Joel Webber is a 23 year old boxer, gym instructor, life saver and sports massage therapist resident in Adelaide, South Australia. His boxing coach is Deacon Anthony Hill, of the Archdiocese of Adelaide. On November 22, 2016, Joel left Australia for a two and a half month mission experience with the Columbans in Santiago, Chile. Joel brought the mission of Adelaide’s '12 Stars Boxing Club' to the Columban parish of San Matias, located in an impoverished area of Santiago. He would show a different face of the Church.
The '12 Stars Boxing Club's' mission to Chile
The 12 Stars Boxing Club was founded in the year 2000 by Deacon Anthony Hill as a part of his preparation for the deaconate. The '12 Stars' comes from Chapter 12:1 of the Book of Revelation, where there is a woman clothed as the sun and the moon under her feet and upon her head a crown of 12 stars. She is pregnant and gives birth to a male child who is attacked by the Dragon, who represents the Devil. The male child refers to Jesus. The woman represents the Church and is identified with Our Lady, Mother of God and Mother of the Church.
The Club’s Constitution provides for the spiritual growth, the pastoral care and overall fitness and wellbeing of its members. It currently has over 500 members on its books with regular contact with around 120 members. About 10% of the Club members are women. Members come from all walks of life. As the Club’s coach and founder, Deacon Anthony says that boxing can be used to reach out to people. It can be used for evangelization and the discovery of God in people’s lives.
Deacon Anthony was an Australian Boxing Champion in 1989. He has participated in six international boxing tournaments representing Australia. He won four bronze medals. Dianne, Deacon Anthony’s wife, is also a qualified boxing trainer and has been involved in the Club over the years. They have one son, Matthew, a university student.
Deacon Anthony was ordained deacon for the Archdiocese of Adelaide in September 2012. As well as his work for the Club, he is the Director of Catholic Mission for the Archdiocese of Adelaide.
Over time, the Club has grown into a caring community. Doctors and a psychologist refer patients suffering from depression to the Club. Each training session ends when everyone gathers around the coach for a short prayer and Gospel Reflection. Members often ask for prayers for others.
Recently one young member asked the other members for prayers for a friend who had attempted suicide. The Club members then discussed ways in which they could be of assistance to those suffering from mental health issues and were suicidal. They managed to identify key vulnerable groups and did a pamphlet letter box drop locally inviting people to join the Club. As a group they prayed that God would touch and inspire those in need to attend. Deacon Anthony used the story of Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi from the Book of Ruth to motivate the members as examples of how one can turn one’s life around when through courage and trust one walks with God.
Around 95% of Club members have had little or no contact with the institutional Church, seeing God and the Church as very distant and unrelated to their lives. Now many members discover a God who is close and involved with them. As a result several weddings and various baptisms and lots of prayers and spiritual accompaniment have come out of the Club’s mission.
Bringing the mission of the '12 Stars Boxing Club’ to Chile
Joel Webber trains at the '12 Stars Boxing Club’. He has had two fights for the club and remains undefeated. As a young practicing Catholic, Joel frequently asked Coach Deacon Anthony about doing some form of mission work overseas in areas of great need. He felt the call to bring the mission of the '12 Stars Boxing Club’ to an overseas setting.
Deacon Anthony got in touch with the Columbans who then arranged for Joel to have a short term mission experience in the Columban parish of San Matias in Santiago, Chile. For several months leading up to his mission trip, Joel studied the Spanish language and participated in workshops on Columban mission in Chile.
Joel arrived in Santiago just before the St Columbans Day celebrations on November 23, 2016. He says that the following months he spent in the parish of San Matias were among the best experiences of his whole life. It was life transforming.
Joel boarded with a family in the area of the Holy Family Chapel, which became his home chapel in San Matias parish. He says that Sunday Masses in Chile seem a lot more vibrant and alive than in Australia, having a strong sense of community and participation.
During the summer school holidays in January Joel participated in the parish Summer Camp programme for children each morning along with Columbans, parents and teachers. This involved participating in sessions of prayer and faith formation, character building, games, paintings, handicrafts and personal development. He accompanied the children on excursions to places such as the Zoo.
Each afternoon Joel ran two boxing classes for children and adolescents at the Holy Family Chapel. A lot of preparation went into preparing them. They were held in one of the chapel’s meeting rooms. The first class ran from 5:00pm to 6:00pm and the second class from 6:30pm to 7:30pm. Fifteen young people between the ages of nine and 17 participated.
True to Joel’s formation at Adelaide’s '12 Stars Boxing Club’, he took a special interest in his students, helping them to grow not only in fitness but mentoring them at the same time in self discipline, respect for others, community service and in faith in God. According to Columban Fr Michael Hoban, the parents of the young boxers and the Holy Family Chapel community in general were very impressed by Joel’s dedication, faith, professionalism and hard work. He was able to show them a different face of the Church.
The Columban Fathers and local community hope Joel will be able to continue that mission next year as well.
Columban Fr Daniel Harding is the Editor of The Far East magazine.
LISTEN TO: A different face of the Church
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Related Links
- Read more from The Far East - April 2017
