Australia’s future priests are learning that the path to the altar sometimes runs through the soccer field. Source: The Catholic Leader.
Seminarians from across Australia – Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Wagga and Brisbane – took to the pitch for a soccer competition on October 12.
For Godwin James, a seminarian for the Adelaide Archdiocese studying at Holy Spirit Seminary Queensland, it was great to meet so many other young men discerning the same call to priesthood.
He said the highlight was getting to know each other, trading stories, praying together and “also a bit of fun on the soccer field”.
The games were tough, he said, some seminarians from other seminaries had even played division-level soccer before.
Mr James said it never felt like a competition, more like playing a game “with brothers”.
He said Jesus Christ stayed at the centre and “a blessing to see other young men on the same journey as us, to follow Christ”.
The competition happened right after a conference for seminary rectors from across Australia and Fiji.
Apostolic nuncio Archbishop Charles Balvo celebrated Mass for the rectors and seminarians at the gathering.
It was the first time the soccer meet-up had resumed since 2020 due to COVID.
Brisbane Archbishop Shane Mackinlay stopped by on game day to spectate.
Even after the final whistle blew and Good Shepherd Seminary from Sydney took the trophy, Mr James said the new connections were set to last.
He said they would definitely “keep each other in our prayers” as they returned to their studies.
FULL STORY
Australian seminarians face off in soccer competition and head home with newfound sense of brotherhood (By Joe Higgins, The Catholic Leader)
