At a Family of Sport Celebration - part of the WMOF2018 celebrations in Armagh parish - in St. Patrick's Cathedral were: Charlie Vernon, Armagh County Footballer, Armagh Harps; Colette McSorley, Armagh County Camogie Player, Tullysaran Camogie; Gerard Houlihan, Football All-Star, Pearse Og; Fionnuala McKenna, Armagh Ladies Football, Armagh Harps and Paul McArdle, Chair Armagh GAA. Photo: www.LiamMcArdle.com Archbishop Eamon Martin has praised sporting organisations for their commitment to helping people find a sense of belonging.
At a Mass in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh at the weekend to celebrate the contribution of sport, Archbishop Eamon said “just as a supportive sports family celebrates success and also picks you up when things have gone badly, the Church is also there for you in good times and bad.”
Addressing the sportsmen and women directly the Primate of All-Ireland said: “I encourage you to stay close to God in the family of the Church. You are always welcome in the family of God’s Church.
Gifts
|The Church needs you, your gifts and your energy, your hopes and dreams for the future. I know how much commitment you bring to your sports. Please do not forget your faith. Like your physical fitness, your spiritual wellbeing also needs effort, nourishment, time and commitment,” the archbishop said.
Reflecting on his time as a school principal, Archbishop Eamon said during that time he noticed “that some of our finest sportsmen were also leaders and great examples to their fellow students, in terms of their character, their compassion, their faith and their dedication to studies”.