Dear Editor, I was intrigued to read a report in last week’s edition of The Irish Catholic (25/02/2016) describing how faith and sport were the “matrix” for strong and healthy parishes.
Physical Therapist Gerard Hartmann hit the nail on the head when he described how faith and sport are “intertwined”. It’s a pity that more parishes don’t look to the success of the GAA and various rugby and soccer clubs to advise them how to attract the interest of young people rather than sitting back and scratching their heads in bewilderment.
The key to the success of such sports clubs, in my opinion, has been their ability to provide young people with the opportunity to make new friends. Through sport, young people built strong relationships that can last, in some cases, a lifetime. This is exactly what parishes are lacking and need to attract the interest of young people.
Parishes could establish movie nights, book clubs, sports tournaments and other similar initiatives outside of Mass. These events wouldn’t have to be devoid of the Faith either. Just like our schools, a Catholic ethos can permeate each and every event.
Parishes simply need to look at what works elsewhere and imitate.
Yours etc.,
John Byrne,
Bray, Co. Wicklow.