{"id":11175,"date":"2024-07-17T10:23:22","date_gmt":"2024-07-17T14:23:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/christnewstoday\/?p=11175"},"modified":"2024-07-17T10:23:22","modified_gmt":"2024-07-17T14:23:22","slug":"catholic-church-hopes-to-evangelize-young-olympic-sports-fans-with-holy-games","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/christnewstoday\/2024\/07\/catholic-church-hopes-to-evangelize-young-olympic-sports-fans-with-holy-games.html","title":{"rendered":"Catholic Church Hopes to Evangelize Young Olympic Sports Fans With ‘Holy Games’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Roman Catholic Church is planning to engage people to participate in religious activities during the 2024 Olympics in Paris. The Conversation<\/a> reported that eight Catholic dioceses based in Paris have organized what\u2019s called the \u201cHoly Games,\u201d a project between the Archdiocese of Paris and the French Bishops Conference. Those participating in the Holy Games will be involved in three programs, each lasting a week: two during the Olympics and the third during the Paralympics.<\/p>\n

Catholics, Missionaries, and other spectators will gather at the Holy Games to watch the Olympics and Paralympics, celebrate Mass and engage in fellowship through various cultural activities. According to\u00a0La Croix International<\/a><\/em>, a French Catholic newspaper, the Catholic Church in France views the Olympics as an opportunity to evangelize using the influence of sport. \u201cSports encourage a sense of brotherhood and allow us to proclaim the\u00a0faith gently,\u201d says Fr\u00e9d\u00e9ric Deren, a permanent\u00a0deacon\u00a0who is the delegate for the Versailles diocese. \u201cEach parish is invited to make this event shine.\u201d<\/p>\n