San Diego Padres pitcher Craig Stammen recently stopped by Mater Dei Catholic High School in Chula Vista, Calif., during lunch to talk to the Catholic Athletes for Christ (CAC) Student-Athletes about his relationship with Christ and how it has helped him as a professional baseball player, husband, father, and man.  Stammen serves on CAC’s Athletes Board and has been a strong supporter of the organization since arriving in the Major Leagues in 2009.  After talking to the students, Stammen opened up the floor to questions and finished with photos with the students and coaches.  Also in attendance was Father Pedro Rivera who is the lead Catholic priest-chaplain for the Padres.

Father Jerry Herda, Catholic chaplain for the Milwaukee Brewers for the past 12 seasons, is pictured Oct. 8 in his office at the Cousins Center, which features Brewers baseball memorabilia as well as religious articles. Father Herda, the Milwaukee Archdiocese’s vicar for ordained and lay ecclesial ministry, is a lifelong Brewers fan. The Brewers defeated the Colorado Rockies Oct. 7 to win the National League Championship Series. (CNS photo/Allen Fredrickson for The Compass)

Rev. Jerry Herda, longtime Milwaukee Brewers priest-chaplain, was featured in a new Catholic News Service article.  CAC’s MLB ministry is also highlighted.  Click here to read the article!

CAC’s No. 1 (St. John Bosco) and No. 2 (Mater Dei) Catholic high school football teams will meet this Friday night (October 12) in a clash between two power programs in the Trinity League.  More than 10,000 fans are expected to watch the game at the Santa Ana Bowl.

CAC’s new top 25 Catholic High School Football poll, presented by Siena Heights University and Global Football, was released earlier today and includes No. 15 Good Counsel (Olney, Md.), which made the biggest climb, moving up 10 slots, after a quality league win. No. 10 JSerra (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) also received a healthy bump of six slots moving back into the Top 10 for stellar play in one of the nation’s top leagues. No. 16 Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) dropped eight spots and out of the Top 10 and No. 25 St. Joseph Regional (Montvale, N.J.) fell seven after losses.

This week’s Top 10 teams in the ranking are:

1. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (7-0)
2. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (6-1)
3. St. John’s College, Washington, D.C. (6-0)
4. Archbishop Hoban, Akron, Ohio (7-0)
5. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (7-0)
6. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (5-1)
7. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore, Md. (3-0)
8. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia, Pa. (4-0)
9. Saint Louis, Honolulu, Hawaii (7-0)
10. JSerra Catholic, San Juan Capistrano, Calif. (6-1)

For more information on this week’s CAC Catholic High School Football Top 25 and each team, click here.

The new issue of “America” magazine/web site includes a feature article on the Chicago Cubs (Fr. Burke Masters) and Chicago White Sox (Fr. Bernard Danber) priest-chaplains and CAC’s MLB Mass ministry.

Click here to read the article.

St. John Bosco of Bellflower, Calif., continues to reign atop CAC’s Catholic High School Football Top 25, presented by Siena Heights University and Global Football.  It wasn’t pretty but a win is a win is a win and the St. John Bosco Braves will take it following a tough 35-28 victory over No. 16 JSerra (San Juan Capistrano). RB George Holani scored four touchdowns, including a 43-yard run with 7:14 left in the game, giving the Braves a 14-point cushion.

This week’s Top 10 teams in the ranking are:

1. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (6-0)
2. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (5-1)
3. St. John’s College, Washington, D.C. (5-0)
4. Archbishop Hoban, Akron, Ohio (6-0)
5. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (6-0)
6. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (4-1)
7. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore, Md. (2-0)
8. Gonzaga, Washington, D.C. (6-0)
9. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia, Pa. (3-0)
10. Saint Louis, Honolulu, Hawaii (6-0)

For more information on this week’s CAC Catholic High School Football Top 25 and each team, click here.

Father Bill Schwartz, longtime Pittsburgh Pirates season ticket holder and the team’s Catholic priest-chaplain, was honored for celebrating his 50th year as a priest before the team’s final home game of the 2018 season on September 23.

Pirates President Frank Coonelly presented Fr. Bill on the field with a Pirates jersey with his name and the number 50.  On behalf of everyone associated with CAC, congratulations Fr. Bill and many blessings!

John Carroll Society President Carol Bates along with Ray McKenna, CAC Founder and President

Catholic Athletes for Christ (CAC) President Founder Ray McKenna addressed the John Carroll Society‘s Younger Members reception on September 19 in Arlington, Va.  His presentation was titled, “Winning with Christ: Putting Jesus at the Center of Sports and Life”.  The John Carroll Society is an organization of Catholic professionals united in their desire for an ever deepening and enriching knowledge of their Faith and in service to the Archbishop of Washington.

McKenna spoke on the founding of CAC and the importance of maintaining Jesus at the center of all we do in sports and in life. He specifically encouraged all Catholics to: (1) stay strongly rooted in prayer; 2) attend Mass often and receive the Sacraments frequently; 3) read Holy Scripture and spiritual books; and 4) maintain a strong Marian devotion including praying the Rosary daily.

For the last four years, CAC has hosted the John Carroll Society at a Washington Nationals baseball game.  This year, Nationals relief pitcher Ryan Madson and Nationals Vice President and Assistant General Manager for Finance Ted Towne shared stories and recounted the importance of their Catholic faith in their lives.

Washington Nationals relief pitcher Ryan Madson addresses the John Carroll Society prior to a Washington Nationals game on June 5, 2018

St. John Bosco of Bellflower, Calif., remains the No. 1 team in CAC’s Catholic High School Football Top 25, presented by Siena Heights University and Global Football. The Braves made quick work of their latest assignment, beating Chaminade (West Hills), 56-20.  RB George Holani rushed for two TDs in the opening half. The Braves head into their bye week before starting the Trinity League schedule and play No. 15 JSerra (San Juan Capistrano) on Sept. 28.

This week’s Top 10 teams in the ranking are:

1. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (5-0)
2. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (3-1)
3. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (4-0)
4. St. John’s College, Washington, D.C. (3-0)
5. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (1-0)
6. Archbishop Hoban, Akron, Ohio (4-0)
7. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (5-0)
8. Gonzaga, Washington, D.C. (4-0)
9. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia, Pa. (2-0)
10. Saint Louis, Honolulu, Hawaii (4-0)

For more information on this week’s CAC Catholic High School Football Top 25 and each team, click here.

With this week’s start of the 2018 National Football League (NFL) season, Catholic Athletes for Christ (CAC) begins its tenth year of working with the NFL.  CAC works with its roster of Catholic priest-chaplains in all 32 NFL cities to ensure that Catholic players, coaches, trainers, and front office executives have access to the sacraments throughout the season. In addition, CAC each spring provides Catholic Mass, confessions, and a group dinner for coaches, scouts, and team officials at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Ind. Please pray for CAC’s NFL Catholic priest-chaplains for their sacramental work during the upcoming season!

Rev. Richard Rocha, KC Chiefs Catholic priest-chaplain, alongside Chiefs center Mitch Morse during 2018 training camp

CAC NFL Catholic priest-chaplains at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Ind.

NFL Catholic Fun Fact:  The Green Bay Packers held their summer training camp at St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wis., for 61 years, the longest such relationship between a pro football team and a college in the NFL.  Russ Bogda (then-president of the Packers) and Lisle Blackbourn (then-head coach) first approached St. Norbert College in the spring of 1957. At the time, the Packers were headquartering at UW-Stevens Point. In the summer of 1958, Coach Scooter McLean and his staff brought the Packers to the St. Norbert campus’ Frank J. Sensenbrenner Residence Hall, to various classrooms for training sessions, and to the dining facilities on the river bank. Over the 58 years, the string of successive summers at St. Norbert College has NEVER been broken. In 1959, newly appointed head Coach Vincent Lombardi confirmed the summer camp location and formed a friendship with father Dennis Burke, O. Praem. Succeeding coaches and Packer Presidents over the years have found the facilities to their liking.