austraLasia #1507
'
Old Boy' Catholic chaplain comments on Commonwealth
Games
- and India dominates dying moments with gold
MELBOURNE: 28th March 2006 -- The 18th Commonwealth
Games
concluded Sunday in Melbourne. Catholic Chaplain Fr Tony Doran, a
Melbourne boy himself and Salesian Old Boy from Sunbury, said in
interview that he had met 'some very faith-filled people' during the
Games. 'In many ways, the Commonwealth is a microcosm of the whole
world' he said. Along with other faiths represented, which
included
not only Christian but Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, Jew, Sikh, Bahai, Fr
Doran made a point of wearing religious, in his case clerical,
dress.
He said people approached him for many reasons, some wanting to pray
before a major event, some just wanting to chat or know when Mass
was.
The Commonwealth has 53 members, and 72 countries
actually took
part, so it is indeed a microcosm of the wider world. One of the
more
spectacular moments at the Games came at the closing ceremony when
Bollywood took over in preparation for the 2010 Games to be held in New
Delhi. With a billion population, half of them under 25, India
will be
a great host. They showed that on Sunday evening The
evening started with
the sound of shankhs and chimes filling
the MCG as giant videoscreens showed images of India. India's
Miss
World 1994, Aishwarya Rai at one stage popped out of rose petals to
an adoring crowd. She has obviously retained her poise these last
twelve years! The Indian extravaganza continued with golden rays
unfurling around the stage to represent the sun in all its glory.
GLOSSARY
Shankh: Indian conch shell sometimes used
in Indian music, strongly associated with Hindu religion, announces
victory of good over evil.
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