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“I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” – Matthew 25:35

On one of my first trips abroad decades ago, I remember walking through a lovely cobblestone piazza in Italy and seeing some little boys running around and kick-passing a ball back and forth with excitement — a soccer game had broken out. A friend of mine observed on that occasion that soccer is the most popular sport in the world because it is the most accessible sport in the world. It doesn’t require a lot of money or equipment. All you need is a ball. And as the little boys demonstrated, once you have the ball, soccer can be played anywhere.

Americans, and residents in and around Kansas City in particular, are about to experience how important and popular soccer is to the world with the arrival of the FIFA World Cup 2026^TM. It is a time to appreciate the positive impact that sports can have in bringing people together and bridging divides. Over a few amazing weeks, Kansas City will become “Soccer City” and our community, including our Catholic Church, will get to practice Christian charity and hospitality for a national and international guest list. 

The Diocese of Kansas City–St. Joseph has partnered with our neighbors to the west in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas to make sure we present a unified front to all who will be visiting for the FIFA World Cup 2026^TM Kansas City. Our initiative, OneKC Catholic, will remind visitors of the universality of our Catholic Faith. Indeed, the Church is the initiative of God in the world to unite the human race and bridge all divides, far transcending what sports can do. There truly is “no place like home,” as we gather for the Sacrifice of the Mass and share the Eucharist. No matter where we are in the world, we are home in the Church. A large focus will be on welcoming to our parishes our brothers and sisters who will visit from other places.

Getting more specific, the Church will practice charity and hospitality in four primary ways:

Welcoming & Wayfinding: Strategically placed parish hubs will offer water, rest and multilingual assistance to fans and travelers.

Spiritual Outreach: Offering extended hours in select parishes for prayer, beautiful liturgies and multilingual Mass schedules to accommodate international visitors.

Safe Harbor: Coordinated efforts to combat human trafficking and ensure vulnerable populations are supported and protected with the great influx of people.

The “OneKC Catholic” Presence: a visible and friendly presence of volunteers and signage that expresses our Catholic Church as a primary pillar of Kansas City’s welcoming spirit.

Each of these will be ways we “welcome the stranger” (Mt 25:35) and express the love of Christ in tangible ways as Kansas City, for a few amazing weeks, becomes Soccer City.   

The post On the Way | A Church prepares for ‘Soccer City’ appeared first on The Catholic Key.

“Fui forastero y ustedes me recibieron en su casa.” Mateo 25:35

En uno de mis primeros viajes al extranjero, hace décadas, recuerdo haber paseado por una preciosa plaza empedrada en Italia y ver a unos niños corriendo y pasándose la pelota con entusiasmo: ¡había empezado un partido de fútbol! Un amigo me comentó entonces que el fútbol es el deporte más popular del mundo porque es el más accesible. No requiere mucho dinero ni equipo. Solo necesitas una pelota. Y como demostraron aquellos niños, una vez que tienes la pelota, puedes jugar al fútbol en cualquier sitio.

Los estadounidenses, y en particular los residentes de Kansas City y sus alrededores, están a punto de experimentar la importancia y la popularidad del fútbol a nivel mundial con la llegada de la FIFA World Cup 2026^TM. Es un momento para apreciar el impacto positivo que el deporte puede tener al unir a las personas y superar las diferencias. Durante unas semanas memorables, Kansas City se convertirá en la “Ciudad del Fútbol” y nuestra comunidad, incluyendo nuestra Iglesia Católica, tendrá la oportunidad de practicar la caridad y la hospitalidad cristianas hacia invitados nacionales e internacionales.

La Diócesis de Kansas City-St. Joseph se ha asociado con nuestros vecinos del oeste en la Arquidiócesis de Kansas City en Kansas para asegurar que presentemos un frente unido a todos los que nos visiten para la FIFA World Cup 2026^TM Kansas City. Nuestra iniciativa, “OneKC Catholic,” recordará a los visitantes la universalidad de nuestra fe católica. En efecto, la Iglesia es la iniciativa de Dios en el mundo para unir a la humanidad y superar todas las divisiones, trascendiendo lo que el deporte puede lograr. Verdaderamente, “no hay lugar como el hogar” al reunirnos para el Sacrificio de la Misa y compartir la Eucaristía. En cualquier rincón del mundo, la Iglesia es nuestro hogar. Nos centraremos en acoger calurosamente a nuestros hermanos y hermanas visitantes en nuestras parroquias.

Específicamente, la Iglesia practicará la caridad y la hospitalidad en cuatro acciones principales:

Bienvenida y orientación: Centros parroquiales estratégicamente ubicados ofrecerán agua, descanso y asistencia multilingüe a los aficionados y viajeros.

Programa de extensión espiritual: Parroquias seleccionadas ampliarán sus horarios para momentos de oración, hermosas liturgias y misas multilingües para acoger a visitantes internacionales.

Refugio seguro: Habrá esfuerzos coordinados para combatir la trata de personas y garantizar que las poblaciones vulnerables reciban apoyo y protección ante la gran afluencia de personas.

La presencia “OneKC Catholic”: una presencia visible y amigable de voluntarios y señalización que expresa que nuestra Iglesia Católica es un pilar fundamental del espíritu acogedor de Kansas City.

Cada una de estas iniciativas será una forma de “acoger al forastero” (Mt 25:35) y expresar el amor de Cristo de maneras tangibles, mientras Kansas City, durante unas semanas increíbles, se convierte en la Ciudad del Fútbol.

Visite onekccatholic.org para más información. 

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By Ashlie Hand

When an estimated 650,000 visitors are expected in your city over the course of four summer weeks, would you see an opportunity or a headache? 

As Catholics, we are called to welcome the stranger and extend Christian hospitality to all who knock at our door. So, when visitors arrive for the world’s largest and most popular sporting event, it is just as important to serve their spiritual needs as it is to make sure they know where to find the best barbecue. 

The Diocese of Kansas City–St. Joseph and the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas serve the entire collection of communities that make up the Kansas City region, also affectionately referred to as “OneKC.” Extending a unified Catholic welcome just makes sense when most visitors aren’t even aware that there is a stateline running through our city. 

Adopting the OneKC brand for our Catholic community connects us to the broader civic efforts around a unified story for visitors, new residents and businesses coming to Kansas City. The expression of hospitality, communion and charity goes well beyond this summer’s sporting events and will continue for years to come. 

You can find the OneKC Catholic effort expressed through billboards along major highways in Kansas City through mid-July, as well as an online presence at onekccatholic.org and on Facebook and Instagram. Banners and yard signs at parishes across the most populated areas of our dioceses are welcoming visitors in a unified expression of Catholic hospitality, as well. 

Our universal Catholic Faith, practiced through the sacrifice of the Mass, in confession and Eucharistic adoration, gives us a unique opportunity to remind our brothers and sisters in Christ they have a home in our Catholic churches. And as we know well, “There’s no place like home.”

Visit | onekccatholic.org

Connect | OneKC Catholic on Facebook and Instagram

Support | Make a donation at onekccatholic.org

The post There’s no place like home appeared first on The Catholic Key.

Pam Kramer, CEO, KC2026
Church of the Ascension, Overland Park, Kansas 

Pam Kramer was born and raised Catholic in Jefferson City and attended Catholic schools from grade school (Immaculate Conception) to high school (Helias Catholic) and college (Benedictine College). Today, she serves as the CEO of KC2026, the nonprofit organization overseeing strategy and delivering host city duties for FIFA World Cup 26 Kansas City, which has planned, constructed and implemented all aspects of Kansas City’s largest sports and fan engagement event in the region’s history.

Q: Is your Catholic Faith part of your professional identity, either publicly or privately? How is it expressed during the work day or in the professional setting? 

A: I think everyone who knows me knows that I am Catholic. It’s part of my identity, which can’t really be separated into parts. I hope that it is evident in the respect and care I have for people, regardless of their faith traditions, in demonstrating fairness and integrity, and in trying to use whatever gifts and talents I’ve been given to serve others.

I’ve been particularly touched by the response from young professionals. At Christmas, one staff member gave me holy water from the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion; on my birthday, another gave me a St. Sebastian medal. St. Sebastian is the patron saint of athletes. Both assured me of their prayers. 

Q: How do you express your faith in a professional setting? 

A: I wear a Miraculous Medal every day. Sometimes, I forget it’s there. I’ve been touched by the number of people — media, young professionals, colleagues — who remark on it, and it often sparks a connection about faith. It’s a great reminder that many Catholics are seeking that connection and shared faith. 

Q: What are some practical ways that you incorporate prayer into your work day? 

A: I start and end every day with prayer. In the morning, that typically means reflecting on the daily readings before I begin my routine and then calling to mind the intentions people have asked me to pray for. I also pray each day for a safe and successful FIFA World Cup 2026^TM experience for travelers and residents. 

In the evening, I end the day with the Hallow app. That usually includes some Hallow content, followed by the Examen and a sleep meditation. I recently completed the Saints in Seven Days series on St. Carlo Acutis. It was encouraging to learn about a modern saint, living in an age of constant distraction, who still found a way to seek holiness.

During the work day, I always pray before lunch. In more difficult moments, I remind myself that God has placed me in this moment, and I offer simple, short prayers such as “Come, Holy Spirit” or “Jesus, I trust in you.” 

Q: Is there a Bible verse, scripture story, prayer, spiritual item or quote that you carry with you? 

A: The Memorare is my favorite prayer. The words are powerful and serve as a strong reminder that Mary understands all of our human joy and pain.

Although my two daughters are now grown, I still pray this favorite prayer for them — and now for my son-in-law and granddaughter as well: 

“Holy Mary, Mother of God and Mother of all the faithful, I place my child under your motherly protection. To you I completely consecrate my child, body and soul. Take her under your care and keep her always. Protect her in her infancy and keep her sound in body and mind. Guard her youth and keep her heart pure, her thoughts ever holy and directed to God and the things of God. Protect her always through life, in her joys and sorrows, in her dealings with others. Always and in all things be a true mother to her. Remember, Mother Mary, that through this act of consecration she becomes, in a special way, your child as well as mine. Guard her and keep her as your very own. Amen.” 

Q: Do you have a favorite saint or religious figure who you turn to in facing challenges at work? 

A: There are many saints who have walked with me through different chapters and challenges in my life. My mom, who is 90, still begins her day with Mass and ends it with the Rosary, and she modeled early on how important a relationship with Mary is. I find great solace in Mary’s companionship, particularly in my vocation as a wife and mom.

I am also drawn to St. Thérèse of Lisieux — her simple prayers, words and actions that come from the heart, without trying to be anything she’s not. I have turned to her often over the years.    

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By Quinn McCullough | Photos submitted by Father Emmanuel López

For Father Emmanuel López, the “beautiful game” is about more than just filling highlight reels — it is about filling the pews and building a deeper faith community within the Diocese of Kansas City–St. Joseph.

As pastor of St. John Francis Regis Parish, López has turned to soccer as a primary tool for ministry across the Kansas City metropolitan area. The initiative, known as the St. Regis Cup, was born of a shared challenge: while the parish offered year-round Bible studies, it struggled to attract families.

“Evangelization was the inspiration of the soccer tournament,” López said. “I was looking for a way to attract families to receive the Bible classes we offer … and because I love soccer, I decided to give it a try as the pivot point for sharing our faith.”

Since its debut in the summer of 2022, the tournament has evolved into a diocesan-wide event. The elimination-bracket competition features men’s and women’s divisions for players as young as 7, along with adult categories for those 18 and older.

The strategy has bridged the gap between the pulpit and the pitch, bringing together clergy and laity in a way few traditional programs have.

“The St. Regis soccer tournament has taken us to the next level of communion as we, the priests and the laity, come together on the field as one team,” López said. “It is a blaze of joy.”

The impact is measurable. Lopez noted an increase in family participation in religious education and a notable rise in Mass attendance. The tournament has even expanded beyond the local diocese to include at least two parishes from the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.

In just a few years, the event has become a defining characteristic of the parish’s identity in the wider community.

“If you ask people about St. Regis, they would probably not know the name of the priest, but for sure they would tell you about the soccer tournament,” López said.

The tournament is now a staple of the local summer calendar, drawing families from across the region for fellowship that extends beyond the final whistle. López attributes the success to the need for people to grow in their faith and in communion with each other, describing the event as a “bridge of love” for the region.

“The Holy Spirit is working through the St. Regis Cup soccer tournament,” López said. “I encourage all families to join this summer. We have a place for every member of the family — even the pets.” 

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By Allison Vrooman | Photos by Michael Hogan

In the small town of Quincy, Illinois, the sport of soccer was booming. The 1950 World Cup American team was composed of many players from St. Louis, a historic soccer hub that was down the Mississippi River from Quincy. Influenced by the radiating success of St. Louis, Quincy became a pipeline for talent. Father Kevin Drew, pastor of St. Ann Parish in Excelsior Springs and St. Ann Parish in Plattsburg, was one of these talents.

Father Drew grew up attending soccer camps and playing in leagues led by coaches and star players from Quincy College. “We had all these big soccer stars from St. Louis playing at Quincy College. They won multiple national championships. From very early on, Quincy, my small town, was above the curve with soccer,” he shared.

Because the sport was still relatively new when Father Drew was in high school, there was no division between big and small schools. His small school would travel to Chicago to compete against the city schools and did well. Father Drew noted that four of his teammates went on to play professionally.

Father Drew worked hard as a midfield player. Rather than attending Quincy College or a smaller college, he was determined to make it in Division 1 athletics. “I wanted to prove I could go play Division 1 … I was kind of a big noise in a small town,” he said. He attended Northern Illinois University on an athletic scholarship.

Alongside a soccer town, Quincy was a Catholic town. There were eight Catholic elementary and high schools for the 40,000-person population. Father Drew was involved in Catholic Youth Organization and was a frequent altar server, often getting called for weddings and funerals. He had two uncles who were priests but he only saw them at reunions. “They would show up wearing their clerics. They were always set apart, but they were approachable and good men,” he reflected. That sparked the idea of a vocation to the priesthood.

Father Drew completed college and worked in Chicago for a few years before following some of his siblings to Kansas City. He played soccer almost every week until he was 32 years old.

On his way to lunch one weekday in Kansas City, he stumbled across Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish. He was amazed by the number of people there for confession and daily Mass. He joined for daily Mass and kept returning again. Through routine participation in the sacraments, the mentorship of Msgr. William Blacet, and the unceasing prayers by his mother, Father Drew entered the seminary at age 40. He was ordained to the priesthood in 2012.

“My mom never quit praying for me. I didn’t stand a chance!” he shared.

Today, Father Drew keeps his love for the sport alive by joining soccer games at recess and watching the local teams’ matches. 

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By Sara Kraft | Photos by Michael Hogan

“We are more than just a sports league,” explains Catholic Challenge Sports Board President Joseph Hilborn. Catholic Challenge Sports (CCS) is a sports-based apostolate whose mission is to draw adults in their 20s and 30s into a deeper relationship with Christ and foster community through athletic competition in the Kansas City metro area. 

Founded in 2007, the league currently offers six eight-week league sports, including dodgeball, kickball, softball, soccer, sand volleyball and flag football. Those unable to commit to an eight-week league can sign up as a substitute. Additionally, CCS offers a weekly running club as well as bowling, cornhole, field day, wiffle ball and indoor volleyball as one-day events. Last year, there were 1,243 participants in league sports and one day events. Athletes aged 18-45 are welcomed to participate regardless of skill level and are assigned a team based upon a draft system. CCS also holds several social events a year for the entire league.

“CCS does not view sports as its own end. How well you play is secondary to your relationship with Christ and community with each other,” explained CCS athlete Jacob Knott. Jacob has been involved with CCS since fall 2025 and is looking forward to being a team captain for softball this year. “Frankly, it does not matter how good you are at sports. The range of abilities is all over, from men and women who have never played in a league before to former collegiate athletes. It makes for a wonderful range of abilities you don’t see in most other leagues.”

CCS also encourages participants to get further involved in parent organization City on a Hill, a grassroots young adult Catholic community in Kansas City. City on a Hill’s mission is to be the community that inspires and forms the young adult generation to be saints.

“It’s been huge to have a community of faith that has allowed me to build my own faith. CCS has allowed me to be around people that inspire me to live life more fruitfully and allows me to build community,” Joseph added.

CCS leagues purposely invite participants into deeper relationship with God and other athletes. Each league has a social services project. This can include volunteering at Harvesters food bank or TurnStyles Thrift, a ministry of Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas. They have also hosted soap drives for the less fortunate. Each league also has an adoration night which athletes are invited to attend. Finally, each team captain is encouraged to hold a social during the season for their team.

Joseph encourages young adults to get involved. “Sign up and play the sports and meet new people,” he stated. 

For more information, visit www.kansascityonahill.org/ccs. 

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By Leyden Rovelo-Krull

Long before Kansas City had a place on the global soccer stage, its Hispanic Catholic players had something far more important: a parish.

Before stadiums and organized leagues, there were families arriving in a new country searching for stability, and somewhere to belong. Often, that place was the Catholic church.

For many Latino immigrants in Kansas City, parish life became the center of everything: spiritual, social and cultural. It was where people prayed, where they socialized, where they shared news from home and where they began to build community in an unfamiliar place.

It was within that life together that soccer found its place.

There were no formal leagues or marked fields. There were simply people who loved the game and needed a way to gather. The parish became the natural place for that to happen.

In an emailed interview, Cris Medina, whose father, Agustín “Chino” Medina, helped shape Kansas City’s early soccer scene, reflected on how those connections formed within parish life. His father, he said, “(M)et other Mexican immigrants … who had formed in the 1950s the Guadalupe Soccer team in conjunction with Our Lady of Guadalupe Church … founders included local parishioners and an assistant Augustinian priest.”

But this was more than parish games. Teams traveled and played against Polish, German and other immigrant teams in different cities. Soccer functioned as a shared language across cultures and created connections among these groups.

Many of these communities, particularly Irish, Polish and Italian immigrants, came from deeply Catholic traditions, and while not every team was explicitly tied to the Church, that shared foundation often shaped how community life took root.

As Medina explained, “Fútbol … has been a magnet for Latino immigrants … an activity to bond with other immigrants in the early years.”

In many ways, soccer revealed the kind of communities from which it came.

The Catholic Church, by her nature, is universal, gathering people from every “nation and tongue” into one body. In Kansas City, that reality was lived out in the intercultural games. Different customs and stories met on the field, forming something new without losing what made each team special.

Soccer crossed boundaries, created friendships and gave families something to gather around.

For Medina’s family, those gatherings followed a familiar rhythm. “Most games were played on Sundays. Our family would get up early and go to Mass … prepare a picnic lunch … then go to the park for the games and stay afterward to socialize with the players and their families.” No one planned it. It simply unfolded that way, as life in the Church often does.

Over time, what began in and around parish life slowly became part of the city itself.

But the roots of that story remain.

Today, Hispanic parishes around Kansas City carry forward the legacy with friendly inter-parish games. The families may be different, but the mission to welcome and form community continues.

Reflecting on how far the game has come, Medina noted that earlier generations would scarcely have imagined what lies ahead. “If our father was alive today, he would be ecstatic … that Kansas City would be a host city for the (FIFA) World Cup (2026^TM).”

As Kansas City welcomes the world, it is worth remembering that the city’s soccer story did not begin in stadiums. It began in small, faithful communities, where people were building lives and finding one another.

Before there were fields, there was a parish. And in that parish, a game became something more, a sign of unity, a reflection of home, and a quiet expression of what it means to be one body. 

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By Karen Ridder | Photos by Michael Hogan

As all eyes turn to the soccer pitch this summer in Kansas City, look for God’s design in action. Faith life plays an important role for many players on and off the field, keeping them grounded and helping them find ways to build a full life. While a professional soccer player’s schedule is hectic, fast paced, and pressured — creating many challenges for living a strong faith life — it also comes with unique opportunities for players to honor God with their talents and a public platform.

 Professional soccer player Haley Hopkins has been with the KC Current since early 2025. The forward also serves as the president of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Players Association. As a lifelong practicing Catholic, Hopkins says her faith life is a very important part of her career as a player. Having faith has given her the confidence to know who she is beyond the pressures of the game.

“I’m a child of God. No matter what ends up happening, I’m where I’m supposed to be and playing for someone bigger than myself,” said Hopkins.

Hopkins grew up in California attending Catholic schools from pre-K through high school. She played soccer at Vanderbilt University and the University of Virginia before getting drafted by the North Carolina Courage. She says the life of a professional soccer player can be one of extremes. It has a lot of demands and challenges. A lot of things compete for attention.

“Being a professional athlete can be very competitive and hectic. Having my faith and being a woman of faith is one of the most grounding aspects of my life,” said Hopkins.

Sporting KC midfielder Jacob Bartlett is another Catholic player in Kansas City who says his faith adds meaning to his ability to play professionally.

While Bartlett made his professional debut with Sporting KC in 2025, he had been playing under the banner for years. Bartlett grew up in Overland Park. He went to grade school at Church of the Ascension Parish and went to high school at St. Thomas Aquinas before earning a scholarship to play soccer for Notre Dame. His faith is something that inspires him to do his best.

“For me it’s everything. I would never have the opportunity without Jesus Christ. I wouldn’t be where I am without him. I’m blessed to be able to represent my family and my city. I would never have had this opportunity without the Lord,” said Bartlett.

Bartlett says he plays because he loves the game and he loves to play for the people who got him here (Sporting KC), but he feels a big part of his game is realized through his Catholic faith.

“A lot of my confidence, my love of the game, and my want to play is largely due to my faith. There’s no better thing than to serve the Lord. I try to do that to the best of my ability through soccer,” said Bartlett.

Keeping focused on identity and building confidence in identity as a child of Christ is a key focus for the faith leaders who serve both men’s and women’s professional soccer players across the country. Both Hopkins and Bartlett credit their team chaplain with helping keep them connected to the Faith and grow in their knowledge of Jesus.

The Pro-Soccer Chaplains Association (PSCA) provides a faith foundation for professional players across the country. With a goal to offer spiritual care to players, the chaplains provide a variety of opportunities for players of many faiths to remember who they are first — children of God. That is accomplished with walks, coffee, prayer, phone calls, Bible studies and assisting in finding places of worship.

PSCA Co-chair Lori Krueger is a Kansas City resident who helped create the chaplain network for professional soccer in 2013. She currently serves as chaplain for the U.S. Women’s National Team, as well as the KC Current. She says a lot of these young athletes find themselves in a position where it feels like everyone wants something from them. They are trying to be good teammates, good representatives of their sport and stand for their faith at the same time. Her goal is to help the players flourish in this chapter of their young lives and remember who they are beyond their performance on the field.

“I want them to be filled with joy, possibility and the inspired experience of knowing the depth of God’s great love for them,” said Krueger.

Joy as a fuel source is a key theme for Krueger. She believes it helps the athletes remember soccer as a way to express who God created them to be. Faith gives players freedom and helps them learn to assess wisely how God wants them to react in each of the unique circumstances coming their way as professional athletes.

One of the regular ways players are invited to interact with the chaplain is through pre-game chapel services. These short services bring together members of both opposing teams before they face off on the field. Hopkins says the gatherings help calm her nerves before a game and help her see her opponents in a different light.

“It brings a sense of peace when you see who comes to chapel and also believes in God. Though you don’t know the other players on a personal level, you have found common ground,” said Hopkins.

For Bartlett, meeting with the team chaplain on a regular basis is a big part of keeping his faith on track. “We talk about how my faith can improve and how it can grow closer to God. It may not be the major things I do, but I want to continue to add to and show my faith and help it grow in community where I can use my platform to showcase it,” said Barlett. 

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By Ashlie Hand | Photos by Michael Hogan

As of the 2024-25 school year, there were more than 875,000 high school soccer participants in the U.S., making it one of the most popular high school sports in the country. (National Federation of State High School Associations) National data also shows a strong presence of Catholic high schools in state and national rankings. In the Diocese of Kansas City–St. Joseph, soccer teams at St. Pius X High School, Bishop LeBlond High School and Rockhurst High School have consistently performed at a high level for decades.

The newest high school in the diocese, St. Michael the Archangel High School (SMA) in Lee’s Summit, opened in 2017 and built its soccer program off the legacy teams at its predecessor, Archbishop O’Hara High School.

The current head coach of girls soccer at SMA, Rob Puttoff, has coached a total of 15 seasons for the Guardians. He started his coaching career with the boys team in 2017, then joined the girls team as the assistant coach a few years later. For the 2025-2026 school year, the SMA boys had 38 participants, and the girls had 45.

“I’m proud that the girls have made it to the Final Four in the state two of the last five years, taking second and fourth, and the boys took second place in the state in 2024,” he said.

In addition to the state championship games, accolades and rankings, Rob is intentional about incorporating faith and devotion into his approach to coaching. The teams pray together before every practice and on game days and attend Mass together every Tuesday morning and when traveling out of town.

“As the season progresses, I encourage player volunteers to lead the prayer … It is amazing to see these young men and women leading their coaches and teammates in prayer.”

One of the teams’ favorite weekends is traveling to Springfield Catholic for the annual MO Catholic Soccer Showcase that includes other Catholic high schools from Springfield, Jefferson City and St. Louis.

“The teams all attend Mass together, have a pregame meal together and really just all come together for a great weekend of faith, family and competition,” said Rob.

Since summer of 2022, Joy Pinkelman has served as the assistant coach for girls soccer at Bishop LeBlond High School.

“After a slow start to the season, and after some hard conversations, the girls have come out with more fire and determination. I’m most proud of the fact that we have had two rematches with opponents that beat us early on in the season and our girls have won in both instances.”

This year’s team is 31 players strong, and Joy added that she is impressed by the small high school’s ability to maintain the size of its girls soccer team.

“At the core, we are a group of girls who want to experience a positive high school athletic team experience with a winning record to show for our efforts. As coaches, we are teaching most of our players the fundamentals as freshmen in high school … by their junior and senior seasons a lot of these athletes are holding their own at the varsity level because of their heart and desire.”

Like Rob, Joy also prioritizes integrating the coach’s and players’ shared faith into their program. As a team, the girls join hands before every game to pray the Hail Mary, petition the saints to look out for the team and end every prayer circle with: “Let us have Jesus in our hearts forever.”

“I firmly believe a coach who cares about their athletes will always win in the ways that truly matter. You will find me praying on the sidelines every time one of our athletes goes down, and before every practice and game for the safety of ‘my girls’ to be free of injuries. Prayers for patience and understanding are frequently sent up as well.”

As our community welcomes teams and fans for the most popular sporting event in the world with this summer’s FIFA World Cup 2026^TM, these high school coaches see an opportunity to reinforce our faith through community outreach and service.

“Catholicism is a prevalent religion in organized soccer so first and foremost in Mass we welcome visitors with kindness, smiles and open arms.”

Rob agrees. “The (FIFA) World Cup (2026^TM) in KC creates a unique opportunity to present faith not as something separate from athletics, but as one of the forces that gives sports meaning: discipline, humility, sacrifice, unity, perseverance and service.”

While Joy will be catching the games at home with her family, Rob hopes to attend a match or two and is looking forward to volunteering with many of his players during Futbol Fridays in downtown Lee’s Summit on June 19. This free event invites everyone to come together, participate in games and other activities, while watching World Cup games
on the big screen at Green Street Market. Learn more at lsgoal26.org.

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