June 25, 2024 | Local News
Fr. Stephen Van Lal Than

St. Pius X (Owensboro) Team vs. Holy Trinity (Morgantown) Team at the June 15, 2024, Catholic Soccer League Tournament. COURTESY OF HELENA NIANG LUN CING

First-ever Catholic Soccer League tournament held in the Diocese of Owensboro

BY HOLY SPIRIT PARISH STAFF, SPECIAL TO THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC

A Catholic Soccer League Tournament was held on June 15, 2024, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church’s soccer field for the first time in the Diocese of Owensboro. There were more than 300 attendees during the event.

“Last year, the priests of Bowling Green Deanery talked about the possibility of having a soccer tournament in the Diocese of Owensboro,” said Fr. Martin Ma Na Ling, parochial vicar of Holy Spirit. “Then, my brother priests gave me a chance to oversee the tournament, which was named the Catholic Soccer League.”

Fr. Ma Na Ling said the tournament was created “to build friendships among the Catholics in our diocese, and to share new experiences among the Catholics of the parishes in our Diocese of Owensboro.”

From that point, Fr. Ma Na Ling reached out the soccer players from the diocese and formed six teams, including two teams from Holy Spirit. The total teams were Sacred Heart Parish (Russellville), Holy Trinity Parish (Morgantown), St. Pius X Parish (Owensboro), St. Joseph Parish (Bowling Green), and the two teams at Holy Spirit (Bowling Green). The soccer tournament was split into Group A and B. The schedule was arranged as follows:

Match 1: St. Joseph Team vs. Holy Spirit Team B

Match 2:  Sacred Heart Team vs. Owensboro Team

Match 3: Holy Spirit Team B vs. Holy Spirit Team A

Match 4: Owensboro Team vs. Holy Trinity Team

Match 5: St. Joseph Team vs. Holy Spirit Team A

Match 6: Sacred Heart Team Vs. Holy Trinity Team

Praying together before the June 15, 2024, Catholic Soccer League Tournament begins. COURTESY OF HELENA NIANG LUN CING

For Match 7, Holy Spirit Team B (the winner of Group A) vs. Owensboro Team (the winner of Group B) played the championship. Holy Spirit Team B became the winner of 2024 and received the champion trophy joyfully. Each team played at least twice, with 30 minutes for half time. It started at 7:30 a.m. and ended at 4 p.m.

“It was a great joy for the soccer players to share their friendship and mutual respect among themselves, even though they came from different parishes of the Diocese of Owensboro,” said Fr. Ma Na Ling.

Fr. Ken Mikulcik, Fr. Ryan Harpole, Fr. Randy Howard, Fr. Martin Ma Na Ling and Dcn. Chris Gutiérrez supported the event by their presence. Fr. Mikulcik even played on Sacred Heart’s team.

Dcn. Gutiérrez opened the event in prayer. Fr. Harpole gave some encouraging words on the occasion of having the soccer tournament in the diocese for the first time, and Fr. Ma Na Ling instructed the rules of soccer and remined the soccer players to play with great attitude, love, kindness and mutual respect among the players.

Fr. Ma Na Ling said one of the women from Sacred Heart Parish told him that “It is a great gathering because soccer is international. So, we can bring people together through the soccer game. Thank you for your inviting us to the event.”

Fr. Martin Ma Na Ling presents the trophy to the champion team (Holy Spirit Team B) at the June 15, 2024, Catholic Soccer League Tournament. COURTESY OF HELENA NIANG LUN CING

The event was full of joy for both children, kids, youth, and their parents; and the Myanmar Catholic Youth of Holy Spirit sold concessions during the tournament.

Fr. Howard also remarked during the event before he went into the church to hear confessions that, “It is a great turnout because there are even six teams. All teams seem enjoying the event.”

One team leader of Holy Trinity, Morgantown said that “It is great to see other Catholic soccer players here. Next year, if possible, we want to join again.”

“All 100 medals were given, and all the players and team members received it joyfully and excitedly,” said Fr. Martin. “As event coordinator, I would like to thank my brother priests of the diocese for their supports for the event and for bringing their soccer players. I know it is hard to recruit players.”

He said that if the priests and the players support the idea, he is happy to coordinate the event next year.

“During the event, the friendship and mutual respect of the Myanmar soccer players, African soccer players, Hispanic soccer players and American soccer players was shown clearly, and their Catholic faith brought them together as one through the international sport of soccer. We do not care about winning or losing – we care about our Catholic faith,” said Fr. Martin.

Fr. Ken Mikulcik, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Russellville, plays in the Sacred Heart Team (Russellville) vs. St. Pius X (Owensboro) game during the June 15, 2024, Catholic Soccer League Tournament. COURTESY OF HELENA NIANG LUN CING

The championship trophy and the medals for all players of the June 15, 2024, Catholic Soccer League Tournament. COURTESY OF HELENA NIANG LUN CING

A member of the Sacred Heart Team (Russellville) receives a medal from Fr. Martin Ma Na Ling during the June 15, 2024, Catholic Soccer League Tournament. COURTESY OF HELENA NIANG LUN CING

Fr. Ryan Harpole, Fr. Ken Mikulcik, and Fr. Martin Ma Na Ling discuss the June 15, 2024, Catholic Soccer League Tournament. COURTESY OF HELENA NIANG LUN CING

Holy Spirit Soccer Team A of Bowling Green is seen at the June 15, 2024, Catholic Soccer League Tournament. COURTESY OF HELENA NIANG LUN CING

Holy Spirit Soccer Team B is seen at the June 15, 2024, Catholic Soccer League Tournament. COURTESY OF HELENA NIANG LUN CING

Holy Trinity Soccer Team of Morgantown is seen at the June 15, 2024, Catholic Soccer League Tournament. COURTESY OF HELENA NIANG LUN CING

St. Pius X (Owensboro) Soccer Team is seen at the June 15, 2024, Catholic Soccer League Tournament. COURTESY OF HELENA NIANG LUN CING

St. Joseph Soccer Team (Bowling Green) is seen at the June 15, 2024, Catholic Soccer League Tournament. COURTESY OF HELENA NIANG LUN CING

Sacred Heart Soccer Team (Russellville) is seen at the June 15, 2024, Catholic Soccer League Tournament. COURTESY OF HELENA NIANG LUN CING

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