The Columban interest in the World Cup - La Copa del Mondo
Submitted by FatherSean on Mon, 06/21/2010 - 17:29.
The World Cup is well under way by now in South Africa. This is the first time that the tournament, held every four years, is being hosted by an African nation. Of the 32 countries currently involved before the knock-out stage begins, ten have Columbans working in them: Australia, Brazil, Chile, England, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea (ROK), Mexico, New Zealand and the USA. We can claim connections with France, since St Columban founded a number of monasteries there, most notably in Luxeuil.
Australian Fr Colin McClean, who worked in Malate parish before, has been in Brazil since 1985 when the Columbans first went there. Brazil is no longer a separate mission and Father Colin belongs to the Columban Region of Peru.
Another Australian, Fr Kevin Mullins, is a parish priest in Juarez, Mexico, which borders El Paso, Texas, USA. The US Region of the Columbans has a cross-border mission there.
We have been in Chile since the early 1950s. The bishops conference of Chile has set up a special webpage for the World Cup, Gracias por El Fútbol.
The bishops of South Africa have a special website for the occasion, The Church on the Ball. 'On the ball' is an English idiom that means you are on top of things, coping well with what you are supposed to be doing.
The South African bishops have issued this World Cup Prayer:
Almighty God,
creator of all, as people from every nation gather with excitement and enthusiasm for the 2010 World Soccer Cup may South Africans be good hosts, our visitors welcomed guests and the players from every team be blessed with good sportsmanship and health.
May your Spirit of fairness, justice and peace prevail amongst players and all involved. May each contribute in his own positive ways to prevent, control and fight crime and corruption, hooliganism of any kind and exploitation and abuse, especially of those most vulnerable. May those far away from home and those in their families find much joy in this occasion to celebrate the beautiful game of soccer and the beautiful game of life according to Your plan for the common good of all.
Amen.
Zakumi, mascot of World Cup 2010
New Zealand is not a power in soccer, or football, 'fútbol' in Hispanized form, as it is called in many places, but is the leading country in rugby union. The New Zealanders caused a shock by holding current, and four-time champions Italy to a 1-1 draw yesterday, Sunday 20 June. New Zealand's team are known as the 'All Whites', because of their all white uniform, in contrast to that of the country's rugby union team, the All Blacks. The All Whites were seen as 'cannon fodder' against Gli Azzurri, 'The Blues', as the Italian team is known.
Cardinal Wilfrid Fox Napier OMI, Archbishop of Durban has some fun with a football and with the controversial 'vuvuzela', a plastic trumpet that is popular in South Africa and used especially at soccer games there, in the photo above and on a video here on The Church on the Ball. The vuvuzela is controversial because some visitors, including players, find it very noisy and distracting. It plays only one note, B-flat. But it's part of the local football culture.
South Africans call their team 'Bafana'.
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The progress - and lack of it - of the 'Columban countries'
The 'Columban' countries did quite well in the preliminary round where the top two teams in each of eight divisions of four progressed. Brazil, Chile, England, Japan, the ROK, Mexico and the USA all made it to the last 16, where the knock-out stages began.
Pele of Brazil, center, one of the greatest ever soccer players, in action for Brail many years ago.
Of these, only Brazil has survived to the last eight. We Columbans could make a historical 'claim' on Argentina, another of the last eight, since at the very beginnings of our history - the Missionary Society of St Columban was formally established on 29 June 1918 - we made an attempt to establish ourselves among the Irish-Argentinian community, as we did successfully among the Irish-Americans and the Australian-Americans. However, that venture didn't last long. American Columban Fr John McFadden worked in the Apostleship of the Sea in Buenos Aires from 1952 until 1962 when he was assigned to Lima, Peru.
Diego Maradona, center, another soccer 'great' and current manager of Argentina, playing for his country against Italy in 1986.
All the 'Columban' countries out!
I doubt very much that St Columban has been following the World Cup, though many Columbans have been. Whether he has or not, all the countries in which there is or has been a Columban presence, including the presence of the great saint himself, have now been eliminated and it's down to the Netherlands and Spain on Sunday. Neither has won the World Cup before so there will be a new name added to the roll of winners.
Phils in FIFA
hehehe I wonder would the day come when I will cheer for the Philippines....
Think of all the things that were thought impossible -- until they happened!
Philippine team soon...
I am also looking forward to that, Anne. We also have potential players. They just need support.
And as your quotation says, 'think of all the things that were thought impossible...' I'll continue to think for the Philippine team to one day sprout in the world cup. If Paul's prediction made it perfectly, so then my hope will also find its way. ;)
(",)
'Love is embracing all and loving especially the unlovables.'
Maybe your dream will come true, Anne
There's no reason why the Philippines could not have a good soccer team. while height is an advantage for a defender, it's not a 'requirement'. One of the soccer 'greats', Ferenc Puskas of Hungary, could kick with only one foot - but it was a 'magic' one.
I can see a growing interest in soccer here with wide media coverage given to the World Cup and with companies such as Cebu Pacific referring to it in their advertising. Some related stories were front-page news in the Manila dailies. The availability of top-class soccer on TV is also a factor. I noticed that many of my friends here in Bacolod were very up-to-date on the just finished World Cup in South Africa.
Who knows, maybe your son Gabriel will grow up to be a soccer star!
One of the 'Columban' countries playing in the tournament in South Africa, New Zealand, were the only undefeated team, even though they didn't manage to get through to the knockout stages. Their three draws in the preliminary stages merited only three points.
The Philippines didn't even enter the regional preliminaries for World Cup 2010. I hope it does next time around. It should build on the interest created by what has been happening in South Africa. The final stages will be played in Brazil in 2014.
Viva España, viva Paul!
Of the countries, I pitied Brasil. I watched their game with Netherlands and they surely had a really good fight. I was so disappointed to learn that their countrymen blamed them for losing it, even their coach was fired out. It's not all about winning, it is rather how you fought the game.
In a fitness store where we dropped by for few minutes, I had the chance conversing with some people about the world cup. When asked to which I was cheering between Spain and Germany, I was determined to say 'Spain is winning' though I heard from many that Germany was on an advantage. Much more when I learned that Paul the Oracle Octopus also opted for Spain. And indeed Spain won all the way to the finals. Viva España!
With this news 'Paul
the Oracle Octopus goes eight for eight, is amazing,' I am amazed with Paul! Seems like everybody's cheering that it is the sure champion. hahaha!
(",)
'Love is embracing all and loving especially the unlovables.'
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