Monday, August 23, 2010

Skateboarding Hungarian Catholic priest becomes internet hit

A Hungarian Catholic priest has become an internet sensation for spreading the word of God - from his skateboard.

A video of Reverend Zoltan Lendavi, showcasing his skateboarding skills has become a You Tube hit, with more than 170,000 hits.

The video, Funny Priest Skateboarding shows 45-year-old Lendavi, in full clerical dress, showcasing his moves for youngsters outside his church in Redics, a small village on Hungary's border with Slovenia.

Father Lendavi, whose first skateboard is said to have featured the Papal coat of arms, said he believed his skateboarding could help encourage more youngsters to go to church.

"There are many ways Skateboarding can help bring people closer to God."

Father Lendavi learnt his skateboarding skills when he was a teenager, but it wasn't until he became a priest, he realised he could use his skills to help youngsters find God by spreading the word from his wheels.

He said he got the idea from Saint John Bosco, an Italian priest and educator in the 19th century who dedicated his life to improving the lives of youngsters and used games as part of their education.

And his skateboarding sermons seem to have paid off as three teenage boys, who had never been to church have now started coming regularly after the priest shared some of his skateboarding skills with them.

SIC: TCUK