Gaming and cycling in the name of St. Paul
Sunday, August 31st, 2008

The Year of St. Paul, proclaimed by Pope Benedict from June 2008-2009 continues to be celebrated around the world in unusual ways.

For example, an interactive internet game on the life and work of St Paul is sparking interest throughout the Spanish speaking world.

Franciscan Fr Hugo Còrdova Padilla of the Friars Minor, rector of the Nuesta Señora de El Pueblito shrine in the diocese of Querétaro, had the idea and designed it as a form of catechesis, entitled Tras las huellas de San Pablo (In the footsteps of St Paul).

By clicking on the site www.santamariadelpueblito.org/san-juegos-sanpablo.htm (and English language button), can follow the questions and answers to learn more about the Apostle and use the various symbols from his life – a sword, a boat, an angel, a Roman legionary, a prison or a storm – to play the game, moving backwards or forwards along the ‘Pauline route’ in the style of ‘snakes and ladders’. If you manage to overcome the obstacles and reach the end of the game, you can add your name to the list of other winners.

The game is also available in English on the site, and the IT expert who developed the project, Fernando Pérez Valdéz, is aiming to have it translated into other languages so that it can be used around the world during this Pauline Year.

Elsewhere, as part of their celebrations for this Pauline Year, three young Polish priests have been on a cycling pilgrimage of nearly two thousand kilometres from their home region of Upper Silesia to Rome’s Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls.

The journey began at the Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Katowice and took them for 22 days through Poland, the Czech Republic, Germany, Austria and the top half of Italy, covering around a hundred kilometres a day.

Don Tomasz, Don Jan and Don Lukas have been friends since they attended the seminary in Katowice together and they have stayed in touched despite being appointed to parishes in different parts of the country.

"We have been to Rome several times," they said, "but this year we had a special motivation for our journey – we wanted to travel to the tomb of St Paul, imitating the arduous journey of the travelling Apostle."

They added that "everywhere we went, we were welcomed with amazement, joy and an extraordinary hospitality". Among the most memorable stages of their journey was their stop in Bavaria in the town of Marktl-am-Inn, birthplace of Pope Benedict XVI.