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超過一千六百五十名來自該教區逾二百所天主教中、小學的男女學生大使，在晴朗的天氣中，齊集在這所慈幼書院操場的臨時舞台前，見證著這歷時兩個半小時與人印象深刻的活動。超過一千名成年人，包括教師、職員及體育界相關的知名人士，亦在場參與。校牧慈幼會 Kevin O'Donnell 修士，積極投入歷時數個月的籌備工作，並安排三十名來自 Thornleigh 的學生，擔任協助籌備此活動的幹事。 知名人士包括舞台劇明星 Sean Ruane，他演唱了一些曾在重大賽事表演的歌曲；博爾頓流浪球會主任 Owen Coyle；以及助理總警官 Ian Hopkins，他專責在曼徹斯特舉行的奧運賽事。此外還有數名奧運選手。索爾福德教區 Terence Braine 主教，致送了一段勉勵性的說話錄像，投放在會場的大螢幕上。
十一月起，一支特製的「奧運火炬」傳送至教區內各天主教學校，路程總長度為405英里。來自各學校的學生大使，將在傳送火炬的路途中的下一所學校，介紹他們所配對的國家給參加祈禱聚會的人。保留火炬一天後，該校的學生大使會以步行、跑步、騎單車或其他方式，傳送至下一所學校，如是這般將火炬傳送下去。 Olympic Relay of Prayer (ANS - United Kingdom –Bolton, 20 September 2011) – Young people from the Diocese of Salford converged on Thornleigh Salesian College in Bolton on Thursday 15th September 2011 for the launch of a Relay of Prayer leading up to the London Olympic Games in 2012. In welcome sunshine, over 1650 boys and girls, 'ambassadors' from more than 200 Catholic primary and secondary schools in the diocese, witnessed an impressive two and a half hour event presented from a temporary stage in the playground of the Salesian school. About 1000 adults were also present, including teachers, technical staff and celebrities connected with the world of sport. Br Kevin O'Donnell SDB, the school chaplain, was closely involved with the organising committee which worked for several months to prepare the day and 30 students from Thornleigh came to help the stewards. Among the celebrities were the opera star Sean Ruane, who performed some of the songs he has sung at major sporting events, Owen Coyle, the manager of Bolton Wanderers Football Club, and Assistant Chief Constable Ian Hopkins, who has a special responsibility for all Olympic events in Manchester. There were also several Olympic athletes. Bishop Terence Braine, the bishop of Salford, sent a recorded message of encouragement which was projected onto the large display screen. In the course of the afternoon the pupils found out which Olympic country their school would be twinned with. The schools will research their adopted country to find out about the faiths, customs and practices of the area and learn about the lives of children and young people in that country. They will also discover which athletes their country is taking to the Games and remember them and all the Olympic and Paralympic athletes in their prayers and assemblies. Starting in November, a specially made Olympic Torch will make its way through all the Catholic schools of the diocese, a journey of 405 miles. The pupil ambassadors from each school will present a prayer assembly on their adopted country to the next school on the route. After keeping the Torch for a day, the ambassadors from that school will carry it by walking, running, cycling, or other means to the next school, and so on. |
【慈幼通訊社