UCAN REPORT: 
Seminarians were the commentators and the umpires at a recent fund-raising cricket tournament held each year to promote religious vocations and remember Pakistan’s first cardinal.
Some 16 teams representing Catholic youth groups from different parishes participated in the third Cardinal Cordeiro Cricket Tournament Sept. 10 to 13 at Christ the King Major Seminary in Karachi.
St. Thomas Parish emerged as this year’s champions.
The seminary has been hosting the tournament since 2008.
“I started the competition to influence the youth and give them some fun,” said Father Augustine Soares, the seminary rector.
“As well as fund raising and promoting vocations, it helps keep alive the memory of our first cardinal who was a great cricketing all-rounder,” he said.
Cardinal Joseph Cordeiro became Pakistan’s first cardinal in 1973. He died in 1994.
Besides being known as a great writer and advocate for the poor, he was also “a diehard cricket fan and never missed any international event [on TV],” Father Soares said.
Organizers said the tournament is held at the end of every academic year.
“The studies of seminarians are very tough. The competition gives them a break and they get to spend time with young people who come, pray and enjoy the game. This increases their fellowship,” said Brother Ryan Joseph.
Nathaniel Waliat’s team lost in the final but was full of praise for the competition.
“I saw the seminary for the first time and was impressed by the way the brothers treated us. The elderly rector even served us tea,” said the 19-year-old.
The tournament is one of the three special events in the seminary’s calendar to promote vocations.
The others are a talent show for young Catholics at Easter and a Christmas children’s program.
There are presently 43 students from all six dioceses and one apostolic vicariate in the country’s only national seminary situated in Karachi archdiocese.
Seminarians were the commentators and the umpires at a recent fund-raising cricket tournament held each year to promote religious vocations and remember Pakistan’s first cardinal.
Some 16 teams representing Catholic youth groups from different parishes participated in the third Cardinal Cordeiro Cricket Tournament Sept. 10 to 13 at Christ the King Major Seminary in Karachi.
St. Thomas Parish emerged as this year’s champions.
The seminary has been hosting the tournament since 2008.
“I started the competition to influence the youth and give them some fun,” said Father Augustine Soares, the seminary rector.
“As well as fund raising and promoting vocations, it helps keep alive the memory of our first cardinal who was a great cricketing all-rounder,” he said.
Cardinal Joseph Cordeiro became Pakistan’s first cardinal in 1973. He died in 1994.
Besides being known as a great writer and advocate for the poor, he was also “a diehard cricket fan and never missed any international event [on TV],” Father Soares said.
Organizers said the tournament is held at the end of every academic year.
“The studies of seminarians are very tough. The competition gives them a break and they get to spend time with young people who come, pray and enjoy the game. This increases their fellowship,” said Brother Ryan Joseph.
Nathaniel Waliat’s team lost in the final but was full of praise for the competition.
“I saw the seminary for the first time and was impressed by the way the brothers treated us. The elderly rector even served us tea,” said the 19-year-old.
The tournament is one of the three special events in the seminary’s calendar to promote vocations.
The others are a talent show for young Catholics at Easter and a Christmas children’s program.
There are presently 43 students from all six dioceses and one apostolic vicariate in the country’s only national seminary situated in Karachi archdiocese.
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