Blessing of Winter Athletes 2023
Weds. Dec. 6^th, 2023 -  Burns Gym
Photo Gallery
 
This morning in Burns Gym with the theme song from "The Natural" playing in the background Athletic Director Therren Wilburn welcomed the 2023-24 Basketball, Soccer, and Wrestling teams to the blessing of the winter athletes and coaches. At this traditional gathering Saint Francis HS pastor Father Tony Mancuso opened the blessing giving thanks to God, "We thank you for the gift of athleticism and the ability to give Glory to you in our actions, camaraderie, and support. Be with us today as we embark upon our season. May we always put you first and give you glory in all of our accomplishments and defeats."
 
Various student-athlete of the Athletic Director Counsel presided over the blessing. First to read was senior girls soccer player Sophie Murdock who read from the Letter of St. Paul to the Colossians.  "If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory."
 
Seniors Allie Dauer (girls basketball) and Diego Barajas (boys wrestling) both reflected on their experiences in bringing hope as a Lancer.
 
Allie Dauer mentions, "If you told me then how much these girls would come to mean to me, I would not have believed you. This team isn't just a group of athletes competing together, but a family. We enjoy each other's successes and commiserate together about individual challenges. They've become the source of hope that has sustained me through the highs and lows."
 
Barajas reveals, "We may ask ourselves why we go through this, but the answer is because of hope. In wrestling specifically, we are an individual sport, but I can attest to this and say this is partly true; without my teammates, I wouldn't enjoy the long tournaments, long drives, and long runs…the wrestling team has created a strong bond with the base of hope that I can consider my teammate's brothers for life."
 
The closing prayers for our community were read by senior Alexis Sweeney (girls soccer) and junior Krithi Sagayaraj (girls wrestling), with the response of "Lord, build our team."
 
In conclusion, Father Tony officially blessed small medals that bear the image of Saint Sebastian. These "sacramentals" as they're called are blessed objects and serve as a wonderful component of Catholic spirituality and the tradition of the Church. Saint Sebastian brought hope through exemplary perseverance, grit, and determination in advancing the Gospel of Jesus.  As the winter student-athletes receive their medals from their coaches they were reminded to, "follow in St. Sebastian's footsteps be a bearer of Hope in your sporting games and our communal spaces".