Clergy Gather for Day of Recreation
Article by Fr Robert Cross and Photos by Fr Dat Vuong and Fr Robert Cross
CleRec West, which stands for Clergy Recreation Western Australia, held its first sports tournament for clergy since 2004 on Monday 14 May 2012 .
CleRec West, formerly known as the Perth Clerical Association, has hosted sporting tournaments going back 40 or more years.
In its early years, CleRec West conducted only a golf tournament. But in the 1980's, tennis was added and now this year, a further sport has been added, namely soccer. The addition of soccer this year represents the changing cultural mix of the Clergy of Western Australia, if not the younger generation of clergy who still have the legs to run for 90 minutes!
In the late 1990's, when Fr Robert Cross was on the staff of St Charles' Seminary and was, as he now is, a committee member of CleRec West, CleRec West initiated clergy-seminarian days to bring together priests and seminarians to facilitate clergy and seminarians to help them get to know each other. These were very successful days and may be revived in the future.
Now that CleRec West has reformed after a hiatus of seven years, it is anticipated that other recreational activities for the clergy will be organised during the year, usch as going to the movies, picnics or even a day of fishing with the catch being shared at a BBQ. To help facilitate these future activities, a website is currently under construction by CleRec West which will advertise upcoming events for Archdicoesan and visiting clergy. If priests are interested to know about these activites they can email Fr Robert Cross who will put them on the "email list". Fr Robert's email is robert.cross@perthcatholic.org.au
A special thank you must be given to our very generous sponsors, whose donations assisted in covering the costs of the tournament. The sponsors were, Bowra & O'Dea, Catholic Church Insurances Ltd, Catholic Development Fund, Evolution Sports Imports Pty Ltd and Rich Harvest Pty Ltd.
If you or your company would like to support CleRec West provide recreational activities for your clergy by a donation or offering some facility or other, please contact Fr Robert Cross at the Catholic Church Office, Ph 92231351 or email him at robert.cross@perthcatholic.org.au
View some photos (Clergy Gather for Day of Recreation Photo Gallery) taken at the prize giving dinner held at teh Bio-Ethics Centre Hall on the evening of May 14, after the golf, tennis and soccer tournaments.