Sport and recreation bringing clergy together
The CleRecWest Organising Committee, from left Frs Jeronimo Castillo, Thi Lam, Paul Raj, Greg Donovan, Bonaventure Echeta and Dat Voung. More than 50 priests from Perth and Bunbury gathered for a day of sport and recreation on 1 May. Photo: Jamie O’Brien.
More than 50 priests from across the Archdiocese of Perth, together with four from the Bunbury Diocese, last week gathered for a day of sport and recreation, organised by CleRec West.
The day offered clergy the chance to participate in golf, tennis and soccer, followed by an evening meal together.
The Perth Clerical Association, or CleRec West as it is now known, is a voluntary social group among the Archdiocesan Priests and formed some 45 years ago.
Run by a group of priests from the Archdiocese of Perth, the aim of the recreation day is to encourage clergy to incorporate exercise into their lifestyle as well as to give them a chance to enjoy sport together.
Hilton Parish Priest Fr Paul Raj, is part of the organising team behind CleRec West, and says the recreation day helped priests network with each other through sport.
“It was a great chance for priests to get involved in sports and recreation, and encourages that aspect of health and fitness which is also important in a priest’s life.
“The recreation day also helps to develop fellowship among priests, getting priests from various religious orders together with those from the Archdiocese, who otherwise may not get the chance to interact with each other,” he said.
Fr Raj says he hopes future events will bring together more clergy members from around the Archdiocese.
“It would be great to get permanent Deacons involved in the recreation day as they are also important members of our clergy.
“We have started planning for the next recreation day and hopefully it will grow and get better,” he said.