Issue 06 - The Pilgrim - June 2012 - The newspaper of the Archdiocese of Southwark

Behind the scenes The Pilgrim June 2012
London 2012 Olympics are abou
James Parker, the Catholic coordinator
for the London 2012
Olympic and Paralympic Games,
says sport can be about much
more than who wins.
Olympic events in
Southwark diocese
Brands Hatch, near
Swanley: road cycling
Greenwich Park:
equestrian, modern
pentathlon
North Greenwich
Arena: basketball,
gymnastics
Royal Artillery
Barracks, Woolwich:
archery, shooting
All England Lawn
Tennis and Croquet
Club, Wimbledon:
tennis Putney, Richmond
and Kingston:
cycling road race
So, we all know that the
Olympic Torch has well and truly
arrived for its tour of the British
Isles. But just how relevant is this
to the Catholic community!
Although sport lay at the heart
of the ancient Olympics and seems
to be the sole focus of the modern
Games, it was in fact merely the
vehicle used to celebrate people’s
achievement and to unite fragmented
groups and nations.!
Never before has Britain, and especially
our local communities in
the South East, needed such a vehicle
to bring people out of their
increasing isolation into a place of
belonging.
Sport has a tried and tested
record of being able to accomplish
this and for this reason if for no
other we should sit up and take
note.
Belonging and community as a
by-product of the 2012 Games may
seem like a pipe dream to some,
but be encouraged, this journey is
already in progress.
For example, over the past year
or so, different groups within the
Christian community have been
meeting together. So have the
three Catholic London dioceses of
Southwark, Westminster and
Brentwood, as well as disability organizations
from across Britain.
The purpose has been to encourage
Christians to engage in some
way with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee
and the 2012 Games.
Under the banner of More Than
Gold, the umbrella Christian charity,
opportunities to engage with
social justice and the area of disability
are on offer to practically
build a more united kingdom
within Britain, and especially
London.
A meeting with Catholic secondary
school pupils brought to light
the original purpose of what the
Games were, and still are, all
about.
When asked what legacy they
desired to see from the Games,
they responded with “peace on
London’s streets, in our homes and
in our hearts”. This was back in
2009, before the riots.
Clearly, these pupils were feeling
the growing fragmentation
within their own communities and
homes.
The dioceses of Southwark,
Westminster and Brentwood have
been encouraging individuals,
groups and churches to practically
celebrate 100 Days of Peace, 50
days prior to the Games beginning
and 50 days after the Paralympic
Closing Ceremony.
A special peace vigil to launch
these 100 days will take place at
St Martin’s-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar
Square. Prayer and reflection interspersed
with times of silence
will run from 11:00pm on Friday
8 th June through to 11:00am on
Saturday 9 June.
The vigil is being organized by
the three diocesan Justice and
Peace Commissions along with
agencies such as Cafod and Pox
Christi.
It will culminate at 11:00 am
with an hour of prayers and anthems
for peace led by the Archbishop
Vincent Nichols, Bishop
Richard Chartres of London, and a
number of nationally renowned
choirs.
Another message which will be
uppermost in the world’s mind
once the 2012 Games end with the
Paralympic closing ceremony is
that every human body, irrespective
of ability, has incredible potential
and must therefore be
treated with the deepest respect.!
Paralympian Stefanie Reid told
young people at Wembley Arena
for Flame in March, “God is not
limited by things like physical disabilities,
or social stigmas, things
that we may see as limitations.
When you look at your life, see the
endless possibilities, and have the
courage and determination to pursue
them.”
Charities such as HCPT and Faith
and Light, along with diocesan disability
agencies, have recently
been coming together to find ways
of raising the dignity of people
with disabilities so as to bring
about greater social inclusion for
all.
In doing so they are discovering
a fresh and more vibrant expression
of solidarity and collaboration
among themselves.!
As the Olympic Torch makes its
way through the streets of Britain,
may it be a reminder to everyone
of the original purpose of the
Games, namely to bring greater
respect and unity among peoples.!
The Paschal candle raised at the
Easter Vigil each year symbolizes
the unity as Catholics worldwide.
Surely anything that even mildly
mirrors this and gathers those with
no understanding or exposure to
community, especially those less
advantaged than ourselves, is no
bad thing.
To find out more, visit
www.peacelegacy.org.uk
www.catholic2012.com
www.morethangold.org.uk
Key dates
July 27: Olympic Games
opening ceremony
August 12: Olympic
Games closing ceremony
August 29: Paralympic
Games opening ceremony
September 9: Paralympic
Games closing ceremony
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