Fr Patrick Kelly
Episode 139
27 SEP 2021
A Jesuit priest and an Associate Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Detroit Mercy, having previously taught in the Theology and Religious Studies department at Seattle University for 13 years. He is also the author of a book called, “Catholic Perspectives on Sports: From Medieval to Modern Times,” and the editor of a book on sports and Catholic youth that was just listed as one of the top ten books on sports and Catholicism in the last decade. He was also on the Papal Commission at the Vatican for Sport & Spirituality. And, not only has he coached sports at the high school and college levels, but, he was a captain of his college football team and an All Conference free safety.
Notable guest quotes:
“I went to a Catholic high school and started playing sports actually at our parish.”
“I had some success (in sports) when I was in high school and in college, but in high school I thought perhaps that this could be what I would do as a profession when I got older.”
“Having that injury at such a young age when I had already gotten so much attention for sports, it did make me step back and reflect about ‘Who am I’ and ‘Where does my value come from’ and those kinds of questions.”
“I had an experience when I prayed over the story of the rich young man, I had an experience of deep peace and joy associated with the idea of entering the Jesuits — what Ignatius of Loyola would call spiritual consolation.”
“For some time I started to think that I should put behind me all the (sports involvement) … and there was a part of me, I was thinking that I was supposed to do that to live a spiritual life. But I found out over time as I was living my life that that didn’t work because I’d been too profoundly shaped and formed as a human being through my participation in sports.”
“When I started doctoral studies I had this question, ‘What would a Catholic approach, or take, on sports as an aspect of culture be’?”
“A fully human life also needs time for recreation and play.”
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