Full Transcript for A Conversation with Ray McKenna, founder of Catholic Athletes for Christ

was an event for I think it was a C was it a CAC event or CAC event. 00:02:35.840 --> 00:02:37.919 We had uh Danny Abramowitz, I think, was the speaker. 00:02:38.400 --> 00:02:38.639 That's right. 00:02:38.960 --> 00:02:40.319 It was, that's all, yeah. 00:02:40.800 --> 00:02:41.439 And where was that? 00:02:41.840 --> 00:02:42.879 Quite some time in Phoenix. 00:02:43.520 --> 00:02:47.759 It was when the uh we had the Super Bowl in Phoenix as a priest, before as a bishop. 00:02:48.000 --> 00:02:50.479 But yeah, I remember that was great. 00:02:50.879 --> 00:03:00.000 So before we get into CAC and your work with that, tell us a little bit about your background and what your Catholic faith is has meant to you. 00:03:00.159 --> 00:03:04.639 Was it formed by your parents or did it come to you later in life? 00:03:05.120 --> 00:03:05.759 Great question. 00:03:05.840 --> 00:03:10.479 Um I grew up, was born and raised in the Bronx, New York, not far from Yankee Stadium. 00:03:10.719 --> 00:03:16.159 And um I have wonderful parents, they're both uh passed along, they're both deceased. 00:03:16.400 --> 00:03:19.840 But uh no child's ever had better parents than I had. 00:03:20.879 --> 00:03:24.400 And they raised me uh in the Catholic faith. 00:03:24.479 --> 00:03:33.599 Um all through elementary school, grammar school, college, up until I went to law school, I I was Catholic educated. 00:03:33.680 --> 00:03:35.919 And sadly, very little stuck with me. 00:03:36.479 --> 00:03:42.400 Um by the time I was probably in law school, uh I was you know pretty much non-practicing Catholic. 00:03:42.879 --> 00:03:48.639 And then I had a trivial thankfully, conversion, reconversion experience, I guess. 00:03:49.120 --> 00:04:00.159 Um so but um yeah, I I I'll always be thankful and appreciative for uh uh my parents, my family, their role in raising me, how prominent the Catholic faith was, I guess. 00:04:00.319 --> 00:04:04.879 It took longer because I'm probably denser than most for it to sink in with me. 00:04:05.120 --> 00:04:11.280 But um, I'm glad that it was there when I needed it to fall back on, and I'm I'm eternally grateful for that. 00:04:12.159 --> 00:04:16.480 Did you have an did you have an event that that you said you kind of like reverted? 00:04:16.560 --> 00:04:21.120 I think we all kind of go through that that phase, especially around college and high school, college stuff. 00:04:21.279 --> 00:04:27.040 Did you have an event or a moment or just what was did you have something that brought you back? 00:04:27.680 --> 00:04:37.279 I don't know if there was an event or a moment, but it was a gradation and kind of it's very ironic, I believe, in retrospect, and I didn't understand it at the time. 00:04:37.759 --> 00:04:48.000 But I became involved in evangelical, the so-called non-denominational sports ministry with organization called Baseball Chapel, which still exists, as you both know. 00:04:48.319 --> 00:04:53.600 And um, I was brought on as a uh one

of their chaplains, long story. 00:04:54.240 --> 00:04:57.600 And uh I they didn't know at the time that I was Catholic. 00:04:57.759 --> 00:05:01.199 Um, and so down the road that created some issues and problems. 00:05:01.360 --> 00:05:09.360 But at the time, but I would just go every Sunday with my friend Mark Dronfield, still a good friend, and we'd give this little Bible message to both teams in the minor leagues. 00:05:09.439 --> 00:05:12.399 We did the uh Carolina League single A. 00:05:12.800 --> 00:05:18.399 And um over time though, uh, you know, I I was still going to mass. 00:05:18.720 --> 00:05:20.560 Uh I started going to Mass again. 00:05:20.720 --> 00:05:27.439 Um, but there was an emptiness that was in my life, and I I love the Bible, I love scripture, I love baseball. 00:05:27.519 --> 00:05:31.360 And so being there was really exciting and important for me. 00:05:31.920 --> 00:05:45.360 But there was this true emptiness, and then I guess, and and I don't remember exactly, but probably because of the travel and getting there and doing the baseball chapel, there might have been sometimes I miss mass. 00:05:45.600 --> 00:05:53.040 Um, and whenever I did, I just felt this loneliness, this emptiness, go to confession, and then it kind of clicked. 00:05:53.120 --> 00:06:01.680 As I said, I'm not the brightest bulb, maybe, but eventually it hit that it the mass, the body and blood of Jesus, is the most important thing in the world. 00:06:01.839 --> 00:06:07.519 And without it, there's always gonna be uh a brokenness, an emptiness, a wanting for more. 00:06:07.600 --> 00:06:09.120 And so I don't know, I don't know if that's a good answer. 00:06:09.279 --> 00:06:09.839 It's a long answer. 00:06:09.920 --> 00:06:10.319 I apologize. 00:06:12.240 --> 00:06:13.040 Yeah, that's great. 00:06:13.439 --> 00:06:25.600 So one thing I want to stress we have a lot of people who are listening who uh probably parents, and you know, their their kids have strayed from the faith, maybe after they've tried to instill it in their children. 00:06:25.759 --> 00:06:34.959 And I think stories like this give should give them hope that you know your parents laid a strong foundation, you've you strayed a little bit, but the foundation was there. 00:06:35.199 --> 00:06:38.319 And a couple things helped bring you back on track. 00:06:38.399 --> 00:06:45.759 And so uh for parents listening, you know, I once heard someone say, God loves your children even more than you do. 00:06:46.000 --> 00:06:52.639 And so, you know, instill the faith and then entrust them to God and pray for them, be a great example. 00:06:52.879 --> 00:06:58.000 Um, so Ray, while you were working in minor league baseball, that that's where you met Mike Sweeney, isn't it? 00:06:58.160 --> 00:06:58.560 Yes. 00:06:58.720 --> 00:06:59.040 Yeah. 00:06:59.360 --> 00:07:00.480 Where where was that? 00:07:01.600 --> 00:07:05.120 I believe I wish Mike was on because he has a better memory than I do. 00:07:05.519 --> 00:07:05.680 Yeah. 00:07:05.839 --> 00:07:11.759 I met him when he was I it was in Prince William, uh, I was chaplain for the Cannons, team that no longer exists. 00:07:11.839 --> 00:07:15.439 They're now the print they're the Frederick Nationals. 00:07:15.680 --> 00:07:22.560 Um, and Mike was playing for the Wilmington Blue Rocks of part of the Kansas City Royals single A. 00:07:22.720 --> 00:07:27.360 And it was this young, bright-eyed, uh, he was a catcher at the time, by the way. 00:07:27.519 --> 00:07:37.839 And uh he came and I was just really impressed by the joy, the the the love that he he brought to bear, as he does in every situation that I've ever seen since then. 00:07:38.000 --> 00:07:52.800 Um but we met and we chatted briefly, but we really didn't get to know each other very well, and then it got to meet Mike once more, I think when he was still in the minor leagues at a PAO professional athlete outreach conference in Houston. 00:07:52.959 --> 00:08:01.759 And um we chatted again briefly, and I don't think in either conversation we shared or knew that the other was Catholic. 00:08:01.920 --> 00:08:02.240 Wow. 00:08:02.560 --> 00:08:09.199 And it only was only later, after the starting of Catholic Athletes for Christ, that we we kind of connected on that level. 00:08:09.680 --> 00:08:14.399 So, how how did that come about then the the start of Catholic Athletes for Christ? 00:08:14.560 --> 00:08:20.879 Uh, you're you're a chaplain for baseball chapel and uh some someone. 00:08:21.120 --> 00:08:32.960 One thing I realized through being a chaplain for baseball chapel was I was lucky because I went to mass and then went to chapel, or went to chapel and then then went to I didn't miss Mass after a while. 00:08:33.200 --> 00:08:37.519 Um and but I realized that the players couldn't do that. 00:08:38.080 --> 00:08:43.919 That these young guys, many of whom were raised Catholic, practiced Catholic in the offseason, that's all they got. 00:08:44.559 --> 00:08:56.320 So I think the Holy Spirit put on my heart, and I got to meet a great friend who passed from us about three years ago, Sal Bando, um three captain of the three-time champion Oakland Athletics. 00:08:56.480 --> 00:09:01.440 And Sal was raised Catholic and left the faith for many years and then came back with a vengeance. 00:09:01.519 --> 00:09:02.799 He was a daily communicant. 00:09:02.960 --> 00:09:05.679 And we were chatting, we said, you know, why don't we do something? 00:09:05.759 --> 00:09:13.200 Uh why don't we, instead of just complaining about it, why don't we start something where Catholics can have mass at the ballpark? 00:09:13.440 --> 00:09:16.960 So we went to baseball chapel and they said, no, that's impossible. 00:09:17.200 --> 00:09:17.759 Can't do that. 00:09:17.840 --> 00:09:19.519 We were not denominational. 00:09:19.759 --> 00:09:24.000 That would be giving preferential treatment, and besides, nobody needs that or wants that. 00:09:24.320

--> 00:09:26.879 So that wasn't a very satisfying answer. 00:09:27.039 --> 00:09:35.600 Um, so we worked on it, and then I used to say coincidentally, but I have been tutored and learned by you two and many others to say providentially. 00:09:35.840 --> 00:09:40.000 Providentially, just about the very same time, the uh St. 00:09:40.240 --> 00:09:50.559 John Paul um um then Pope uh John Paul uh second created uh the Vatican Sports Office, the first one in history. 00:09:50.720 --> 00:10:06.240 And we Sal and I were invited to go to Rome and meet with the papal representative for this newly created office, and they ask about you know what we were working on, which was just gonna be in baseball, um, uh to expand it to all levels in all of their sports. 00:10:06.320 --> 00:10:08.879 So that's that's kind of how it things got started. 00:10:09.919 --> 00:10:11.519 And what year was that roughly? 00:10:11.759 --> 00:10:12.399 How long ago? 00:10:12.799 --> 00:10:14.080 2005, I believe. 00:10:14.480 --> 00:10:16.240 Okay, so it's over over 20 years. 00:10:16.480 --> 00:10:19.679 It was very much towards the end of the papacy in the life of John Paul II. 00:10:20.159 --> 00:10:20.720 Gotcha. 00:10:21.279 --> 00:10:29.679 And then little by little you you started recruiting priests to uh celebrate Mass at the at the ballpark? 00:10:30.320 --> 00:10:30.720 Correct. 00:10:30.799 --> 00:10:47.279 And and to close the loop on a question you asked earlier, uh I was asked, we brainstormed, um, I know you've heard me tell this story before, but um we brainstormed in Rome with the Vatican about you know who were because people don't identify, don't wear labeled saying they're a Catholic. 00:10:47.360 --> 00:10:53.679 So we're trying to figure out who who were some Catholic athletes, and you know, in Salon, my case, baseball was what we knew. 00:10:53.840 --> 00:10:55.759 Who are some Catholic baseball players? 00:10:56.000 --> 00:11:02.879 So we um we thought of uh Mike Piazza, Mike Sweeney, and Mike Sosha, but we weren't certain. 00:11:02.960 --> 00:11:04.399 We we thought they might be Catholic. 00:11:04.480 --> 00:11:07.360 We didn't know for a fact that they were Catholic. 00:11:07.519 --> 00:11:14.559 And so we I guess we concluded that we'd come back to the States and look for guys named Mike and asked them if they wanted to join. 00:11:14.960 --> 00:11:20.559 Um so and that's how I got to some, I don't remember how I got Mike's number, Mike Sweeney. 00:11:20.720 --> 00:11:34.960 I wrote him a letter, and then he sent his number, and we had this great conversation about he was so excited, and you know, I I and he was just on fire when I told him about the Vatican New Office, this idea of Catholic athletes for Christ. 00:11:35.039 --> 00:11:43.840 And and I said to Mike, you know, and he remembered, I said, we met two times before, but we didn't know we had this commonality that's so important to us as Catholics. 00:11:43.919 --> 00:11:54.320 And I said, I read a six-page article about you in Sports Spectrum, which is a magazine, I believe, of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes or another evangelical Protestant ministry. 00:11:54.399 --> 00:11:55.679 And I said, six pages. 00:11:55.759 --> 00:11:57.840 It didn't say anything about being Catholic. 00:11:58.080 --> 00:12:06.960 You know, it said you went to services and say church and say, and Mike says, Well, yeah, I know that's that's a shame because I said the body and blood of Christ is the most important thing in my life. 00:12:07.039 --> 00:12:11.360 I go to mass every day when I can, and they put Mike likes to go to service every day. 00:12:11.840 --> 00:12:27.200 Um, so anyway, so um, but he he jumped on board both feet uh and wouldn't be Catholic Athletes for Christ today if it wasn't for Mike and Mike Piazza and Mike Zosha and Jeff Supon and many, many others like them. 00:12:27.919 --> 00:12:28.960 That's awesome. 00:12:29.120 --> 00:12:33.120 Yeah, and so little by little uh it's grown. 00:12:33.279 --> 00:12:40.879 And uh today, as we speak, does every major league team have uh uh mass at the stadium, or is there still one or two that don't? 00:12:41.279 --> 00:12:46.159 Every major league team as of two two or three years ago does, and every NFL team does now, also. 00:12:46.720 --> 00:12:47.200 Nice. 00:12:47.360 --> 00:12:53.759 And yeah, I used to when I was in Phoenix, I used to celebrate the Mass quite a bit for the uh for the NFL teams. 00:12:53.840 --> 00:13:02.720 It was usually the visiting team, and I was undefeated because usually I was celebrating Mass for the visiting team who's playing the Arizona Cardinals. 00:13:02.879 --> 00:13:04.000 I never lost a game. 00:13:04.159 --> 00:13:07.440 And my last time I did it, I did I finally I wanted to test it out. 00:13:07.600 --> 00:13:10.639 I celebrated Mass for the Cardinals, and we actually won the game. 00:13:10.799 --> 00:13:12.960 So I was undefeated before I left. 00:13:13.039 --> 00:13:16.879 So if any NFL teams need a little help, I'll help them out. 00:13:17.519 --> 00:13:19.519 May I share a quick story on that note? 00:13:19.679 --> 00:13:34.399 Um this past Saturday, um I re we had mass, we have, as you said, Bishop, well, mass is for all the visiting and the home teams of Chapel and Mass the day be uh mass the day before the game. 00:13:34.559 --> 00:13:39.519 And this past Saturday, I received a phone call at uh Tex actually at 4 30 p.m. 00:13:40.159 --> 00:13:50.960 from the Protestant chaplain for the Houston Texans saying that the priest we had set up had just just called at 4 30 saying that he was diagnosed with shingles and he couldn't make the mass. 00:13:51.440 --> 00:13:54.080 So he asked me, he said, can we find somebody to replace him? 00:13:54.320 --> 00:13:58.159 And I said, What's that uh old phrase they they have in in Texas? 00:13:58.240 --> 00:13:58.720 I think it is. 00:13:58.799 --> 00:14:03.679 They have uh two chances and slim and none and

throw it out of town. 00:14:03.840 --> 00:14:07.200 Uh so I said, Um, well, I'm gonna do my best. 00:14:07.360 --> 00:14:10.080 Uh I said, um, I'm gonna call a few priests I know. 00:14:10.240 --> 00:14:15.279 I think the chances are next to impossible, but I'm also gonna say a Hail Mary. 00:14:15.519 --> 00:14:18.159 Um, and he and and I said, and I'll get back to you. 00:14:18.320 --> 00:14:19.360 And I did that. 00:14:19.600 --> 00:14:23.440 And we found found a priest in like 30 minutes, he showed up. 00:14:23.600 --> 00:14:25.919 Um, said Mass did a great job. 00:14:26.080 --> 00:14:34.960 And the reason I told this story is the Protestant chaplain got back to me thanking us for our efforts and also saying, I know those Hail Marys are very powerful. 00:14:35.039 --> 00:14:37.200 And I thought, wow, that's that's great. 00:14:38.159 --> 00:14:39.200 It's a great witness. 00:14:39.440 --> 00:14:40.080 Yeah. 00:14:40.399 --> 00:14:41.919 Yeah, it's been a great witness. 00:14:42.320 --> 00:14:46.639 It's been a beautiful ministry, uh, you know, all around the ballpark. 00:14:46.720 --> 00:14:56.000 And now we see these uh Catholic ball players who even some of them didn't even know this ministry existed, and little by little the word spreads. 00:14:56.159 --> 00:15:00.639 And you know, here at every stadium does it a little bit differently. 00:15:00.879 --> 00:15:11.440 You know, in Chicago with the Cubs, uh, we have mass in section 209, and uh the home team, the visiting team, and any employees in the stadium are welcome to come. 00:15:11.600 --> 00:15:19.279 It's not open to um, you know, fans, uh, but you know, we have probably 30 to 40 people. 00:15:19.440 --> 00:15:27.120 I know some stadiums uh they have a maybe even a chapel room or a room dedicated for mass, just for people who are listening. 00:15:27.200 --> 00:15:28.879 Like, how does how does this work? 00:15:29.120 --> 00:15:38.639 Um, we normally have mass about three and a half, four hours before game time, so the players can go to mass and then they they have time to get ready for the game. 00:15:38.879 --> 00:15:54.559 And so um, as you know, a lot of players are there late Saturday night at a game, can't go to the vigil mass, and then they have to be back at the ballpark early on Sunday, and then they often travel to the next you know uh city right after the game. 00:15:54.799 --> 00:15:59.759 So this is a real service and opportunity uh for for them to get to Mass. 00:15:59.919 --> 00:16:12.960 So, Ray, your uh your efforts have not gone unnoticed, and so many people have been able to uh continue with the sacraments because of your following the Holy Spirit's lead. 00:16:14.159 --> 00:16:16.399 Thank thank you and thanks be to God for that. 00:16:16.720 --> 00:16:17.360 Yeah. 00:16:18.320 --> 00:16:33.360 On the personal side, Ray, you have a beautiful story how you met your wife, and uh uh your your life took uh a big change when you were unmarried for many years and now have

uh was it seven children? 00:16:33.759 --> 00:16:34.639 Seven, that's correct. 00:16:34.879 --> 00:16:35.120 Yeah. 00:16:35.279 --> 00:16:40.399 Can you share a little bit about your your uh your beautiful bride and and family? 00:16:40.720 --> 00:16:41.200 I love you. 00:16:41.840 --> 00:16:42.960 Love your wife named Sean. 00:16:43.200 --> 00:16:45.519 She's a teacher, you know, seven children. 00:16:45.679 --> 00:16:49.919 Um we were married, she was a widow, uh, very tragic kind of circumstances. 00:16:50.080 --> 00:17:03.200 Her first husband passed away, and uh, she was a widow and um with with six lovely children raging raising ranging from I believe two years old to 16. 00:17:03.679 --> 00:17:19.680 And uh we kind of joined and was like, I didn't bring any, so it was not quite a Brady Punch story, but we wound up with six, and then shortly thereafter, God blessed us with our seventh, Amelia, um, who um we named her Amelia, Mia Ruth. 00:17:19.920 --> 00:17:27.359 Um, she's named uh all the girls that we have four girls, their their middle name is all some derivation of Mary. 00:17:27.519 --> 00:17:31.119 So um Amelia's was named after my mother, that was her name. 00:17:31.440 --> 00:17:35.680 Mia after the blessed mother, and then Ruth after Babe Ruth. 00:17:36.160 --> 00:17:40.480 Um but we uh just blah, I'm so blessed. 00:17:40.559 --> 00:17:44.400 Um this involves Mike again, I guess a lot of my life life seems to. 00:17:44.720 --> 00:17:57.519 Um it was at one of our retreats that both of you are prominent features and in integral parts of, as you know, and about, I guess let's see, we're married 16 years, 17 years ago, 18 years ago. 00:17:57.680 --> 00:18:03.759 And um Mike and I were just having a one-on-one session, you know, friends and chatting, and said, What's on your heart? 00:18:03.839 --> 00:18:06.480 And I said, Well, things are good, but I feel lonely. 00:18:06.559 --> 00:18:08.559 I wish I had a wife and a family. 00:18:08.720 --> 00:18:11.119 And he says, Well, let's just sit down here and pray. 00:18:11.279 --> 00:18:13.519 So we closed our eyes and Mike led the prayer. 00:18:13.599 --> 00:18:16.559 And then I came back next year and I had a wife and six kids. 00:18:16.640 --> 00:18:20.319 And you know, as I like the kid, you know, Mike prayed too hard. 00:18:21.599 --> 00:18:24.160 Be careful if you ask him to pray for you. 00:18:25.200 --> 00:18:28.400 Mike's got a direct line to the Holy Spirit there. 00:18:29.039 --> 00:18:30.559 That's a great story. 00:18:30.799 --> 00:18:34.559 Um, you know, we're recording this on Monday night. 00:18:34.799 --> 00:18:39.519 Uh the wildcard playoffs begin tomorrow. 00:18:39.759 --> 00:18:43.839 By the time this goes out on Wednesday, there'll be a couple games that have been played already. 00:18:43.920 --> 00:18:48.079 So I always like to talk, and all of us love baseball. 00:18:48.240 --> 00:18:51.519 So, Ray, love to get your your input and Bishop. 00:18:51.759 --> 00:18:54.720 So uh now these are central times. 00:18:54.960 --> 00:19:00.079 Best of three series, all three games will be at uh at the same ballpark. 00:19:00.319 --> 00:19:11.119 Phillies uh go to the Braves, um the White Sox go to the Astros, Red Sox go to the Yankees, and the Cubs go to the Padres. 00:19:11.440 --> 00:19:18.960 So um any thoughts, any any favorites in the in the first wild card series here? 00:19:19.839 --> 00:19:21.359 You want to go first, yeah? 00:19:21.680 --> 00:19:26.400 I think if if the Phillies bats are hot, they're hard to beat, period. 00:19:27.440 --> 00:19:33.839 But if those bats go silent like they were they were for like the last week or so, they're gonna be done. 00:19:34.160 --> 00:19:36.720 It it's all about their their bats, you know. 00:19:36.799 --> 00:19:37.839 They're yeah. 00:19:38.319 --> 00:19:41.680 That's just that's just that's just kind of how they work. 00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:46.319 I you're you catch me off guard here because as you know, my my season's over. 00:19:47.119 --> 00:19:49.359 I've I've I've sworn baseball off. 00:19:49.599 --> 00:19:54.400 But last month I've actually sworn baseball off and predicted that my team would end it a game out. 00:19:54.559 --> 00:19:56.160 I don't know if it was two games or one game. 00:19:57.279 --> 00:19:57.839 Yeah, yeah. 00:19:58.000 --> 00:19:59.599 I predicted it, but I knew it. 00:19:59.680 --> 00:20:00.799 I knew it was gonna happen. 00:20:01.039 --> 00:20:03.920 But uh alright, so we got the so you gotta say him again. 00:20:04.079 --> 00:20:06.160 So the Phillies and Braves? 00:20:06.480 --> 00:20:08.480 Yeah, so I'm gonna say I'll say Phillies. 00:20:08.559 --> 00:20:10.079 I think the bats are gonna stay hot. 00:20:10.400 --> 00:20:12.400 Okay, White Sox and Astros. 00:20:13.200 --> 00:20:17.519 I'm I'm going um I'm going, I'm going White Sox. 00:20:17.839 --> 00:20:18.559 Pope Leo. 00:20:18.799 --> 00:20:19.200 I've got to go. 00:20:21.920 --> 00:20:23.039 All my friends in Chicago. 00:20:23.119 --> 00:20:24.079 I'm going White Sox. 00:20:24.400 --> 00:20:25.039 There we go. 00:20:25.200 --> 00:20:27.440 Uh, Red Sox and Yankees. 00:20:27.680 --> 00:20:29.680 I'm going Yankees because Ray's on here. 00:20:29.759 --> 00:20:31.759 I didn't know you were a Yankee fan, Ray. 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:33.680 You hide that very well. 00:20:34.640 --> 00:20:34.880 Yeah. 00:20:35.119 --> 00:20:35.599 From the Bronx. 00:20:36.720 --> 00:20:37.440 Yeah. 00:20:37.759 --> 00:20:39.680 And then uh Cubs and Padres. 00:20:40.640 --> 00:20:45.039 Um I'm gonna make my Chicago people unhappy with me now. 00:20:45.200 --> 00:20:47.839 Going, I'm going Padres because of Craig's stamina. 00:20:47.920 --> 00:20:52.160 Um that's that's why he's he's uh the manager, so good Catholic man. 00:20:52.799 --> 00:20:57.759 These are tough when you get to know managers and players personally, and yeah. 00:20:58.079 --> 00:21:07.359 Craig had us bless his office for um

spring training this year, and he because he said I have to make life um changing decisions for people. 00:21:07.440 --> 00:21:11.119 And I thought that really that really moved my heart when he when he did that. 00:21:11.200 --> 00:21:11.759 That was great. 00:21:11.920 --> 00:21:12.640 He's a good man. 00:21:13.039 --> 00:21:15.599 We'll definitely have him on after the season finishes. 00:21:15.680 --> 00:21:17.759 Hopefully they make a good long run. 00:21:18.000 --> 00:21:23.039 I'm I'm torn being the Cubs chaplain and going against uh Craig. 00:21:23.200 --> 00:21:24.880 Um Ray, what about you? 00:21:24.960 --> 00:21:27.440 Any any thoughts, Phil Phillies and Braves? 00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:31.279 Uh I'm gonna be really honest and very evasive. 00:21:31.359 --> 00:21:33.119 Uh I'm not going to pick anybody. 00:21:33.200 --> 00:21:43.440 I've learned by long and hard experience that we have friends, which is wonderful in the network that we have, on each and every team that's in the playoffs who are instrumental in some cases in our masses. 00:21:43.680 --> 00:21:49.680 And I I it sometimes when they if they hear I picked a team against them, they they'll like raise it with me. 00:21:49.759 --> 00:21:51.200 So I'm not gonna do that. 00:21:51.359 --> 00:21:54.000 I'm never not very good at predicting anyway. 00:21:54.240 --> 00:21:55.119 I think it's gonna be good. 00:21:55.359 --> 00:21:59.759 There were some I think the teams with the best pitching, and there are a number of them, are gonna be hard to. 00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:03.519 To Pete, but it's who winds up, I have no idea. 00:22:03.599 --> 00:22:08.799 But I do want to piggyback on something the bishop said about the White Sox. 00:22:09.039 --> 00:22:10.960 It's just been incredible. 00:22:11.119 --> 00:22:23.599 Um, you know, one scribe recently read, I thought it was a great line, said that you know, Jesus, of course, you know, raised Lazarus from the dead, and the Pope Leo has raised the whole franchise from the dead. 00:22:23.839 --> 00:22:27.200 Um I love, but it's really amazing. 00:22:27.279 --> 00:22:31.920 Our good friend Drew Romo is part of that White Sock Two amazing story in it in itself. 00:22:32.400 --> 00:22:40.480 And um just amazing and recently I want to mention too, uh uh AJ Prozinski uh got to visit the Holy Father, was really amazing. 00:22:40.640 --> 00:22:44.559 And I said to AJ, and you know, it he he was very nervous. 00:22:44.640 --> 00:22:51.119 He he he texted Mike and I the day before, and he wanted to know what he should wear, what he should say, and everything. 00:22:51.279 --> 00:22:53.039 And I said, just relax, AJ. 00:22:53.200 --> 00:23:04.720 I can honestly say to you that of all the athletes I know that have met the Popes over the years, you're probably the first one that the Pope knew of you before you knew of him. 00:23:05.119 --> 00:23:08.319 And who's more excited maybe to meet you than you are to meet him? 00:23:08.480 --> 00:23:15.680 Um and

it was and the Pope said on the way at a when he was took, I think, full 10 minutes, which you know is a lot of the Holy Father's time. 00:23:15.839 --> 00:23:24.000 And he said on the way um as AJ was leaving the stage, he said, Tell the Sox I'm still watching and rooting for them, which I think is great. 00:23:24.319 --> 00:23:30.480 Can you imagine if he comes over someday to throw out a first pitch at a White Sox game? 00:23:30.799 --> 00:23:34.720 I mean, this one the security, but uh I'm not sure I can't. 00:23:34.799 --> 00:23:35.599 I mean, imagine it. 00:23:35.680 --> 00:23:38.960 I mean, it's yeah, what a what a moment that would be. 00:23:39.279 --> 00:23:45.039 Um and the hottest ticket price maybe ever in baseball, if that happens. 00:23:45.519 --> 00:23:52.000 Um, but I respect uh the decision not to um we we make calls and and people know we're not betters. 00:23:52.319 --> 00:23:54.079 I'm the worst of all of them, by the way. 00:23:54.319 --> 00:23:55.519 So if people if people are betting. 00:23:56.400 --> 00:23:58.079 I had the Royals winning it all this year. 00:23:58.240 --> 00:23:59.359 That's how bad I am. 00:23:59.759 --> 00:24:02.559 Well, yeah, and it's you know, baseball is such a funny game. 00:24:02.640 --> 00:24:04.720 It's maybe one of the main reasons we love it. 00:24:04.880 --> 00:24:06.079 It's so unpredictable. 00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:10.160 You mentioned the Phillies, and I agree with what Bishop Wall's analysis of it. 00:24:10.319 --> 00:24:12.240 But you remember the Phillies' great run. 00:24:12.319 --> 00:24:14.480 I think they were stopped by your diamondbacks. 00:24:14.640 --> 00:24:16.400 Um but they were unbeatable. 00:24:16.480 --> 00:24:19.759 They were up three to one on the diamondbacks and looked like they're headed to the World Series. 00:24:19.920 --> 00:24:24.559 But that year, they ended the season here in Washington, D.C. 00:24:24.960 --> 00:24:26.319 And they were on fumes. 00:24:26.480 --> 00:24:33.359 They had lost, I don't know what it was, but they had lost maybe two-thirds of their last uh or their last month's games. 00:24:33.440 --> 00:24:37.200 They just basically eked into the playoffs. 00:24:37.279 --> 00:24:40.480 And once the playoffs started, they were just a new team. 00:24:40.880 --> 00:24:51.039 Yeah, they it's a that's one of those teams, as you're saying, they have they have three great pitchers that could carry them a long way if they if they hit a little bit. 00:24:51.200 --> 00:24:52.880 And they've had they've had good luck. 00:24:52.960 --> 00:25:01.039 Um, I'm as a Cubs chaplain, I'm pulling for the Cubs, obviously, but I've also been a lifelong Phillies fan, even before the Cubs. 00:25:01.200 --> 00:25:13.440 And so uh I think the Phillies, if they if they hit, you know, they could go deep because of Wheeler, Sanchez, and Lazardo, uh great, great pitching. 00:25:13.599 --> 00:25:19.279 Um, I'd say I'm gonna pull for the White Sox, uh Drew Romo, local team. 00:25:20.079 --> 00:25:23.200 Drew's going to the playoffs and getting married this year. 00:25:23.920 --> 00:25:24.559 How about that? 00:25:24.799 --> 00:25:25.119 Yeah. 00:25:25.279 --> 00:25:26.079 And what is it? 00:25:26.160 --> 00:25:29.039 They they had three consecutive hundred loss seasons, I think. 00:25:29.200 --> 00:25:38.400 And and it's it's really a miracle that they're, you know, when we started the season living here in Chicago, nobody thought the White Sox would be in the playoffs. 00:25:38.559 --> 00:25:41.839 We thought maybe if they get to 500, that'd be great. 00:25:41.920 --> 00:25:45.440 And now 500 would be in the playoffs anyway in the American League. 00:25:45.599 --> 00:25:55.039 Um and then uh I think Red Sox, Yankees, how what a great uh rivalry to start uh the wild card with them. 00:25:55.200 --> 00:26:03.839 So um yeah, uh I'd have to give the nod to the the home team there because I think they're so evenly matched. 00:26:03.920 --> 00:26:07.519 So go to the Yankees, White Sox, Cubs, and Phillies. 00:26:08.000 --> 00:26:11.839 So three lower seeds and one one higher seed. 00:26:12.319 --> 00:26:15.359 Um let's switch gears a little bit. 00:26:15.519 --> 00:26:19.039 Uh and I know Ray is uh great man of faith too. 00:26:19.119 --> 00:26:24.079 We're gonna we're gonna dive into the 27th Sunday in ordinary time. 00:26:24.480 --> 00:26:26.960 Uh Bishop, you wanna you wanna get us started? 00:26:27.359 --> 00:26:28.559 Sure, be happy to. 00:26:28.799 --> 00:26:34.000 So this is um, I know we always pay attention in all the readings at Mass. 00:26:34.079 --> 00:26:34.880 We have to, right? 00:26:35.039 --> 00:26:54.799 We we encounter Christ in the in the word proclaimed, um, but especially pay really close attention to the very first reading um that we're gonna have this with this week at Mass because it ties through and it makes the gospel make more sense, and that's um from the prophet Isaiah. 00:26:55.039 --> 00:27:05.839 So um remember, Jesus is in the temple, and so he's not speaking to just kind of the general crowd of disciples, but he's speaking to the religious leaders. 00:27:06.160 --> 00:27:08.480 And so he gives them another parable. 00:27:08.640 --> 00:27:12.880 Remember, parables we can just keep going back to them and learning and learning and learning. 00:27:13.039 --> 00:27:15.599 And he talks about the landowner who planted a vineyard. 00:27:15.759 --> 00:27:17.519 So we have that image of a vineyard. 00:27:17.680 --> 00:27:23.039 Um ultimately we know that's that's the landowner, we know that to be God. 00:27:23.359 --> 00:27:27.200 Um, we know that the vineyard ultimately is the kingdom. 00:27:27.440 --> 00:27:31.839 But in this case, we're we're specifically speaking about Jerusalem. 00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:44.480 And so here he is in the temple speaking to the the leaders, and he talks about a landowner who had a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press, and then built a tower, and then

he leases it out. 00:27:44.799 --> 00:28:03.039 So he's still the owner, he's leasing it out, and he and it talks about the servants, and um uh he sent his servants to the tenants, so he's leased it out to the tenants to obtain his product produce, and then it talks about all the horrible things that they do to him. 00:28:03.359 --> 00:28:10.240 So if we're just looking at the how do we who are these who are these people, the servants that he sends to the tenants? 00:28:10.400 --> 00:28:16.319 Well, the tenants would be the religious leaders, and he's Jesus is talking about other horrible ways. 00:28:16.400 --> 00:28:18.000 That's what essentially what he's doing to him. 00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:24.240 They're not doing the will of the of the owner, the landowner, which we all know ultimately to be God. 00:28:24.880 --> 00:28:30.799 And the the servants who he sends to them, these are the um, these are the prophets. 00:28:31.039 --> 00:28:35.839 These are the prophets that he sends to them, said, Look, you're not doing God's will. 00:28:36.079 --> 00:28:38.079 You have to come back to doing God's will. 00:28:38.240 --> 00:28:41.279 And then it says all the things that they they did to them. 00:28:41.440 --> 00:28:49.200 You know, it talks about one being stoned, it talks about one um being killed, you know, talks about they beat up the other one, all these different things. 00:28:49.359 --> 00:28:54.000 And tradition, if we just take a look at tradition, I think we have Isaiah. 00:28:54.240 --> 00:28:58.720 Um traditionally, you have Isaiah being killed, and he was sawed in two. 00:28:58.960 --> 00:29:00.559 We get that from Brent Petrie. 00:29:01.039 --> 00:29:06.480 Um, and then we look at um who was the the other the other well, there was one that was stoned. 00:29:06.559 --> 00:29:10.000 I think it was Jeremiah, traditionally has Jeremiah being stoned. 00:29:10.240 --> 00:29:12.960 So these are the prophets, as we talk about the prophets. 00:29:13.279 --> 00:29:24.400 So when he's saying this to the religious leaders, he knows exact they know exactly what he's talking about because they know the word, they know that they know the scriptures very well, so they know that he's going back to Isaiah. 00:29:24.480 --> 00:29:29.200 And then he says, and then this is the twist and the whole thing, then he sends his son. 00:29:29.440 --> 00:29:32.079 So think about that just in practical terms. 00:29:32.400 --> 00:29:40.079 Would a father send his son into uh an environment where the people he sent before have just been killed? 00:29:40.240 --> 00:29:41.920 It's like, no, he wouldn't do that. 00:29:42.240 --> 00:29:48.240 Only if you know the son's purpose is to come into the world to suffer to die and to rise. 00:29:48.480 --> 00:29:53.359 And um that's that's the whole purpose of it, because that's why Jesus came into the world. 00:29:53.839 --> 00:30:00.160 So he he he tells him, he he tells him that he sends the son and this is what they they do to

him as well. 00:30:00.480 --> 00:30:02.079 So there's more to this. 00:30:02.160 --> 00:30:12.480 I know Father Burke's gonna pick up on this, but I think this weekend really pay close attention to what Isaiah is saying, and then tie it into what we're gonna hear in in the gospel passage. 00:30:12.640 --> 00:30:23.839 So just like the last couple last weeks, Jesus is speaking directly to the religious leaders, and he's calling them out for their poor leadership, their poor behavior. 00:30:24.079 --> 00:30:27.359 And then he's also talking about how they're going to reject him. 00:30:27.599 --> 00:30:36.480 And we know how they're gonna reject him, they're gonna reject him in his suffering, his death, but we know that the victory ultimately is gonna be the Lord in his resurrection. 00:30:37.519 --> 00:30:42.319 Yeah, I was thinking, as you're saying, these last few weeks, you can see this common thread. 00:30:42.400 --> 00:30:46.160 And uh I was thinking of Nathan and David again. 00:30:46.240 --> 00:31:00.799 Uh, remember when Nathan is talking to David, he gives him the story of um this rich man had a lot of lot of sheep, and then there's a poor man next door, he had this one little eulan that he treated like his own child. 00:31:00.960 --> 00:31:15.759 The rich man got a visitor, and instead of taking one of his own sheep to slaughter for a feast, he goes to the um the poor man, takes his one little sheep and offers it for his his party. 00:31:16.160 --> 00:31:19.200 And uh, you know, Nathan says, What do you think about this? 00:31:19.359 --> 00:31:20.960 And David says, That's awful. 00:31:21.119 --> 00:31:22.480 That man should die. 00:31:22.640 --> 00:31:25.279 And Nathan says, That man is you. 00:31:25.680 --> 00:31:29.680 You took you know Uriah's uh wife, Bathsheba. 00:31:29.839 --> 00:31:36.720 Similarly, here it Jesus lays out this parable, yeah, and you know, he says, What will the owner do? 00:31:36.880 --> 00:31:46.400 And they answered the the religious leaders, he will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper times. 00:31:46.640 --> 00:31:51.200 Jesus doesn't say it directly, but it's you know, he's like he's saying, That's you. 00:31:51.519 --> 00:31:58.079 I've I've given you the vineyard here and you've made a mess and you've killed my prophets. 00:31:58.400 --> 00:32:03.119 And he says the stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. 00:32:03.200 --> 00:32:08.160 You know, I'm gonna be the one that's ultimately rejected and killed, and I'm the son of God. 00:32:08.400 --> 00:32:20.000 And so it's a reminder for us, I think, to say it's easy for us to be quick to point out what others have done and uh kind of get self-righteous, I think. 00:32:20.160 --> 00:32:24.880 And I think it's really important for us to look in the mirror and say, you know, how how have I denied the Lord? 00:32:25.039 --> 00:32:26.160 How have I betrayed

him? 00:32:26.400 --> 00:32:27.839 How have I sinned against him? 00:32:28.240 --> 00:32:38.960 And, you know, as Jesus says, let's take the the um you know plank out of our eye before we do anything about the splinter in another's eye. 00:32:39.279 --> 00:32:44.079 Ray, what are what are your thoughts as you look at the readings for this weekend? 00:32:44.480 --> 00:32:50.400 Something that strikes me, going back to last weekend's reading also, and this continuation of the parable narrative. 00:32:50.480 --> 00:32:57.839 I even think of the so-called prodigal son parable, which is one of my favorite stories, parables in the Bible. 00:32:58.079 --> 00:33:09.920 Um, there's such a widespread, as you know, Bishop Wall very correctly points out that Jesus is speaking to the leadership, and it's so important when reflecting and re-analyzing scripture to know who the message is for. 00:33:10.160 --> 00:33:21.839 But also, I think there's a broad misunderstanding about the vineyard, is uh when you think about the workers who are called at the end of the day getting the same wage. 00:33:22.079 --> 00:33:26.720 Um, being in the vineyard, working in the vineyard in the kingdom is a blessing. 00:33:26.799 --> 00:33:27.759 It's a privilege. 00:33:27.920 --> 00:33:34.400 So being there working longer is not something that you should be bemoaning or complaining somebody else gets in later. 00:33:34.559 --> 00:33:39.200 You should be thankful for the blessing that you've been called when you've been called. 00:33:39.359 --> 00:33:44.880 And you know, whenever it is that's early in the morning or at the end of the day, just be thankful for that. 00:33:44.960 --> 00:33:57.519 And I think if we all had that perspective, there would be such a different understanding of these parables and sometimes the you know resentment that that sadly comes from misunderstanding these parables. 00:33:58.000 --> 00:33:58.480 Yeah. 00:33:59.200 --> 00:34:00.000 Well said. 00:34:02.079 --> 00:34:14.079 Yeah, that um I think what picking up what Ray's talking about, you know, we always want to avoid um making comparisons like in comparing myself to somebody else. 00:34:14.320 --> 00:34:15.119 Little kids do that. 00:34:15.280 --> 00:34:19.199 Oh, look what he got, or look what she got, he got more than me, or she got more than me. 00:34:19.679 --> 00:34:20.880 You know, things like that. 00:34:20.960 --> 00:34:26.400 And and um just the joy, like you said, the joy of being in the in the vineyard. 00:34:26.559 --> 00:34:35.360 Because the vineyard is the Lord's and uh and just the joy, and we should desire like God desires that all people come to know salvation. 00:34:35.519 --> 00:34:37.760 So everyone's everyone's in the vineyard. 00:34:37.840 --> 00:34:47.039 That's what God desires, whether they came in like that that uh at the at the first hour where they came in, the Johnny come lately's at the last minute. 00:34:47.199 --> 00:34:48.000 That's okay. 00:34:48.159 --> 00:34:49.599 It's okay too. 00:34:50.239 --> 00:35:01.119 And it just reminds me, I think we I'd be remiss if we didn't say uh Bishop, and I I don't know, Ray, if you were at the beatification mass for Bishop Sheen this past week. 00:35:01.280 --> 00:35:03.440 Uh it was not, but I followed it very closely. 00:35:03.599 --> 00:35:05.599 I'm a huge fan of uh Bishop Sheen. 00:35:06.079 --> 00:35:07.199 Yeah, me, us too. 00:35:07.360 --> 00:35:09.840 It was one of the most powerful things I've experienced. 00:35:10.000 --> 00:35:18.960 And one of the lines from Bishop Tilka from Peoria, uh, he said, everything Bishop Sheen did was to bring people to Christ. 00:35:19.119 --> 00:35:26.079 And that is just echoed in my heart, like that's the heart of a shepherd, and uh that should be the heart of all of us, right? 00:35:26.159 --> 00:35:40.079 That's we've been we've experienced mercy and love in such a way that we're called to go out and and share that and not think this vineyard is mine or that uh I'm in control of this. 00:35:40.239 --> 00:35:45.440 It's we're we're simply stewards of the incredible gifts that God has given us. 00:35:45.519 --> 00:35:57.920 And I just I think Bishop Sheen is going to be a great um uh intercessor for for our country and uh for for many ministries in this in this world. 00:36:00.719 --> 00:36:11.280 Yeah, I think um I I was talking to one of the Polish bishops, and he uh said to me that prior in Poland, prior to Pope St. 00:36:11.440 --> 00:36:16.559 John Paul II, he said that the vocations were similar to the way they were here in the United States. 00:36:17.119 --> 00:36:21.119 And then when JP2 came on the scene, they just exploded. 00:36:21.280 --> 00:36:24.960 I mean, they just exploded. 00:36:25.440 --> 00:36:31.760 And he and he he was of the opinion that that Sheen is going to do something similar in the United States. 00:36:32.239 --> 00:36:42.719 And we saw, you know, we saw 82 bishops, we saw a thousand priests, we saw a thousand seminarians, uh, over two hundred permanent deacons. 00:36:42.800 --> 00:36:47.119 I mean, it was just amazing to see all these families we saw. 00:36:47.360 --> 00:36:51.280 And I I think I think Sheen's um gonna have an impact. 00:36:51.440 --> 00:36:58.239 His intercession is gonna have an impact on vocations here in the ple in the in the country that he called home. 00:36:58.639 --> 00:37:09.599 Yeah, I think we're, and and John Paul II predicted this, we're entering into a uh a new springtime, and uh I think we're seeing that with people coming into the church. 00:37:09.679 --> 00:37:14.159 There's this renewal, the Holy Spirit's working, and uh it's an exciting time. 00:37:14.320 --> 00:37:19.599 It's always fun to be Catholic, but I think this is an especially exciting time to be Catholic. 00:37:19.760 --> 00:37:24.559 So Ray, thank you for uh taking time this morning to to join us. 00:37:24.719 --> 00:37:37.360 It's uh always great to connect with you and thank you for your

faithfulness and the ministry that uh uh you've brought to so many Catholics and specifically Catholic athletes around our country. 00:37:38.159 --> 00:37:39.119 Thank you both. 00:37:39.280 --> 00:37:39.920 God bless you. 00:37:40.000 --> 00:37:50.480 And when I think of Sheen and I think of you too, I think of devotion to a holy hour and adoration, and hopefully that will be another blessing that the beatification brings. 00:37:50.639 --> 00:37:53.199 Is if we get everybody doing a holy hour, wow. 00:37:55.840 --> 00:37:56.960 Light the world on fire. 00:37:57.199 --> 00:37:58.320 Yes, yeah. 00:37:58.559 --> 00:37:59.199 Was it St. 00:37:59.280 --> 00:38:00.239 Catherine of Siena? 00:38:00.400 --> 00:38:04.159 Become who you were created to be, and you'll set the world on fire. 00:38:04.320 --> 00:38:10.159 And that happens by spending that one continuous hour a day in the presence of the Lord. 00:38:11.280 --> 00:38:12.079 Yeah, yeah. 00:38:12.480 --> 00:38:13.599 Beautiful. 00:38:14.079 --> 00:38:16.320 Bishop, would you close us in prayer? 00:38:16.639 --> 00:38:18.000 Sure, be happy to. 00:38:19.039 --> 00:38:21.440 The name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 00:38:21.760 --> 00:38:22.159 Amen. 00:38:22.639 --> 00:38:26.159 Well, Saint John Paul, from the window of heaven, grant us your blessing. 00:38:26.400 --> 00:38:35.679 Bless the church that you loved and served and guided, courageously leading her along the paths of the world, in order to bring Jesus to everyone and everyone to Jesus. 00:38:35.920 --> 00:38:38.239 Bless the young who are your great passion. 00:38:38.480 --> 00:38:45.679 Help them dream again, help them look up to the heavens again, to find the light that illuminates the paths of life here on earth. 00:38:46.000 --> 00:38:47.920 May you bless each and every family. 00:38:48.239 --> 00:38:55.679 You warned of Satan's assault against this precious and indispensable divine spark that God lit on earth. 00:38:55.920 --> 00:39:01.920 Saint John Paul, with your prayers, may you protect the family and every life that blossoms from the family. 00:39:02.239 --> 00:39:07.599 Pray for the whole world, which is still marked by tensions, wars, and injustice. 00:39:07.840 --> 00:39:12.719 You opposed war by invoking dialogue and planting the seeds of love. 00:39:13.039 --> 00:39:16.960 Pray for us, so that we may be tireless sowers of peace. 00:39:17.280 --> 00:39:17.760 Well, St. 00:39:17.840 --> 00:39:24.480 John Paul from Heaven's Window, where we see you beside Mary, send God's blessing down upon us all. 00:39:24.800 --> 00:39:25.440 Amen. 00:39:26.800 --> 00:39:28.000 The Lord be with you. 00:39:28.239 --> 00:39:29.199 And with your spirit. 00:39:29.440 --> 00:39:33.760 May Almighty God bless you, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 00:39:34.079 --> 00:39:34.719 Amen. 00:39:35.519 --> 00:39:36.880 Thanks everyone for listening. 00:39:37.119 --> 00:39:41.920 Put your comments, and we'll be happy to uh answer those on uh next week's show. 00:39:42.159 --> 00:39:46.400 Like, subscribe, and share this podcast with someone you think it might be helpful for. 00:39:46.480 --> 00:39:46.960 And as St. 00:39:47.119 --> 00:39:52.559 Pierre Giorgio Frasati reminds us, the higher we go, the better we shall hear the voice of Christ. 00:39:52.719 --> 00:39:55.760 Keep striving Versoal Alto in your faith and pursuits. 00:39:55.920 --> 00:39:58.400 And until next time, God bless you.