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South Africa, Bishop Giuseppe Sandri blesses World Cup Stadium

Bishop Giuseppe Sandri blessed one of the stadiums that will be used for this year's FIFA World Cup, reports CISA.

On Monday, the bishop of Witbank was given access to the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, one of 10 venues around South Africa that will be used in the international soccer tournament, which begins June 11.

The prelate blessed the 43,000-seat stadium along with a local pastor, Fr Roger Masuku, accompanied by two Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, Sister Cecilia Binder and Sister Emily Schmidt.

Stadium workers were diligently preparing for the coming event and security guards were undergoing training as the group of religious passed through the checkpoints to enter the arena.

Bishop Sandri read Psalm 67 and then asked God "to bless this beautiful structure and all who built it and who will use it hopefully in a true spirit of good sportsmanship."

He walked the expanse of the field, blessing it with Holy Water, and then extending the blessing to the first rows of seats, including those reserved for substitute players and the coaching staff.

The bishop blessed workers and other people who gathered to watch the ceremony, and then ended with a final prayer.

Meanwhile, an official 'Church on the Ball' video, focusing on the work of the Catholic Church in South Africa, particularly in the areas of HIV AIDS and human trafficking, has been released today by the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference.

Set against the backdrop of the 2010 Football World Cup, the film shows a different side to the glamour of the tournament.

The Southern African Conference of Bishops has a complete section of their official website dedicated to the world cup. In addition the conference has organized a number of faith related activities and reflections to accompany the world event in South Africa. For more detail on The Church on the Ball click on: http://www.churchontheball.com

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TAGS: South Africa Bishop Giuseppe Sandri FIFA World Cup Mbombela Stadium 'Church on the Ball' video

[05/31/2010]

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