The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

DUE TO the great success of this fun filled family event last year, the Archdiocesan Family Life Commission is hosting its second annual Catholic Games on Aquinas College Grounds, Gladstone Road.

The event will take place on Saturday, April 26, between the hours of 9:00 am and 5:00 pm.

The primary goal of the Commission is to promote a sense of fellowship between Catholic parishes and families through fun-friendly sporting competitions. It is intended to encourage a sense of community among all members of the Catholic Church, bringing friends and families closer together and to God. Non-Catholics are also welcomed to join.

Agatha Cartwright, Director of the Office of Family Life at the Catholic Archdiocese of Nassau, said after the very first Catholic Games held last year, they all thought it would be a good thing to bring all of their people together from the various parishes to celebrate once again.

“We have organised games such as; the Basketball Shoot Out, Volleyball, Penalty Soccer, Track and Field and we have more of the fun events like the Egg and Spoon Race, the Three Legged Race and the Dress For Church race. There is also the SpaTacular Kids Mobile Spa we want to bring on, this is something new. We are having the bouncing castle and we are doing bingo and dominoes and a silent auction,” said Ms Cartwright.
Ms Cartwright said it was through the Family Life Commission’s quarterly held meetings that members were inspired to host such an event.

“We thought that there could be something else we could do rather than just meeting and not seeing very much happening. They decided that this would be a good way to bring families together and just build more community and at the same time enhance our faith. Last year was the year of the faith so we thought that it would be a good way to celebrate our faith and honor God,” said Ms Cartwright.

Once the event officially kicked off last year, Ms Cartwright said the consensus was to make it an annual event because they all thought it was really beneficial to Catholics. She said at no other time could they get together in such a way where they are more relaxed and can just have wholesome fun together.

“Attendees can look forward to a marvelous day in participating in the various events. The different teams that have organised themselves with the organised game events will carry home a floating trophy. Other participants will all receive ribbons depending on the outcome of the day. I look forward to this event and I expect it to be a great enjoyable fun filled day for everyone. We just pray God’s blessing upon us that it will be so,” said Ms Cartwright.

Going forward, Ms Cartwright said the plan for the Family Life Commission is to continue in this trend with family fun events. She said they have also recently organised a family fun night where they visit various parishes on a quarterly basis.

“We have done two so far; one at St Anselm’s and the other at Holy Family Parish where we go in on a Friday evening and we would have games and a short talk on some pertinent family life issue. This is how we stay involved and up to date with the church community,” said Ms Cartwright.

Interested persons may contact their Parish Representative or the Archdiocesan Office of Family Life (Telephone: 322-8919/ 322-7711/44), the Chancery, between West Street North and Augusta Street, west of St Francis Xavier Cathedral. You may also email at: thecatholicgames@gmail.com