Pittsburgh Sports and Catholicism
I thought this round-up might be a fun review. I was sorta inspired by a recent Open Book post on Troy Polamalu, and I wondered how many posts I've done connecting local Pittsburgh sports with the Church. The connections between Pittsburgh sports and the Catholic Church, whether it be P.O.D. or completely tacky is terribly amusing to me.
It all started a few years ago when I made sure you knew the difference between the Immaculate Conception and the Immaculate Reception.
Is it stalking when you know what parish local sports heroes attend? It isn't like I've ever shown up there, looking for him.
How many rosaries does your local sports museum have on display?
Leading up to the AFC Championship Game, I began collecting news stories that showed that Steelers fans, even when they are bishops, have no shame in admitting that they pray for the team. Like praying for a very large and early lead. Super Bowl nearing, I began to notice what we usually refer to as Steelers Nation is really a Holy Steelers Empire! Even the National Catholic Register noticed it. I mean, the connection really has been there all along; the Steelers even have a chaplain who says Mass for the team every weekend during the season.
Do the Rooneys know how great an evangelization tool they have in the Steelers?
I post all the time about the special relationships between Catholics and the Steelers. Especially when the story is about nuns. In fact, maybe the Western Pennsylvania nuns should use the free Steelers Swag to increase their vocations.
Maybe if the Rooneys weren't Catholic, we wouldn't think so much about this. I mean, we don't comment on K-Mac in our church bulletins.
Even though the announcement still is yet to be made, it is important that the next Bishop of Pittburgh have a Terrible Towel in addition to the ring and biretta 'n'at.
Then, of course, is the recent Polamalu article in the Pittsburgh Catholic, which includes his admission that he has cried in the Basilica. And he quotes Hebrews.
At Mayor O'Connor's funeral, held the same day as the first Steelers home game of this season, his son Corey sang the Pittsburgh Polka at the funeral Mass (which was concelebrated by, among others, the Mayor's other son and Bishop Wuerl).
And it isn't just the Steelers. Jim Leyland, who STILL lives in Pittsburgh, had my fandom throughout the play-off season and now in the World Series, mostly because his staff are some of my old Pirates heroes, but possibly kinda influenced because his brother is a priest.
It all started a few years ago when I made sure you knew the difference between the Immaculate Conception and the Immaculate Reception.
Is it stalking when you know what parish local sports heroes attend? It isn't like I've ever shown up there, looking for him.
How many rosaries does your local sports museum have on display?
Leading up to the AFC Championship Game, I began collecting news stories that showed that Steelers fans, even when they are bishops, have no shame in admitting that they pray for the team. Like praying for a very large and early lead. Super Bowl nearing, I began to notice what we usually refer to as Steelers Nation is really a Holy Steelers Empire! Even the National Catholic Register noticed it. I mean, the connection really has been there all along; the Steelers even have a chaplain who says Mass for the team every weekend during the season.
Do the Rooneys know how great an evangelization tool they have in the Steelers?
I post all the time about the special relationships between Catholics and the Steelers. Especially when the story is about nuns. In fact, maybe the Western Pennsylvania nuns should use the free Steelers Swag to increase their vocations.
Maybe if the Rooneys weren't Catholic, we wouldn't think so much about this. I mean, we don't comment on K-Mac in our church bulletins.
Even though the announcement still is yet to be made, it is important that the next Bishop of Pittburgh have a Terrible Towel in addition to the ring and biretta 'n'at.
Then, of course, is the recent Polamalu article in the Pittsburgh Catholic, which includes his admission that he has cried in the Basilica. And he quotes Hebrews.
At Mayor O'Connor's funeral, held the same day as the first Steelers home game of this season, his son Corey sang the Pittsburgh Polka at the funeral Mass (which was concelebrated by, among others, the Mayor's other son and Bishop Wuerl).
And it isn't just the Steelers. Jim Leyland, who STILL lives in Pittsburgh, had my fandom throughout the play-off season and now in the World Series, mostly because his staff are some of my old Pirates heroes, but possibly kinda influenced because his brother is a priest.
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