Courtesy: Santa Cruz Sentinel


Holy Cross introduces soccer league pilot program to keep kids out of gangs

by Alia Wilson

29/11/2010

Santa Cruz - Occasionally kicking the ball from out of bounds back into the game, Bishop Richard Garcia smiled as children ran back and forth across the Holy Cross Catholic parish gymnasium Sunday, where nearly 70 children participated in the church's pilot program for free indoor soccer.

The pilot program was the Santa Cruz parish's response to the bishop's Covenant for Community Safety and Gang Prevention, which was established a year ago in response to growing gang violence. Garcia, the head of the Diocese of Monterey, lauded the program Sunday as a safe and fun alternative for kids and teens to stay off the streets.

"It's a healthy, viable, wonderful way for young people to stay active and alive, most of all, and we hope to get more programs going at other parishes in more cities," Garcia said. "We already have some going in Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito counties and are hoping to reach out to San Luis Obispo. Little by little, parishes have got things going."

One year ago, Bishop Garcia gathered the region's pastors and parish leaders to develop a strategy for parishes to organize ways to prevent area children from joining gangs. On March 26, he publicly announced the Covenant for Community Safety and Gang Prevention at the conclusion of a street procession of 5,000 people at St. Mary's Catholic Church in East Salinas, where earlier that week a kindergarten boy was killed by a stray bullet.

The free, indoor soccer program, called Futsal, was modeled after the Mid-County/Live Oak Youth Futsal League that took place over the summer. The Sheriff's Activity League, which sponsored the league along with the Live Oak Family Resource Center and the Live Oak School District, loaned the parish the equipment used for the program including goal posts and jerseys.

Holy Cross Catholic Church parishioner Barbara Meister said she got involved after the bishop asked churches to take action to stop youth violence.

"We want kids to feel connected to a community where they gain recognition and develop a sense of self importance and belonging," Meister said. "Those are the same values that attract the youth to gangs but with a different objective. We want to create a space and utilize the parish where kids and parents within the community can come together."

League organizers will meet in two weeks to discuss the possibility of continuing the program later in the year. Father Joe Occhiuto hopes the program could be held twice a week.

For Jose Antonio Meza of Capitola and his two boys Santiago, 6, and Rodrigo, 3, the program has been an exciting way to end Sunday Mass and has provided more time for parents and children to get to know each other.

"This is the safest place for kids to be," Meza said. "We've watched our oldest grow to be a leader within his team. It's wonderful. Everyone cheers for both sides here. I hope it continues."


Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com