The biggest sports trade of the week is 26 year old defender Chase Hilgenbrinck from the New England Revs soccer team to the Roman Catholic Church, according to the International Herald Tribune.
The 26-year-old defender recently moved back to the United States after playing four seasons for a team in Chile. But Hilgenbrinck has opted to study for a different team altogether. “At one time,” he said, “I thought the call might be professional soccer. I found my soul is hungry for something else.”
This is actually not a bad move because the only thing less popular in America today than Catholicism is professional soccer. (That’s a joke)
He has been accepted into Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland, with a view to becoming a priest in his home parish in Illinois.
Hilgenbrinck says he is not disillusioned with the game, but waiting for his career. “Trust me,” he told The AP, “I still have a great passion for the game, I wouldn’t leave for just any other job, I’m moving on for the Lord.”
July 15, 2008 at 5:38 pm
Great story. Thanks for sharing this, we need more stories such as these to instil confidence in those that are questioning their own judgements on joining the priesthood (or other religious).
July 15, 2008 at 6:11 pm
There was a college quarterback a few years back who’d done the same thing… the name isn’t coming to me just now.
July 15, 2008 at 7:11 pm
Our FSSP priest is a soccer player. It is quite cool to watch him play soccer with the children in his cassock.
July 15, 2008 at 7:27 pm
That’s not fair wearing a cassock because you can’t kick it through his legs.
July 16, 2008 at 3:03 pm
There was a college player named Joe Freedy. He played for Buffalo and didn’t enter the pros, he entered the seminary for the Diocese of Pittsburgh.
July 16, 2008 at 3:53 pm
That is not only amazingly cool, but exciting since he’s coming to my home state. :]
Love to see stuff like this. We need more positive PR, if you will, for the priesthood.
July 16, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Thanks, beez!
July 17, 2008 at 2:33 am
And he’s so cute!!