Catholic ethos in sport

Archbishop John Dew has confirmed his continuation as the patron of one of Wellington’s most successful Catholic sports clubs, the Marist-St Pats Rugby Club. Together with the club’s chaplain, Fr Geoff Broad of St Francis de Sales, Island Bay, the two help to ensure that all those involved with sporting teams – coaches, managers, players and supporters – reflect the club’s Catholic ethos.

This is particularly evident in the Marist-St Pats Junior Rugby Club for primary school children. This club applies the principles of both the Kiwi Sport Fair Play Charter and the Catholic Education Office guidelines on Sport in Catholic Schools at every opportunity.

MSP supports the right of all children to participate in sport regardless of age, ability, ethnic background or gender, and promotes fair play that sets a foundation for lifetime physical activity.

By adopting such a policy, children from any circumstance are provided with self-development opportunities that may otherwise not be available. They receive the opportunity to gain satisfaction from achievement within a controlled, supportive environment.

Children who wish to play for Marist St Pats should contact the club’s junior coordinator, Pat Dunn, (pictured with wife Cath and children Eliza and Jacob) of Holy Cross Parish, Miramar, ph 388 5780 (h), 496 4047 (w), 021 846 303.

As well as coordinating junior rugby for Wellington’s Catholic rugby club Pat is the Chairperson of the Holy Cross Parish Pastoral Council.

For more information, check out the Marist-St Pats website www.msprugby.co.nz