THOMASIAN ATHLETES must seek “spiritual congruence” to become critical and innovative in pursuing victories in UAAP Season 87, the University’s athletics chief said.
In his homily for the mass for athletes, UST Athletics director and regent Fr. Rodel Cansancio, O.P. said “spiritual congruence” calls for consistency in the thoughts, words and actions of an individual while grounding himself in faith.
“Jesus challenges us to have spiritual congruence…what you do must match what you think and say…That is congruence,” Cansancio said at the Santisimo Parish Church on Friday, Sept. 6.
The Dominican priest also reminded Thomasians to seek triumphs through innovation rather than through imitation in creating strategies for the upcoming UAAP season.
“In life or in sports, you have to be critical and innovative,” Cansancio said.
“Sometimes we do not want to innovate [and] we just copy [others] because it’s easier… Today, even if it doesn’t match [what we think and act], we force to make it match.”
While athletes and coaches should exert effort to create something new, Cansancio emphasized the value of reflecting on why they are doing so in the first place.
“That’s what Jesus is pointing to us. The Pharisees, they’re also copycats, they copy what others are doing, prayer, and fasting without digging to why they are doing it,” the athletics chief said.
“[Spiritual congruence] is applicable to your team and your coaches, they’re innovative in their approach and coaching style,” he added.
The mass formally sent off the athletes for their upcoming tournaments that will start on Saturday, Sept. 7. F – R.J.M.
