Cathletes gather for annual leadership summit in Lawrenceville

Dozens of student-athletes from across the Diocese of Trenton gathered Sept. 19 in Lawrenceville for the sixth annual Catholic Athletes for Christ High School Leadership Conference, a day designed to encourage the high schoolers to make the connection between their faith and athletics.

The conference was hosted in the Diocese of Trenton Chancery, as well as the adjacent Notre Dame High School, where Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., prayed the Rosary, took photos with the Cathletes and blessed lapel pins bearing the CAC logo.

The keynote presenter of the day was Inspirational speaker and author Matt Cubbler, who shared the story of how his relationship with this late brother has shaped every part of his life. The event also included a roll-out of the Diocese of Trenton CAC’s official Twitter and Instagram accounts, as well as #DOTCAC to be used across platforms. The CAC-specific social media accounts were established after a suggestion from the CAC advisory board to get student-leaders involved in spreading the organization’s message.

The schools that participated in the summit include Christian Brothers Academy, Lincroft; Donovan Catholic High School, Toms River; Holy Cross Academy, Delran; Notre Dame High School; Red Bank Catholic High School, Red Bank; St. John Vianney High School, Holmdel; St. Rose High School, Belmar, and Trenton Catholic Academy, Hamilton.

Since its launch in the Diocese of Trenton in 2012, the Catholic Athletes for Christ program has amassed a membership of more than 1,700 students, who serve as a model for other dioceses nationwide.

You can read more about the Leadership Summit in the Sept. 21 print edition of The Monitor and later at TrentonMonitor.com.