The Southern Cross | February 2025

A booklet comprising personal or small group prayers written for and by athletes, coaches, officials, parents and spectators has been published by the National Centre for Evangelisation (NCE).

An agency of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, the NCE developed a collection of prayers called Running to God as part of a range of resources to assist parishes in using sport to reach out to their communities.
This follows the release last year of the document Open the Way to Christ which talks about sport being a way of drawing people closer to Christ.
“The connection between sport and faith in Australia has been more visible in recent times, with elite athletes seen praying on the field and others speaking openly about their faith,” the document says.
“At the local level, many parents and guardians are generously giving their time and talents to volunteer at sporting clubs, and in doing so, are actively living out their faith and witnessing to the Gospel.
“Further, those who play sport can bear witness to their faith by exemplifying values such as fair play, teamwork, respect for others and sacrifice.”
National Centre for Evangelisation director Malcolm Hart said with so many involved in sport around the country, there was an opportunity for people of faith to “contribute to this renewal by exemplifying the virtues sport can foster, and in doing so, witnessing to the Gospel and opening the way to Christ”.
“We encourage individuals, families, parishes and dioceses to prayerfully consider how they can best engage in this vibrant mission field.”
The new booklet includes prayers and reflections, an order for the blessing of an athletic event, and scripture related to sport.
Meanwhile, two Catholic sports enthusiasts in Darwin have combined their love of sport with their faith by training to become sports chaplains.
Daniel Ryan and Dean Chisholm recently completed a six-week online course with Sports Chaplaincy Australia, responding to an invitation from Darwin’s Bishop Charles Gauci.
The pair has been involved in local sport for many years in Darwin, as coaches and players, with Daniel previously representing Australia in kayaking.
Dean, who is in formation for the permanent diaconate and is part of the diocese’s Aboriginal Catholic Ministry, said sport was a particularly significant part of social life in Darwin.
“Everyone here is playing two or three sporting codes at once; most families just roll into different codes all year round,” he said.
“I think sport chaplains are really needed here, especially in this day and age, with so many life challenges and pressures.”
With a background playing Australian Rules football, kayaking professionally, umpiring and coaching, Daniel said he sees many parallels between sport and faith.
“Something I see in sport is discipline, which is essential for growth in faith,” he said.
“Also, in sport you generally have to prepare a lot and the rewards are delayed. We live in an instant culture, but in sport, many work for 10 months to hold up a trophy at the end of the year. Our faith is very similar in that we work towards something in the future.”

Picture: ROLE MODELS: The front cover of the booklet features, from left, Tomislav Uskok (A League, Macarthur FC), Donna MacFarlane (2008 Olympian, 3000m steeplechase), Adam Doueihi (NRL, West Tigers) and Chloe Esposito (2016 Olympic gold medallist, modern pentathlon).