FOOTBALL BETWEEN PRIESTS AND ARTISTS MARKS THE CLOSING OF THE PEACE OLYMPICS

A grand celebration will mark the closing of the "Peace Olympics" next Saturday, the 31st, at the Maracanã Stadium. The gates to the three stadiums will open at 12:30 p.m. Free admission is a draw for parish caravans cheering on their vicariates. The celebration will be attended by Cardinal Dom Eusébio Oscar Scheid, the auxiliary bishops, and also by Orlando Silva, Minister of Sports, Eduardo Paes, State Secretary of Tourism, Sports and Recreation, among other authorities. Free buses will be parked in each parish to transport the faithful fans to Maracanã Stadium. The soccer, volleyball, and track and field finals will be held at 13 p.m., respectively, at the Maracanã, Maracanãzinho, and Célio de Barros stadiums. The competition is organized by the Archdiocese of Rio, through the Vicariate for Social Communication, in partnership with the State Secretariat of Tourism, Sports and Leisure.\ In addition to the sports finals, other attractions take over this special day. At the Maracanã Stadium, during halftime between each match, there will be performances featuring popular and Catholic singers to liven up the festivities. One of the highlights will be the coronation of the image of Our Lady of Peace, with the Hail Mary sung by Elba Ramalho, which concludes not only the event but also the month of May in the Archdiocese.\ Also participating in the festivities are Catholic singers Márcio Pacheco and Izaías, as well as the ballet "Nós da Dança" and the Futurong youth group from São Paulo. Futurong's mission is to promote social assistance to minorities and the marginalized and to combat poverty through an infrastructure of services centered on the individual-family-community axis.\

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN RIO: FOOTBALL BETWEEN PRIESTS AND ARTISTS

Surrounded by high expectations, a friendly match between priests and artists promises to be one of the most exciting, as it's the first time it's taking place in Rio. Cardinal Eusébio Scheid will kick things off. The team of priests from several parishes will also feature an auxiliary bishop from Rio: Dom Antonio Augusto Dias Duarte. The participation of the eternal idol Zico has also been confirmed.\ The priests' first training session will take place today, Tuesday, May 27, from 19 pm to 21 pm, at the Light Athletic Association, at 1954 Barão de Bom Retiro Street, in Grajaú.\ The team of artists will be formed by Kadu Moliterno, Nicola Siri, Heitor Martinez, Gustavo Leão, Tiago Lacerda, Thierry Figueira, Thiago Rodrigues, Márcio Kieling, Bruno Coimbra, Thiago Martins, Cássio Reis, Daniel Erthal, Gonçalves, Patrick Oliveira, Nuno Leal Maia, Gabriel Pensador, Jorge de Sá, Marco A. Gimenez, Toni Garrido, Donizete, Cláudinho Cunha (technical supervisor) and Gaúcho (coach).\ The "red-black nation" will also be present and will pay tribute to Cardinal Eusébio Scheid. President Márcio Braga will present the cardinal with a team jersey bearing his name. At the conclusion of the Peace Olympics, a new sports competition will be launched. Scheduled for early January 2009, the "Christ the Redeemer International Cycling Circuit" is an initiative of the Archdiocese of Rio through its Vicariate for Social Communications and will once again partner with the Ministry of Sports. Launched on March 15th at Maracanãzinho Stadium, the "Peace Olympics" are part of the various activities organized by the Archdiocese of Rio in connection with the 2008 Fraternity Campaign. The motto "Choose life" (Deuteronomy 30:19b) guided all the competitions. It was with this motivation that the Walk and Run for Peace took place on March 30th, bringing hundreds of people to Aterro do Flamengo. Motivating people to live a healthy life. This is the objective of the “Peace Olympics”. Taking as a starting point God himself, the author of life, who wants to give us “Life in abundance”.\