The 2024 National Vocations Awareness Week, celebrated from 4 – 11 August this year, was marked by a series of engaging events organised by the Perth Vocations Office for the Catholic Archdiocese of Perth. This year’s celebration culminated in an exciting and spirited soccer tournament, a first-of-its-kind event that brought together different communities in the Archdiocese.
On Sunday, 11 August, the Vocations Office hosted its inaugural soccer tournament at the Sam Kerr Football Centre in collaboration with Football West. The event, which was the finale of the week’s activities, saw 48 enthusiastic participants forming six teams.
Players from Redemptoris Mater Seminary, St Charles Seminary, Catholic Youth Ministry Perth, Notre Dame Chaplaincy Freo, the Vietnamese and Burmese Catholic Communities, and members of the clergy from various parishes including Whitfords, North Perth, and Como, participated to create a fun and exciting day!
The tournament featured a series of 5-a-side matches, with substitutions to accommodate the full registration. After five rounds of spirited play, Team Orange from Redemptoris Mater Seminary faced off against Team Blue, also from Redemptoris Mater, with a young player from the Burmese Community, in a thrilling penalty shootout for first place.
In the end, the gold and silver medals were claimed by the Redemptoris Mater Seminary teams, while the clergy team secured the bronze after a tight 1-0 victory over the St Charles x Burmese Catholic Community team.
The day was not just about competition but also about building camaraderie and friendship among the participants. The tournament concluded with a shared meal and prayer led by Fr. Joseph Laundy, Vocations Director, fostering a sense of community and gratitude. Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing a desire for future tournaments—though not too frequently, as some walked away a little tenderly from the event, ready for a well-deserved rest!
The inclusion of sport in the Vocations Awareness Week was a reflection of the principles outlined in the “Open the Way to Christ” document by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, which emphasizes the role of sport as a gift that can draw people closer to Christ,” explained Fr Joseph when he opened the soccer tournament on Sunday 11 August.
“The soccer field, much like Catholic parishes, served as a “place of encounter,” where the values of solidarity, the common good, and the dignity of the human person were on full display.”
The soccer tournament was one highlight of a week filled with meaningful events.
National Vocations Awareness Week 2024 kicked off with a Thanksgiving Vocations Mass on Sunday 4 August at St Mary’s Cathedral, celebrated by Bishop Don Sproxton, where over 700 attendees gathered to celebrate and pray for vocations.
This was followed by a vocations-themed Common Ground event on Wednesday 7 August in collaboration with Catholic Youth Ministry Perth, which included Adoration, a Vocations Mass, and a BBQ.
On August 9th, a Spiritual Formation Evening and Dinner was held at St Charles Seminary, featuring an inspirational talk by Fr. Adelbert Imperial OCD, one of Australia’s youngest Carmelite priests. Father Adelbert gave an insightful and penetrating talk on the nature of the religious life, focusing not only on his own testimonial journey towards becoming a Carmelite priest, but also peppering it with the works of Saint John of the Cross and Saint Teresa of Avila.
The 2024 National Vocations Awareness Week was a time of reflection, celebration, and community building. Whether you are discerning a path in ordained ministry, religious life, married life, or single blessedness, know that you are supported in this sacred journey. We encourage you to explore the resources and guidance offered by the Perth Vocations Office and our Vocations Director, Fr. Joseph Laundy: https://vocations.perthcatholic.org.au/vocations-resources/
May these tools accompany you as you listen to and follow God’s call.
