Priest European Championship in Hungary: Sport connects faith and community!

Priest European Championship in Hungary: Sport connects faith and community!

Kisvárda, Ungarn - The European Futsal Championship of the Catholic priest is just around the corner! This significant sporting event will take place in Kisvárda, Hungary from February 10th to 14th, 2025. Kaplan Philipp Faschinger, a 36-year-old team newcomer to the Austrian national national team, is looking forward to numerous exciting encounters and the opportunity to make contacts. "Sport simply combines people across different cultures, languages ​​and borders," he emphasizes in an interview with the church newspaper of the Diocese Linz. A total of 220 priests from 15 nations have announced their participation, including 14 from Austria, which represented all different dioceses.

a sporty festival with deep faith

At this year's event, the Austrian priestelf will meet strong rival teams, including the often winners from Poland and a team from Kosovo. The games are played in accordance with the futsal rules, with each match lasting twice ten minutes. "The aim of the event is to promote fraternity and solidarity among the priests," said Michael Semmelmeyer, the president of the Austrian team. In addition to sporting competitions, spiritual programs and the exchange about pastoral experiences are also on the program. For example, the participants will visit the national sanctuary of Máriapócs on February 12, where Bishop A. Ábel Szocska will celebrate the divine liturgy.

The European Priest European Corporation, which was launched in 2003, has since developed into a platform that combines sport and faith. "It is about strengthening a positive picture of the Catholic Church," said Semmelmeyer and Wolfgang Zarl, spokesman for the team. The event is open to the public free of charge, and the opening ceremony will take place on February 10th with the metropolitan, Archbishop Fülöp Kocsis. In addition to Hungary, other countries such as Albania, Croatia, and Poland also take part in the tournament, which illustrates the cross-border community among the priestly athletes.