Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Johannesburg (Agenzia Fides) – South Africa is hosting the 19th World Football Cup, the first to be held on the continent of Africa. In view of this the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Southern Africa, SABC, has planned a series of initiatives to render the sports event an opportunity for human and spiritual growth. The local Church leaders hope to draw the attention of the world media, often little interested in the situation on the black continent, but at present focussed on this part of the world. The Bishops hope the world cup event will be an opportunity for sportsmen and fans all over the world to reflect on tragic issues such as human trafficking and the AIDS-HIV plague.
Aware of the pastoral commitments and challenges offered by the event, the Bishops decided to give a leading role to those who for 150 years have provided young people with education and training in oratories through play and sport. As early as the end of 2008, the Bishops asked a leading member of the Salesian Fathers, Fr Francois Dufour, Superior of the Southern African Visitatoria, to take charge of pastoral animation on the occasion of the world football championships. The Superior responded with enthusiasm despite considerable difficulties, both economic and logistic. The first step was the formation of a small organising committee headed by Fr Dufour. The Committee made various propositions, for example, Sunday 13 June, the first Sunday during the competition, was declared “World Cup Sunday” with suggestions for special liturgies in parishes across the country involving local Catholics, as well as tourists and sportsmen in South Africa for the event. The Committee also prepared a special pamphlet with prayers as well as information on the history of the Catholic Church in this part of the world. The pamphlet will be distributed free during this World Cup period. Besides institutional activities, individual Salesian communities all over the country have organised various initiatives. (AP) (12/6/2010 Agenzia Fides)
