Seminarians Compete for Inter-seminary Soccer Competition
Seminarians from across Australia compete in the 2018 inter-seminary soccer championship. Photo: Jordan Grantham.
By Theresia Titus and Jordan Grantham
200 Seminarians from across Australia gathered at Patrician Brothers’ College, Blacktown on Saturday 28 July for an annual inter-seminary soccer competition.
The Redemptoris Mater Archdiocesan Missionary Seminary in Sydney and Holy Spirit Seminary in Parramatta co-hosted the competition over the weekend.
Participating seminaries included Redemptoris Mater Missionary Seminaries of Perth and Sydney; the Seminary of the Good Shepherd in Homebush, Sydney; Vianney College from Wagga Wagga, NSW; Holy Spirit Seminary Queensland; Corpus Christi College in Melbourne; and the Missionaries of God’s Love (MGL) in Melbourne and Canberra.
Seminarians in action during a hard-fought soccer match. Photo: Jordan Grantham.
Speaking to The eRecord, Perth Redemptoris Mater Missionary Seminary Rector Fr Michael Moore said 16 Redemptoris Mater Perth seminarians went to Sydney.
“We didn’t even make it to final, but we enjoyed ourselves,” Fr Moore laughed.
Seminarians from across Australia compete in the 2018 inter-seminary soccer championship. Photo: Jordan Grantham.
The seminarians were in NSW for a month, studying two courses and then participating in the inter-seminary soccer competition on their last weekend.
The annual competition usually rotates among east coast cities. Redemptoris Mater Missionary Seminary in Perth participates every seven to eight years.
“To see 200 seminarians from across Australia is a sign of life in the Church,” Fr Moore said.
“It is quite amazing to see future priests of Australia pray and play together for two days, building relationships with each other.”
Seminarians from across Australia compete in the 2018 inter-seminary soccer championship. Photo: Jordan Grantham.
Redemptoris Mater Seminaries usually top the annual soccer competition, having won more championships than any of the other seminaries.
However, this year’s winner was Corpus Christi College (Melbourne), who defeated Holy Spirit Seminary Queensland in the final round.
Team Captain of Holy Spirit Seminary (Parramatta) Tom Green commented on the value of the day.
“It’s always a good opportunity to strengthen the fraternal bonds with seminarians around the country,” Mr Green said.
“The guys of Parramatta showed good hospitality and spirit, especially in following Our Lord’s words that ‘the first shall be last and the last first’.”
Seminarians from across Australia compete in the 2018 inter-seminary soccer championship. Photo: Jordan Grantham.
The competition ended with a Mass and celebratory dinner at Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Chester Hill.
Corpus Christi College and the Missionaries of God’s Love in Melbourne will host next year’s competition.
With Catholic Outlook, Diocese of Parramatta