Given the massive significance and money given to professional sports events today, it is a great evangelization strategy to bring the Catholic good news into the stadiums. What an opportunity to reach prominent athletes and many thousands of fans! There are efforts being made to do just that reaching athletes, broadcasters, team staff, and spectators within the walls of these monumental buildings.
Fathers Casey Cole and Roberto Serrano are U.S. Franciscan friars known as the Bleacher Brothers. These two Catholic warriors are driving across the United States and Canada attending baseball games at all 32 Major League Baseball stadiums. This tandem has been planning this project for 9 years. Franciscans have always believed in finding “God in the ordinary” (Catholic News World) outside of the walls of a church. Baseball stadiums are clearly a gathering place for many ordinary people.
In their first stadium visit in Miami, Father Roberto was asked to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. They were treated very kindly by Miami Marlin management, and they were received well by many fans. Could this idea work locally on even a much smaller scale? We know that our priests are already very busy, but is it possible to have priests be visible at high school or university sports championships?
Catholic Athletes for Christ (CAC), under the leadership of founder Ray McKenna, has worked extremely hard for many years to secure pre-game Catholic Masses at many American professional sports venues. CAC was launched in 2006 and helps athletes trying to live their faith. Saint John Paul II strongly felt a need to evangelize sports, and this is in the mission statement of CAC. The priest chaplains involved provide in-house Mass, confession, and spiritual direction to Major League Baseball and National Football League teams where they work and play.
Speaking of priest chaplains, there is one for most every team in football and baseball, and we must never underestimate the work they have put in to meet the sacramental and spiritual needs of all these players and management. These athletes are often hurting both physically and spiritually under intense pressure. “They are vulnerable simply because they spend all their time pretending they are not” (Andy Barrowman, Premier League Chaplain).
Father Chuck Dornquist is the chaplain for Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He talks about the excitement of being so close to the action on the sideline but at that same time having to counsel players even during the game. “These athletes want someone who will love them as a father. 99 per cent of these players take their faith life very seriously. I am blown away by their faithfulness and fidelity.” He talks about how special saying Mass with the players is and how after Communion the players love the period of silence, time that is one on one with the Lord. “I never pray for our guys to win but for their safety and that they give themselves completely” (Knights of Columbus).
Father Douglas Hunter has served the Indianapolis Colts ever since he was asked by General Manager Chris Ballard, who is a devout Catholic. He feels that to establish a relationship of trust, he needs to really be present. Included in his many duties is helping new players find a parish and being at the side of players who have just been injured. He will pray with them. The issues that Father Hunter helps players with are often the same ones that we all face. “These are just regular guys who are doing extraordinary things on the field.”
Father Richard Rocha owns both a Super Bowl ring (Kansas City Chiefs) and a World Series ring (Kansas City Royals) as he is chaplain to athletes in two sports. Seeing how hard the players prepare for games, Father Rocha uses this in his approach to his ministry. “It is important to remind them that in this game of life football will pass. God wants us to be hungry for the things of heaven, so how are you preparing yourself” (Knights of Columbus). In his role as chaplain, he will also minister to spectators at times during games.
Father Rocha says that Mass and confession happen on Saturday night and afterwards the players always want to be sure that he will be at the game on Sunday. This is a testament to the vital role that that chaplains play in sports stadiums around the world.