We are thrilled to invite all students and staff to the highly anticipated cricket match between St. Peter’s XI (aka Vatican Cricket Team) and St Mary’s University on 1st July 2024, at the historic Arundel Castle.
Come and cheer for the St Mary’s team in what promises to be an exciting match!
We still have a few free seats available on the St Mary’s coach. If you would like to join us, please email Joey Oliva. Seats are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Coach departure from St Mary’s University: 10.30am
- Coach departure from Arundel Castle: 9.15pm
St Mary’s University was founded in 1850 as a college to train teachers, largely to provide education to the poor migrants attending the rapidly expanding Catholic schools in London. It has developed into the UK’s largest Catholic university which has pontifical degree awarding powers through the Mater Ecclesiae College.
The University has an excellent reputation in sport, with several alumni winning medals at the last Olympic Games. Alumnus Monty Panesar is expected to play for St Mary’s, together with a member of the Ashes winning England Deaf Cricket team.
On 1st July, the University will be playing St Peter’s XI (aka the Vatican Cricket team) on the historic Arundel Castle Ground by invitation of the Duke of Norfolk in its Light of Faith tour. The Duke is England’s premier Duke and a parishioner at the Catholic Cathedral Church in Arundel, which is also the cathedral Church of Bishop Richard Moth, Chair of St. Mary’s governors. The Castle ground is used by Sussex County Cricket Club and for a wide range of international matches.
The Vatican Cricket Team reflects the changing face of the Catholic Church internationally, but also in England and Wales. In particular, most of the players will be from the Indian sub-continent – all seminarians and priests. It is especially keen to encourage inter-faith dialogue in that part of the world and has been established to help develop ties between the Catholic Church and countries and regions where the sport is popular including India and the Caribbean and to encourage inter-faith dialogue.
The development and spirit of the team very much reflects St Mary’s University’s own values of generosity of spirit, excellence, respect, and inclusiveness. The Vatican teams operates under the patronage of the Dicastery for Education and Culture and is managed by Fr Eamonn O’Higgins. Its home ground is the only international cricket ground in Italy.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Media enquiries
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020 8240 8262