Vatican Cricket Team mourns tragic death of Australian Phillip Hughes

(Vatican Radio) The funeral for Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes took place  on Wednesday in his hometown of Macksville, New South Wales. The 25-year old national team member died last Thursday, two days after being hit near the ear by a ball while batting for South Australia against his former state side New South Wales at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Here in Rome, St Peter’s Cricket Club organised a Mass in memory of Hughes on Tuesday night at the Venerable English College.

The main celebrant was Team Captain Fr. Tony Currer, who is an official for the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. 

Listen to the full interview by Philippa Hitchen with Fr. Tony Currer:

“So many people have been touched by the death of Philip Hughes,”  Father Currer told Vatican Radio. “It’s really shocked everybody who plays cricket at whatever level.  Here’s a young man who just had an exuberance, and a joy of life. The way he played cricket, and his whole personality, just radiated that.”