Kicking up fun: Kickball tournament brings young adults together

Not long after being soundly defeated in the first round of the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s Sept. 16 Catholic Young Adult Kickball Tournament at St. Mary’s Seminary in Roland Park, a team made up of religious sisters from several orders seemed undaunted.

Some of the team members were from other countries and had never before competed in the distinctly American game.

“The last shall be first,” exclaimed one smiling sister, her blue veil flapping in the breeze.

“You tell them, sister,” responded Baltimore Auxiliary Bishop Bruce Lewandowski, C.Ss.R., urban vicar, as others clapped and cheered.

While the sisters didn’t come out on top – a team made up of seminarians from the Archdiocese of Baltimore ultimately defeated a team of Anne Arundel County parishioners by a score of 3-2 to claim the Baltimore Catholic Cup and a $200 gift certificate – their spirit was characteristic of a fun-filled day that brought together young adults from throughout the area.

Sixteen teams made up of 160 players competed in the daylong event. Area priests officiated three rounds of games, semifinals and finals.

Sister Mary, Light of Confessors, a 25-year-old member of the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara, said she found out the night before the big event that she would be competing. Her sisters play kickball at the convent for fun, she said, but it’s different in an actual competition.

“I hope we won merits in heaven,” Sister Mary said with a laugh, “but the Lord decided to teach us humility today.”

Sister Mary called it “beautiful” to see so many Catholic young adults from many different backgrounds show a sense of unity. Spanish-speaking Catholics from Sacred Heart of Jesus-Sagrado Corazón de Jesús in Highlandtown were among the competitors this year, in addition to a new team of Black Catholics from West Baltimore. 

“Everyone was cheering each other on,” she said. “They were cheering the other teams on. It was a beautiful witness to Christian sportsmanship.”

Noah Wichrowski, a 27-year-old parishioner of Ss. Philip and James in Baltimore who competed with his parish’s Baltimore Frassati young adult team, admitted to being a bit competitive, but was able to “keep it in check.”

“It’s really good to get out there and be active in the community,” Wichrowski said. “That’s a way to glorify God, right?”

Molly Babcock, a parishioner of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Ellicott City who competed with a team representing Immaculate Conception in Towson, said she enjoyed the fellowship and camaraderie among the teams.

“It’s just good to be with other people with the same mindset and the same values,” she said.

Most of those who competed began the day with a Mass celebrated by Bishop Lewandowski in the seminary chapel. With four young adults carrying a statue of Our Lady of Fatima, they then participated in a rosary procession led by Sister Giovana of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, a member of the Sisters Poor of Jesus Christ based at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore. After completing the rosary, the players individually placed roses at the Blessed Virgin Mary’s feet. Bishop Lewandowski rolled out the first pitch.

Those in attendance enjoyed a lunch of tacos cooked up right on site. Pizza, candy and ice cream were also available. 

Bishop Lewandowski said he hopes to see more events like the kickball tournament throughout the year.

“I think going forward, especially as we look at Seek the City (the archdiocese’s pastoral planning initiative for city parishes), this is exactly the kind of experience we’re looking for in the church in the city and across the archdiocese. People come together and pull their resources for the good of everyone. That’s exactly what we see here.”

Bishop Lewandowski said events like the kickball tournament are ways of “wading into the Gospel and the life of faith.”

“There were some folks here today who were strongly Catholic and really firm in their faith,” he said, “and others who are having an experience of the church that will help them grow. The hope is that this can be as valuable as any other church activities that we do on Sunday or throughout the week – that it serves us, strengthens our faith and draws us closer to Christ.”

Angelus Virata, director of evangelization at the Baltimore Basilica and organizer of the tournament, said the event was bigger than last year’s inaugural tournament. She expects even more teams next year.

Email George Matysek at gmatysek@CatholicReview.org

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