown its capacity. The need to find another downtown venue, further develop cooperation with schools, and expand the range of physical activities available in the city center aligned well with the fact that the Svetits Catholic Kindergarten, Primary School, Secondary School and Dormitory said yes at the very first request to hosting the physical activity program, for which the institution deserves great thanks. Together with the Svetits Catholic Institution “Move, Debrecen!” physical activity programs are currently available at a total of 19 locations across the city. As Diána Széles emphasized, free exercise opportunities are available to all citizens of Debrecen; all one needs to do is join. It is gratifying that the movement is very popular, as since its inception more than 280,000 people have participated in programs for adults as well as school programs such as the dodgeball tournament.

Eszter M. Sára Geröly, Director General of the Svetits Catholic Kindergarten, Primary School, Secondary School and Dormitory, spoke about how the founder and maintainer of their institution in the heart of the city – the Order of the Sisters of Notre Dame – has always considered it important that not only intellectual and spiritual development take place at the school, but that emphasis is also placed on strengthening the physical body. This is why they practically immediately agreed to the request of Csaba Papp, head of the “Move, Debrecen!” movement. She also highlighted that her colleague Nóra Sipos, head of the secondary school unit of the school, is herself an active member of the “Move, Debrecen!” movement, and that teachers at the school have repeatedly emphasized how beneficial they find the aerobics classes held at the end of the workday. This circle can now expand beyond teachers to include parents and residents of the surrounding area of Debrecen. The institution welcomes this cooperation, which may also result in the school’s activities becoming known to an even wider segment of the city’s population.

Csaba Papp, Head of the “Move, Debrecen!” movement, thanked the school for hosting the movement’s program venue and for providing all the necessary conditions for its operation. This cooperation represents another link between the Church, the school, and the city – given that the institution has been contributing significantly to the intellectual and physical development of Debrecen for more than a hundred years. He expressed his hope that many people will visit the new indoor physical activity program venue of the “Move, Debrecen!” movement at the Svetits school. All one needs to do is come – the movement and the institution will take care of the conditions.

Municipal councillor József Hetei pointed out, among other things, that the special feature of this new program venue is that it has been embraced by such a prestigious institution. József Hetei – both as an institution director and as a physical education and history teacher – emphasized the value of how movement appears in the Svetits philosophy as a tool for developing the intellect and character. As he said, this has ancient roots, since ancient Greek philosophers expressed it in the ideal of kalokagathia – the harmony of physical beauty and moral nobility. They believed that through movement not only the body, but also the intellect and character can be developed, as movement always has a beneficial effect on our mind, soul, and character. If movement truly becomes a way of life, we can achieve living our lives in a harmonious and healthy mental state, he added. 

Following the press conference, a movement demonstration was held with the participation of the institution’s teachers, led by Head of the secondary school unit Nóra Sipos and an aerobics instructor.

From 26 January 2026, the Margit Sports Hall of the Svetits Catholic Institution (Szent Anna Street 20–26 — entrance via the school’s main gate on Szent Anna Street) will host weekly fitness sessions. Interested participants can join body‑shaping aerobics classes on Mondays from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., and Pilates sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.

Detailed information about the health education and physical activity programs of the “Move, Debrecen!” movement is available on the website as well as on social media.

Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu