Reflections on Our First Tournament
by Kitchener A.R.O.Y.

The Spring Sports Tournament was an event eagerly awaited by our A.R.O.Y. chapter.  This was in large part because we hadn’t attended one before and didn’t know what to expect.  We even organized a practice at a local school, uncertain of the competitive nature of the tournament.  Nonetheless, we committed to sending a volleyball team to the tournament since it would be a great opportunity to meet other Orthodox Christians who share our faith and heritage.

Upon our arrival at the hotel on Friday night, we were greeted by members of the host chapter and the other A.R.O.Y. chapters in attendance which made us feel welcome.  After getting some rest after our journey and breaking the ice with new and old friends, we got some sleep to prepare for the day ahead.

Saturday was an eye opening experience for us, and it was not because of the Sports Tournament itself.  It was a competitive tournament, but that wasn’t really the point.  When we were lacking confidence at any points during the tournament, it was the other youth around us and even the referee at times who told us to keep our heads up and not get discouraged.  This is the kind of brotherhood that we are proud to share as Christians.  We were quite happy to see that this was the tone of the day for the most part.

One of our advisors who attended the tournament with us, Mike Zelea, commented that he was also pleased with the tone of the weekend, although our youth would have liked more time and opportunity to get to know everyone.  However the day was not over since we still had Vespers and the Mărţişor dance later in the evening.

Although sparsely attended, Vespers were a sobering reminder of why we were there.  It was unfortunate that more of the young people did not attend.

The Mărţişor dance that followed was a wonderful opportunity for youth who did not have opportunities to get acquainted to dance and share our common roots.  We appreciated this immensely since it felt like we were home in Kitchener!  It was wonderful to see that by the end of the evening our youth were making friends with the youth of other parishes.  We then said good night, and prepared for the Banquet which was to follow Holy Liturgy on Sunday morning.

Holy Liturgy was an interesting experience for Kitchener A.R.O.Y. since we have a small parish in comparison with St. George Cathedral, and we have never attended other parishes as a group, spare those from our A.R.O.Y. who are in our dance group and attended Liturgy at St. George during the Romanian Festival last October.

After enjoying the lovely meal at the banquet, we were honoured that two of our members, Veronica and Alexandra Steau, were chosen as Volleyball All Stars.  Congratulations!  However more importantly than that, we were pleased to be treated like a family.  We left the tournament realizing an even more important lesson than the value of competition: the value of good sportsmanship, the recognition A.R.O.Y. gives it, and the brotherhood of the youth of our parishes.  Mulţi Ani Traiasca!