"For I was hungry and you gave me food..." Matthew 25
One of the key components of the Play Like A Champion Today ® program is the GROW model for nurturing spiritual and character development. The "R" in the acronym stands for 'relationships' and is associated with the Cardinal virtue of justice. In 'justice', we seek to exhibit fairness and respect and treat others as they deserve to be treated.
For 'justice' in athletics, we should focus on being supportive and encouraging of all who enter into the competitive arena - our team, our opponents and the game officials. Beyond the course, field, court or track, we should also be aware of how using the gifts we have been given can make a difference in the lives of others.
September 2012 was Hunger Action Month and so we look toward how we can take action.
As an individual, you can do so today by "liking" on Facebook the American Family Insurance website and a $1 donation will go to fight hunger.
We would encourage our teams, families and participating programs to consider how they can take action as a community. Your parish or school may have programs or service opportunities you can get involved in.
For those who participate in CYO Athletics Cross Country, we will have a canned food drive at our K-3 ribbon run and 4-8 championships - there are more details in this e-letter below.
Blessed Pier Giorgio Award for Service and Leadership through Athletics
From the website of Frassati USA: Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati was a very deeply spiritual person. He was physically, socially and politically active, successful in school and came from a family of means. Yet, he made a priority of serving others. "At the age of 17, he joined the St. Vincent de Paul Society and dedicated much of his spare time to serving the sick and the needy, caring for orphans, and assisting the demobilized servicemen returning from World War I."
"A month before his death at the age of 24, Pier Giorgio Frassati and some of his friends had been climbing ...where some difficult points had to be overcome by...using a double rope. On the photo which shows him holding onto the rock gazing up toward his goal, he later wrote the words, 'Verso l'alto'; in English, 'toward the top.' It is a short phrase which was the synthesis of his way of life: always seeking what enhances, that which carries us beyond ourselves, toward the best we can be as people, toward the best of ourselves. It is to strive toward perfection of life; in other words, toward sainthood. It means to strive toward the source of life: God."
Beginning this year, CYO Athletics will recognize those teams (Elementary/Junior High) and individuals (High School) who strive toward sainthood by serving others using "athletics" as a theme, connection or foundation for their service.
As Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati did, let us seek what enhances, that which carries us beyond ourselves, toward the best we can be as people - toward holiness and sainthood.
Blessings,
~Tauno Latvala
Director of CYO Athletics
