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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