2nd Annual Copa Inmaculada

St John Paul II Seminary Soccer Team at the Copa Inmaculada

On a sunny and clear Saturday morning, two days before the Feast of the Annunciation, the houses of Seminary and Religious Formation in the area surrounding the Catholic University of America (nicknamed the “little Vatican”) came together to participate in a soccer tournament in the honor of Our Blessed Mother: the Copa Inmaculada. This was the second year of the tournament, which has been a fun experience to test our skills against our brothers and rivals and to come into contact with fellow disciples whom we see every day at school, but may never have a chance to converse with. This day was a day that I was excited for and had been expecting since the tournament ended last year.

The day began with the teams celebrating Mass and saying the Rosary in Our Lady of Czestochowa Chapel at the Basilica, a reminder that this tournament is more than a simple test of skills, but that it represents the unity and fraternity between us brothers in Christ competing in Mary’s honor. The Mass oriented our minds to what is most important and served as a peaceful respite before the coming storm!

After morning liturgy, the teams assembled and warmed-up on the fields of the Dominican house of studies to prepare for the first round of matches. There were six houses of formation represented at the tournament: St. John Paul II Seminary, Theological College, Dominican House of Studies, Saint John Society, Institute of the Incarnate Word, and Redemptoris Mater Seminary.

I had the pleasure of being the Captain for the SJPII team, and we fought valiantly and had strong pace all tournament. We were defeated by the eventual champions in score, although we were not vanquished in spirit! The Redemptoris Mater seminarians deserved the award for the most spirited team; they set the tone with raucous music, drumming, vuvuzelas and the like! Other seminarians in the crowd were dancing and carrying a giant cardboard cutout made in the likeness of their vice-rector. It was tough not to smile at seeing the different seminarians cheer when their team scored a goal. Seeing the blend of white Dominican habits, the black cassocks and priests in collars dotting the sidelines contrasted with bright colored cleats streaking up and down the field. After each game we prayed and gave thanks to God for keeping us safe (only one serious injury all day) and for giving us the opportunity to spend such a beautiful day together! Saint John Society defeated the reigning champion Institute of the Incarnate Word to claim its first Copa Inmaculada title.

After the tournament was finished, the Institute of the Incarnate Word hosted a barbeque at their home parish in Hyattsville. While we were chowing down on fantastic Argentinian style barbeque, the winner’s trophy and team ball were handed to the Saint John Society as the reward for their hard-fought victory.

Our Lady graced us with a beautiful day of great sunny weather, fantastic football (soccer), and unity in the faith through sports. Overall, it was a day that we’re already waiting to enjoy again next year!