Richard Conlin was ordained a transitional deacon in the Archdiocese of Vancouver in December, and a couple of weeks ago shared his vocation story at every Mass at St. Paul’s Church in Richmond.
If you haven’t heard Deacon Conlin’s testimony, it’s an amazing story that relates his reconversion journey from star athlete to soon-to-be priest.
As a member of Canada’s national golf team, he was looking forward to a thrilling career on the PGA tour. He had not been practising his Catholic faith for five years, but when he was asked by his mother to go to confession as a birthday gift to her, the result was a life-altering experience. We now await with great anticipation Richard’s ordination as a priest.
At St. Paul’s that day, I was aware there were many talented young athletes present. For them to hear a message of faith from a once-highly-touted athlete might help at least a few to really examine their call in life, to shut out the noise of fame, and to listen to the voice of truth – God.
This isn’t to say that having a career in sports isn’t amazing. I have been blessed with just such an opportunity, and it can be thrilling. But the lure of possible fame and wealth can lead to a self-centredness that takes an athlete far away from God.
What an athlete needs to remember is how to sanctify an athletic performance, giving your victories to your creator.
When we hear athletes say they’ve devoted everything to their sport, this can be both good and bad. If it’s done with gratitude to God for their athletic gifts and bringing the Lord with them on their journey, then great.
If, however, it means the athlete has no time left for God due to training, then there’s a problem and a missed opportunity.
All of us are called in different ways and times to go deeper in our relationship with the Lord, and Richard Conlin’s journey began in the humility of the confessional through a mother’s request.
Father Michael Cunningham was at one time an aspiring catcher in minor league baseball, when a rapid series of setbacks humbled him.
After being cut from his Florida independent league team and his girlfriend breaking up with him, he was left searching.
In his story, a close friend played the original role of messenger, and his mother later contributed as well.
Father Mike’s friend brought him to a traditional Latin Mass. The experience lit a flame in him and he began to pray. He spoke to priests and remembers being inspired by the book To Save a Thousand Souls: A Guide for Discerning a Vocation to Diocesan Priesthood.
“I flat out asked the Blessed Virgin Mary to ask her son what he wanted me to do,” he said.
Soon after, the answer fell out of his mother’s purse. When cleaning out the handbag one day, she found a cross she had never seen before. She had no idea how it got in her purse.
Father Mike relates that when he looked at the cross, it had “Mike” written on the vertical beam, with a heart below it.
He had to look closer at the horizontal beam to see that it read “Father.”
He had his answer, and again his mother and his spiritual mother played significant roles.
As he entered the seminary, he still had big questions, but through prayer he felt, “I was part of something that drew me into the great mystery of salvation.” Winning souls became his priority, rather than winning baseball games.
He is now a member of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter serving in the Baltimore area where the apostolate of friendship is his priority.
“We should take delight in the Mass, the Rosary, in giving food to the poor, and in asking friends and acquaintances if they ever thought of becoming Catholic,” he says.
He adds that the joy we show in living a life full of faith will convert the world one soul at a time.
For Deacon Richard and Father Michael, sports brought them exciting opportunities, but it was through humility and obedience they have found greater joy in serving God and winning souls.