Being a witness to the Catholic faith doesn’t always look like sitting in a chapel and praying.
On Saturday the 15 March 2025, close to 300 young people participated in LIFTED Sports Day. Despite the intense heat on the day, parishes and communities from all over Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains came together to compete in a round robin tournament of touch footy, volleyball, basketball and soccer.
The grounds of Parramatta Marist High School in Westmead were filled with excitement as all 16 teams were determined to win the LIFTED Sports Day Trophy and the Holy Spirit Cup. Some teams, having experienced LIFTED Sports Day many times, were eager to return to the fields and courts to compete. Amongst the crowd of people were also teams that had never attended a LIFTED Sports Day and registered this year for the first time! These new attendees were just as eager to get involved in the day and to connect with young Catholic’s from around the Diocese.
Fr Menard Gaspi with the sports team from St Bernadette’s Parish, Castle Hill. Image: Alphonsus Fok/ Diocese of Parramatta
Teams, both old and new, had been training and preparing for this day, and wanted to win. However, more than the spirit of competition was a greater spirit of joy! The young people who attended LIFTED Sports Day provided a living example of the great mission shared by Pope Francis to “bear witness before everyone to the joy born of friendship with Christ.”1
This event provided a unique and powerful witness for those who don’t usually get involved in Catholic events. Sport opens the door for all to enter into an encounter with the joy of young Catholic’s and an opportunity to build relationships in a fun way.
Image: Alphonsus Fok/ Diocese of Parramatta
There were several priests from our Diocese who mustered up the courage to join the youth and young adults from their parishes to compete.
Fr Menard Gaspi, Fr Adam Carlow and Fr Andrew Bass all provided a reminder to the youth that priests are people too!
Image: Alphonsus Fok/ Diocese of Parramatta
They enjoyed engaging in the fun and were just as competitive as the youth. There are pictures to prove it!
For the second year in a row, The LIFTED Sports Day trophy was awarded to The Ashton’s (Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Mt Druitt South). The Holy Spirit award, given to the team with a great attitude, team spirit and sense of fun was awarded to St Nic’s Youth (St Nicholas of Myra, Penrith).
Image: Alphonsus Fok/ Diocese of Parramatta
This was a special occasion for their team because LIFTED Sports Day originated from an idea by St Nic’s Youth to host a sports competition within the Nepean Deanery many years ago. What began as a friendly competition between the parishes has since grown into a diocesan-wide event!
As one of the attendees said, “LIFTED Sports Day 2025 was the perfect fun and competitive environment to meet other people from different parishes and branch out our Catholic community.”
In all we do, let us be witnesses of faith, sharing the joy, love and peace of Christ with others!
Catholic Youth Parramatta offers dynamic witness, formation, training, and events toward a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and all His Church. Stay involved through following us on our socials @catholicyouthparra
View the full photo gallery of the day on Flickr.
1 Message of the Holy Father to young people on the 5th anniversary of the post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation “Christus vivit”, 25.03.2024
