Page 1, 30th July 1948

30th July 1948

Page 1

Page 1, 30th July 1948 — SPORTING PRIEST HERE WITH U.S. OLYMPICS
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Locations: Philadelphia, St. Louis

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SPORTING PRIEST HERE WITH U.S. OLYMPICS

Over here with American athletes over for the Olympic Games is Fr. F. A. English, Chaplain to a New Jersey Hospital, and one of the biggest clerical figures in the sporting world across the Atlantic. He emphatically denies an Agency report that he is here • as their official Chaplain. Officials at Uxbridge (Middlesex) R.A.F. Camp, where the Americans are housed, told me Fr. English and another American priest, Er. J. A. McMahon, of St. Louis, Mo„ also with the team, are permitted use of the lounge for 7.30 Mass daily.
ERRONEOUS " The Olympics are non-denomin ational. Had Catholic chaplains been appointed, then Protestants, Jews and Mahommedans would have wanted religious facilities too," I was informed.
The agency's erroneous report of Fr. English's "appointment " as "Olympic Chaplain," on July 4, resulted in considerable embarrassment.
Facts ace that this priess SLICCUS4fui organiser of giant sporting tournaments, or " meets,which benefit American Catholic charities, has had his expenses paid by friends, and acts in an unofficial capacity to the large percentage of Catholics in the team. Fr. McMahon is an enthusi
astic soccer fan.
There are many daily communicants at Uxbridge; Mass is served alternately by George Guida, quarter-miler from Vilanova College, Philadelphia, and Edwin O'Toole. graduate of Manhattan College, and a 10,000-metre man.
ORGANISER Fr. John Shaw. parish priest of the area, is the visiting priests' host. only competitors and officials being supplied quarters at the camp. Middle-aged, and stockily-built, Fr. English has not the appearance of a great organiser, yet he is credited with initiating vast track and field meets at Passaic Stadium, for the benefit of the Pope Pius XII High School there, which, experts say, rank next in importance to national meetings, and to which the nation's top-ranking athletes have been drawn He has now turned his attention to amateur boxing, raising funds in the same way for a church in New Jersey. This is his first visit to England, and his first holiday in 11 years. Bishop Craven is chairman of the C:atholic Reception and Hospitality Committee here. which. it is hoped, will arrange for Frs. English and McMahon with their American team, together with Catholics from among other visitors, to meet Catholics in British sporting circles.




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