What matters most in Catholic high school sports? Maybe the essence of this tradition

Members of the football team of Father Thomas Scecina Memorial High School in Indianapolis show their reverence and solidarity during a pre-game Mass in the school’s chapel on Sept. 19. (Photo courtesy of Katie Nelson)

By John Shaughnessy

When all things are considered about high school sports in Catholic schools, what matters most?

Certainly, the pursuit of wins, championships and excellence will always be a defining part of the equation when players and coaches pour their hearts into a season.

And the bonds that connect young people with each other and their coaches can be so deep that they last far beyond a season.

Still, maybe what matters most in the long run is captured in a tradition that has existed for generations within football programs in Catholic high schools across the archdiocese.

It’s the tradition of having a pre-game Mass on a Friday afternoon before a football game later that evening—a time of reflecting on the blessing of playing a game with people you have come to count on, a time of being in the presence of God who you can always rely on.

As proof of that tradition’s importance, consider the perspective of two head football coaches—and there are more across the archdiocese—who embrace that ritual: Dan Harris, head coach of the varsity football team of Father Thomas Scecina Memorial High School in Indianapolis, and Daniel McDonald, head coach of the varsity football team of Our Lady of Providence High School in Clarksville.

A sport to love, a faith to treasure

As the head coach of Providence’s football team, Daniel McDonald believes his commitment to having a pre-game Mass sends a message to his players.

“I think it reminds our guys that football is important, but there are things that are more important,” he says. “And without our faith, nothing matters. I want my guys to understand that.”

His actions matched his words when Providence played in Indiana’s Class 1A state championship on Nov. 30, 2024—an opportunity for the team to win the first state championship in that sport in the school’s history.

Shortly after 7 on that morning, McDonald knew the team still needed to eat breakfast, still needed to travel to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis after spending the night in a Greenwood hotel, still needed to settle into the locker room and get into their pads and uniforms, and still needed to do a walk-through practice and get last-minute instructions before the game at 11 a.m.

Yet instead of heading straight to the stadium, McDonald had his team stop at Roncalli High School in Indianapolis where the administration had graciously opened its doors to the Providence team for the one pre-game ritual that their head coach wasn’t about to skip.

Mass.

Later that day, the team rejoiced as state champs.

“Not every kid on our team is Catholic, but we keep our Catholic faith at the forefront of our program,” McDonald says. “And the Mass is a way to do that. I think mentally it prepares our guys for the Friday evening ahead.”

Lincoln Kruer, a senior and a captain of the team, agrees.

“It’s just a way for us to calm down before the game starts. To just get in touch with God spiritually before we go out on the field—what we’re truly playing for and the reason behind it,” says Luke, a member of

St. John Paul II Parish in Sellersburg. “It just helps you get locked in for the game.”

The pre-game Mass is usually celebrated by Father Adam Ahern, pastor of the Jeffersonville parishes of St. Augustine and Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, and an associate director of vocations for the archdiocese.

The pre-game Mass has also been celebrated by Father Jeremy Gries, pastor of Holy Family Parish in New Albany, administrator pro tem of St. Mary Parish in New Albany, and dean of the New Albany Deanery. (Related story: Making the connection: Priests enjoy the bond with players, the school community)

“Father Adam does a really good job. He relates the homily to competition or to being a better person or striving through adversity. That really helps our kids,” McDonald says.

“A couple weeks ago, Father Jeremy subbed in for Father Adam. He emphasized in his homily that one of the ways we glorify God is through giving our best effort in the talents we’ve been given. So, if you’re going to play football, use it as a means to glorify God. That one really struck home with a lot of our kids, too.”

As much as McDonald embraces the importance of the pre-game Mass, he says he’s just continuing that tradition from previous successful, influential and faith-filled Providence head coaches.

“Before me, Coach Larry Denison had Mass every Friday on game days. And I believe Coach [Gene] Sartini did as well.”

Similar to the state championship day, McDonald makes extra efforts to set up pre-game Masses before away games, with the help of Father Ahern.

When Providence played the team from Cardinal Ritter Jr./Sr. High School in Indianapolis earlier this season, Father John Kamwendo, pastor of nearby St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Indianapolis, rose to the occasion for the Providence team.

“He had a busy schedule that evening, but we were able to sneak in there at 4:20, 4:30, and he celebrated Mass with us, and went out of his way to do that for us,” McDonald says. “We’ve had several priests in the Indianapolis area celebrate Mass with us.

“It’s been really nice these six years to see the different parishes, meet the different priests and celebrate Mass in different environments like that.”

Those connections add an extra dimension to the sport he loves and the faith he treasures.

“It’s helped me become a stronger Catholic,” McDonald says. “I was raised Catholic. I’ve grown up Catholic. But being able to teach in an environment and coach in an environment where you’re expected to be a role model of faith has made me a stronger Catholic.

“I try to make my guys understand that faith is important to me, and it’s the centerpiece of our program.”

‘Take God with you on every play’

In his second season as Scecina’s head coach, the 30-year-old Harris is following in the footsteps of two of the most successful, influential and faith-filled coaches the archdiocese has ever known.

A 2013 graduate of Roncalli High School in Indianapolis, Harris played for four years in the football program that was then run by Bruce Scifres. One of the foundations of Scifres’ program was the pre-game Mass.

“Coach Scifres would always say, “This is unique, guys. Most of the schools on our schedule don’t have the opportunity to come together as a team and live in the body of Christ.’ ”

Scifres also repeatedly shared two messages with his teams, according to Harris. First, “Take God with you on every play.” And second, “Play like young men in God’s eyes.”

The two messages still resonate so much with Harris that 12 years later he shares them with his Scecina players.

That emphasis on faith and a pre-game Mass was also embraced by Scecina’s longtime, legendary football coach Ott Hurrle, who retired two years ago. That choice led to the hire of Harris, who has continued the pre-game Mass tradition.

“Our players come to our locker room and relax for a little bit. They have no food, just water, so they have time to fast for Communion. And then we jump into Mass in our beautiful chapel at about 3:10,” Harris says. “Our players have their jerseys on. They come in and sit reverently in the presence of God in the chapel for a few minutes.

“It’s a great way to count your blessings. It’s a blessing to be at a Catholic school. It’s a blessing to be at Scecina. I don’t think that would come through if you just said it to them. Being in our chapel, celebrating Mass and being able to receive the Eucharist just reinforce that point.”

The coach also believes it helps prepare the players emotionally for the game.

“I think it really calms them down. It gives them a presence. We have the tabernacle. It relaxes them, but it also uplifts them in that it’s a blessing to play football.”

Eric Montgomery, a senior and a captain on the team, knows the difference the pre-game Mass makes to him and his teammates.

“For me, it gives me personal time before the game, to reflect on myself and my teammates as well,” says Eric, a member of St. Philip Neri Parish in Indianapolis. “Also, just having the priest there, it encourages players to be a little bit closer to God. And our coach always tells us, ‘To bring God with us.’ So, I think it’s a great start before the game.”

The blessing of the opportunity to play a sport and to worship God—and to combine the two—is reinforced by Father Rick Ginther, the team’s chaplain who usually celebrates the pre-game Mass.

“He’s absolutely incredible,” Harris says. “He just fits the bill as a team chaplain. Kids talk to him. Kids respect him. Kids love him. So, from that perspective, he’s already knocked out the relationship part.

“Secondly, when he gives his homily, he usually references the first reading and the Gospel, and in the last couple of minutes, he always tailors it to teenagers, tailors it to football and then wraps everything together—that what you’re embarking on as a football player is connected straight back to the word of God, which is pretty special.”

So is the impact of that focus of faith on Harris.

“Being at a Catholic school has just brought me closer to the faith,” he says. “It’s strengthened my faith. Just to see how teenagers react to God and going to Mass just reinforces that our future generations are in great hands with the Church.” †