Apostolate Program
Arrows RFC is a Catholic Community with the purpose of forming men in Christian virtue through competitive Rugby.
We are BOTH a Catholic Community AND a Rugby Club.
The most unique feature of Arrows RFC is its Apostolate Program. The term Apostolate shares the same Greek derivation as the term used for the 12 Apostles sent to "make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19). The Arrows Apostolate is an overflow of the life within the members of the Club. It is the Club's ministry far beyond the sport of rugby that serves its men, families, and parish communities. After all - the Greek apostello means to "send out" or "send forth".
We invite all men - whether or not they play rugby - to participate in our Apostolate programs; and player participation is completely voluntary. Throughout the season, our calendar includes the following events:
Summer Philosophy
In line with the Church's approach to both faith and reason, Summer Philosophy is a series of informal gatherings where we discuss Catholic philosophical principles. Typically held over a beer, this has become a staple of our rugby off-season.
Community Mass
The Eucharist is the Source and Summit of our faith. During the year, we gather monthly to celebrate Mass and foster our spiritual family off the pitch. We rotate locations so that all members can host a Mass at their own parish throughout the year. After Mass, we usually find a local family-friendly spot to have a meal with our families and friends.
Arrows Tales
Christ encounters us exactly where we are in our faith journey. Tales are a series of interview and Q&A sessions where we get to hear about the faith journeys of the brothers with whom we share the pitch. Typically held over dinner and drink, testimonies and witness come alive when it is the people we know!
Spiritual Formation
Each year, we host prayer and formation programs from approved Catholic publishers. Additionally, we pray before training sessions and games and our Apostolate Coordinators share brief teachings from the Catechism throughout the season.
Apostolate Impact
Arrows RFC is filled with joy and gratitude for its recent recognition by Cardinal DiNardo and the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston as a Private Association of the Faithful.
Through the Arrows, over 150 men have encountered a faith-based rugby community with the sole purpose of formation in Christian virtue. While the core of the Club is made up of practicing Catholic Christians, one in five players is not practicing their faith or does not associate with a faith, providing the Arrows a platform for evangelization that may otherwise not exist.
Each year, the Arrows complete a perception survey so that we can assess the Club against its Mission. The latest results simply speak for themselves:
Encouraged and Inspired: 91% of members feel that Arrows RFC encourages and inspires them to practice their Catholic-Christian faith in their family and community.
Accountable: 97% of members feel that the Arrows RFC hold themselves and each other accountable for being men of Christian virtue.
Supported: 91% of members feel that those closest to them support their participation.
The Arrows’ impact goes beyond the immediate members and families by going “into the breach” of the greater Houston Catholic community:
- You will see members of the Arrows throughout parishes in the Archdiocese of Galveston- Houston, including All Saints, Annunciation, Christ the Redeemer, Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Holy Rosary, Prince of Peace, Regina Caeli, St. Anne, St. Anthony of Padua, St. Catherine of Sienna, St. Cecilia, St. Charles Borromeo, St. Edward, St. James the Apostle, St. Mary Magdalene, St. Maximilian Kolbe, St. Michael the Archangel, and St. Rose of Lima.
- You will see members of the Arrows in local Knights of Columbus councils, most notably at Bishop Odin Council 2917 which is home to our training, social, and formation facilities. We have prioritized and fostered a relationship with the Knights of Columbus, connecting our members to the largest fraternal organization of Catholic men.
- We recently celebrated our first member entering Catholic seminary and also saw our first non-Catholic member completing RCIA, entering the Church in Easter 2020.
Arrows Rugby Club is humbled and inspired to be a recipient of multiple grants from The Scanlan Foundation who support Catholic religious, charitable, and educational institutions in Texas. These grants in combination with the support of St. Sebastian Members enable the Club to go into the breach with its Apostolate Program.
If you have any questions or suggestions for our Apostolate Committee, drop us a line below!
607 E Whitney St
Houston, TX 77022
Club@ArrowsRugby.com