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Holy Games: Living Paris 2024 with the Church

H eventThursday, 10 October 2024

Choosing to participate in the Holy Games adventure means opting to become a volunteer for the Church during the Olympic and Paralympic Games. This initiative aims to open wide the doors of our Church for Paris 2024, demonstrating that the Catholic Church is present and available. Through this experience, we discover how the values of sport can bring us closer to God: Love, Passion, Perseverance... On the field, we are all equal, wearing the same jersey, becoming teammates. Sport, when played by the rules, unites. It brings nations together behind their champions, striving "faster, higher, stronger" together.

Our week was action-packed! Mornings began with talks on virtues and Mass; we explored themes such as strength, temperance, justice, prudence, faith, charity, and hope. Afternoons were filled with various missions. For example, we went to a park with sports equipment to invite children to play sports with us. On another occasion, we led tours in Montmartre. We also offered people entering the churches the opportunity to pray for them or with them. Each evening, we enjoyed a different event: concerts, adoration, theatre, praise, and even the veneration of the Holy Crown of Thorns! We also had the chance to attend the canoe and kayak sprint event on the Marne River. Our week was full of delightful surprises! We climbed the rooftops of Montmartre, stayed in a beautiful place, and soaked up the Olympic atmosphere, an environment full of smiles and new connections.

Looking back, the key takeaway from this Holy Games adventure is "availability." This stood out to me at many levels. First, the availability that characterized everyone involved in building and executing this project. Then, the availability needed within the mission itself. Often, this requires the ability to welcome those who come to us, listen to them, and respect their perspectives. Being fully present in the moment, entirely available for another person, sometimes just through attentive listening. This makes every encounter precious!

I am grateful to have experienced this unique week with the group from the Congregation of the Religious of the Assumption and my cousin Anaëlle. We return with our hearts full of wonderful memories, renewed faith, and an even greater desire to follow Jesus.

Let us give thanks!

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Marie-Lou Lacoste

What an incredible adventure the Holy Games were! A fantastic week centered around sport and faith that I won’t forget anytime soon. I loved these days that allowed me to experience moments of sharing through various missions. In a world that often seems troubled, it’s heartwarming to see that values of faith, mutual support, and kindness still exist. It’s inspiring to see how sport and faith can unite us beyond our differences. We experienced truly powerful moments where we could genuinely feel God’s presence. I think what I’ll remember most from this Holy Games adventure is this sense of God’s presence in every moment, especially through some memorable encounters. It’s hard to describe the unique atmosphere we experienced, but I think that’s what I enjoyed most: an atmosphere that encourages us to share our faith with the world.

Jeanne Benotteau