Should old acquaintance be forgot...

As we ring in the new year at midnight, let's not forget what we've experience over the past year. For a great review of 2008's Church happenings, look in tomorrow's issue of the CS&T.

We've had a lot going on at every level - locally, nationally and internationally. Always the optimist, I'm going to remember the good things the most - two Catholic League teams making it to the state football championship for the first time ever and, of course, two words - THE PHILS.

Happy new year! May we all get through 2009 with God's help.

Let go, let God

As most of you may know, both of our Catholic League football teams that made it to the state finals, Archbishop Wood and West Catholic, weren't able to capture the titles of their respective AAA and AA divisions. Although the state championship slipped out of reach for both teams, I'd like to personally congratulate the players and coaches who accomplished so much this season. They should be extremely proud. They proved that Catholic League football teams can compete with the best in the state and, most importantly, they respectfully represented the Catholic League with confidence and sportsmanship.

I'm sure many of the players are having a hard time accepting that their season is over. Wood's 34-6 loss put them the Vikings in a situation they were unfamiliar with - playing catch up. And West's heartbreaking 35-34 double overtime loss landed the Burrs in strange territory as well - playing with a team that caught up to them.

Some people don't like to link God with sports. They think He has more important things to worry about, and sometimes I agree. But I'm sure every player, parent and coach has prayed all season. And I'm sure God has heard those prayers.

As with many things in life, we are quick to ask Him "why?" Some of the players on each team have probably thought: 'But we worked so hard all season, why?' 'We deserved it, why not us?' 'Why couldn't we only score those two points?' I know as soon as I found out the unfortunate news I, too, looked up with a frown and asked "why?"

After experiencing a loss - a loved one, a job, a home, a football game - we should react the same, no matter the scope. We should try to move on and realize that God has a master plan for all of us, even when things don't go our way. Dwelling on an outcome that cannot be changed does nothing. It's what we learn from it that can truly benefit us in the long run.

Although it was not in God's master plan to have our two Catholic league teams win the 2008 state football championships, I'm sure, years from now, kids on either team will have realized why.

Below is a prayer I have read hundreds of times throughout my life, many times without grasping the true meaning of it.

"Lord grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."

Hopefully, the teams representing Wood and West will remember this past season with a sense of pride but also move on and face the future with newfound wisdom and understanding.

Friday Night Lights

No, not the movie, or the tv show for that matter. It's our very own Archbishop Wood and West Catholic squads! Tonight, Wood and West play in the state semi-finals, each in their respective divisions.

Class AA West will battle Lancaster Catholic at Northeast HS field.
Class AAA Wood will travel a little further to face Selinsgrove in Hershey.
Both games are at 7 p.m.

Let's wish our teams luck. The Archdiocese of Philadelphia could be home to not one, but two, state champs. I won't get ahead of myself here, but it's nice to think positively!

Let's go Wood and West!

Thanksgiving Day Football

For a lot of Americans, football and Thanksgiving go together just like turkey and stuffing. In Philadelphia, annual Thanksgiving Day rivalry games go back as far as 1892 (Central vs. Northeast) and new rivalry games spring up every year (Malvern Prep vs. St. Joe's Prep).

In both the city and the suburbs, many high school games feature public vs. Catholic schools; the whole community walks over to the field before the turkey feast and cheers on the sidelines. What a great way to kick off our American holiday!

Here's a list of some Catholic League games going on in the area and the year they originated.

Tonight
Bonner vs. Carroll @ Radnor, 7:30

Thanksgiving Day
(1928) North @ Frankford, 9:45
(1975) Judge @ Lincoln, 10
(1965) St. Pius X @ Pottsgrove, 10
(1963) Conwell-Egan @ Truman, 10
(1972) Roman @ Roxborough, 10:30
(1934) Neumann-Goretti @ Southern, 10:30
(2007) St. Joe's Prep vs. Malvern Prep @ Villanova, 10:30

Hope you get your local football fix! Happy Thanksgiving!

Catholic League Football: West and Wood in state quarterfinals

Congratulations go out to West Catholic as they crushed Palisades 63-20 this past Saturday in round one of state play. They will play in the AA state quarterfinals on Friday at 7 p.m. at Northeast H.S. Will they continue to blow away their competitors? Let's hope so!

In the Class AAA quaterfinals, Archbishop Wood will face Bayard Rustin on Friday at 7 p.m. at Plymouth Whitemarsh H.S.

Also, let's congratulate Cinderella-esque La Salle after a tough loss to Washington for the City title.

Considering this is the FIRST YEAR that the Catholic League has been a member of the PIAA, we should be very proud of our athletes as they continue to prove themselves as worthy opponents!

I heart Phila.

We've all heard out-of-towners trash our city - It's dirty! The people there are so rude! It's not as cool as New York! And I'm sure you've heard some variation of the joke - Philly's so crummy, even its main attraction has a crack in it.

Well, twice this week I realized how lucky I am to be from this great city and stopped to appreciate what it has to offer.

On Monday I had to report for Federal jury duty (sigh). It was a day spent doing absolutely nothing, however, on one of my "breaks" I sat in front of the Courthouse at 6th and Market and stared across the street... at the Liberty Bell. I watched dozens of buses unload hundreds of eager school kids from the tri-state area who lined up and anxiously awaited their turn to get a glimpse of the 259-year-old historical treasure. I'd seen the Bell many times as a kid and even walked by it daily while working in the area, but it wasn't until I had a break from miserable jury duty that I realized how proud I was to be a Philadelphian. It was one of those moments that made me truly appreciate my surroundings and smile.

Several city blocks away from the Liberty Bell is my office at the archdiocesan building at 17th and Race Streets. Yesterday, I spent part of my lunch break attending 12:35 Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul. Talk about another well-spent break. Having the option to attend Mass throughout the day is a luxury, let alone attend Mass at the mother Church of our Archdiocese. Again, it took a tourist to make me see this. While Mass was being celebrated, I noticed a flash in the corner of my eye. I turned around to see someone in the back taking pictures of the magnificent Cathedral. I couldn't help but smile yet again and I thought to myself, 'Wow, this is pretty cool.'

Definitely beats the food court.

"There is no leisure about politics." - St. Thomas Aquinas

The country has spoken and we have a new president. Whether you voted for Senator Obama or not, I think we all realize that he has a lot of work ahead of him. Amidst the election hoopla, which will go down in the history books, I think people forget how incredibly difficult a job it is to be president of the United States. I often wonder, why would anyone even want that job in the first place? Who really wants to attempt to please 305 + million people?
Well, Senator Obama does.
And no matter your party affiliation or stance on our new president, we should all look forward and truly live up to our name - the UNITED States of America. Let's not be hypocrites here. We are privileged enough to live in this country and vote. The least we can do is respect the man that's going to be in charge and hope and pray for the best.

Pheelin Phine

The wait is over!!!!! The Philadelphia Phillies have won the World Series for the second time in their history!!

I got a text last night from a friend who grew up outside Boston. He's had his share of championships. His message:

"Congrats. Philly finally gets a ring...Live it up. It's a great feeling."

I think I'll do just that!

The Waiting Game

They say patience is a virtue.

And now, more than ever, I agree. The past two days have made me feel like I was in high school again... in eighth period... on the last day of school before summer vacation. It's hard to think about anything but what lies ahead.

Bud Selig and controversy aside, I can't imagine how the Phillies and Rays feel right now, being stuck in a 2-day mid-inning hiatus. Whether it should have gotten to this point in the first place is irrelevant. The fact of the matter is that the Phils have to pick up where they left off in a game that was stopped over 40 hours ago and, hopefully, win the World Series.

The Fightins'

Today, as the Phillies embark on game 1 of the World Series I, like many Philadelphians, feel sick. I woke up with that nauseous/anxious feeling, and it probably won't go away until I'm at a parade on Broad Street.

Until then, here are some photos of students from the around the Archdiocese who have Phils' phever. Thanks to the following schools for sending in pics!

St. Laurence, Highland Park
St. James, Elkins Park
St. Monica, Philadelphia
Our Lady of Victory, East Norriton
Our Lady of Consolation, Philadelphia
Norwood-Fontbonne Academy, Philadelphia
Devon Prep, Devon
Cardinal Dougherty Philadelphia

Let's go Phils!

FIRST POST!

About Me

I was born and raised in the Overbook section of Philadelphia. After 18 years, 13 of which spent in Catholic school, I ventured far west to State College, Pa., to attend Penn State University. Somehow, the best four years of my life were suddenly over. I had a journalism degree in my hand and was ready (or had no choice) to face the real world. After a few stints here and there, I found myself at the Catholic Standard & Times, the same paper I eagerly paged through as a child, hoping to indentify at least one face.

My intention for this blog is to post and high light the “Good News.” Much of it will revolve around sports and athletes in our Archdiocese. Some of it may deal with current events, some may be completely random. But no matter the topic, there will undoubtedly be major reminiscing going on about the childhood, upbringing and life experiences I am so fortunate to have had.


The Name

Why school yard stories? When thinking back to grade school, it’s safe to say, a lot happened on the school yard. We could speak louder (my forte), run faster and just be ourselves.

While most of my school yard memories are happy and involve things like kickball and parish carnivals, some take me back to my first taste of clicks and gossip, or my first real “fight” with a friend. Others remind me of what it’s like to stand outside and pray with 250 people, proudly displaying our Catholic faith to those who passed by. And others still make me laugh out loud. (Ms. D dropping the bell on my classmate’s head to be discussed at a later date.)

Hopefully, this blog will not only let me talk about myself but, more importantly, about the great things going on in our Archdiocese! (Note: they don’t have to take place in the school yard.)