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For all athletes, the goal is to win. For Catholic student athletes, that winning attitude needs to extend to the ultimate victory — eternal life. It was the message Lou Judd, director of the nationwide nonprofit SportsLeader, shared with hundreds of Catholic School athletes, coaches and parents from central Arkansas Aug. 27 who gathered to pray the rosary in front of St. John Center in Little Rock.
“Have you ever wondered why we love winning so much? Because God created us that way. He wants us to win; he wants us to win primarily eternal life. That’s the most important victory. He wants us to win in football, swimming, basketball, or baseball, volleyball whatever sport you play or coach. He wants you to have the taste of victory so hopefully you’ll want the real victory: eternal life with him in heaven,” Judd told the crowd. “… Losing is also a good experience for us because you get that taste in your mouth and you hate it and you don’t want to experience that again. God wants that to. He doesn’t want you to lose for all eternity; he doesn’t want you to go to hell. Hell is basically being an eternal loser and no one wants that.”
Little Rock was one of 20 cities chosen to host a Rosary Rally, sponsored by SportsLeader, a national independent Catholic nonprofit that aims to help coaches instill virtues in their athletes. The first rally took place in Cincinnati last year and garnered enough interest to put 20 rallies on the schedule for 2015. The program is meant to bring players and coaches together to pray for a safe season and to encourage positive leadership.
“I love God, sports and family,” Judd told Arkansas Catholic. “God loves you and he created you for eternal life.”
This mentality goes hand-in-hand with Catholic athletic programs which promote religious development and respect.
“I think it unifies all the athletes,” said Catholic High School senior Brian Williams, 18. Williams, a right guard for the Rockets football team, added that saying the rosary to ask for Mary’s protection is special.
“As a Catholic athlete, you don’t just play for the game — you play for the glory of God.”
District 1 Knights of Columbus, consisting of three area councils from several churches including Christ the King, St. Theresa and the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Little Rock, served hot dogs, chips and lemonade to attendees.
“We’re excited to have the youth involved,” said Marc Rios, Arkansas State Council grand knight. “Anytime the diocese asks us to do something, of course the answer is always yes … We’re vendors of the faith.”
For some of the young Christ the King football players, they said “free food” was certainly a highlight. But ultimately, the time of prayer and fellowship was the draw.
“I’m excited about seeing the speaker and to see my friends and pray the rosary,” football player Ryan Williams, 12, said.
Livvie Falcon, 13, and fellow Christ the King Cheerleader Riley Wardell, 13, said they were there to support the Bears and pray.
“It’s really cool coming together to pray the rosary,” said Falcon, who used to attend a public school and said she missed out on the prayer component of athletics.
It’s what Judd and also what former University of Arkansas baseball coach Deacon Norm DeBriyn emphasized to the athletes — the importance of faith with sports.
“I can remember when I was sitting out there with you and it seemed like the blink of an eye here I am 73 years old standing up here talking to you,” said DeBriyn, who is now the interim director of the Razorback Foundation. “We’re all on a pilgrimage, we’re all on a journey and our pilgrimage is toward God. This is something that is within us, it’s something we seek and it’s something that’s always there and we have to be conscious and tune into that.”
DeBriyn spoke of the importance of education for the students while also telling the parents to be careful about getting too consumed with athletics.
“Let kids be kids, don’t burn them out,” DeBriyn said, adding that parents “pay an arm and a leg” for tournaments, camps and traveling squads. “They don’t have a chance to be a kid, they don’t have a chance to go fishing, they don’t have a chance to ride a bike. You know plus the academic side about it is so important … I would say parents, it’s very important to look at that and take a deep breath and step back.”
After Judd and DeBriyn spoke, the rosary was led by representatives and administrators of Catholic schools.
For St. John School in Hot Springs coaches Charles Jennings and wife Melissa, also the school’s athletic director, being there with their daughters, athletes Natalie and Jessica Jennings, and the Catholic athletic community was a blessing.
“It’s a big Catholic family,” Melissa said. “It kind of gives me goose-bumps, I kind of got teary-eyed,” during the rosary.
After the rosary, Father James West, pastor of St. John Church and School in Hot Springs, gave a blessing to students that they can carry with them throughout the season.
“We gather in friendly rivalry, not as enemies to one another,” Father West said. “… Help our students … to grow in mind and body in Christian care and attitude.”
