“Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it. Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable one.”  ~1 Corinthians 9:24-25

Excerpts from Athletics and the Gospel Mission of the Catholic School,  by Rev. Richard McGrath, OSA, PhD:

“The very fact that Catholic schools offer athletic programs shows that athletic competition is valued as a way of teaching and training young men and women to cope with life in competitive circumstances. Competition in our society requires values that Americans respect. Teamwork, honesty, cooperation, self-sacrifice, dedication, obedience, hard work, goal setting, respect, self-discipline, and mutual encouragement are expected outcomes for young people who participate in sports. These traits are preparation for adult life. By offering athletic programs, Catholic schools are saying that they want to provide this avenue of expression for their students. Catholic schools cannot be satisfied just to have a program. The program should also excel; it should be competitive.”

“Catholic schools teach dignity and respect for each individual person, the value of human life, and the development of the full human potential. They are concerned with the quality of life and fair opportunities for people all over the globe and they teach that individuals are uniquely gifted by the Creator and are obliged to develop their talents for their own good and the benefit of others. Catholic schools teach that all human beings are related to each other as sisters and brothers and must live and work together in harmony as children of their Creator. They are about service to people who have less, young people achieving excellence in all areas of human endeavor, and about fostering the unique talents of each individual to reach his or her full potential. These are some of the Gospel values taught in Catholic schools which may be applied to athletics.”

“Having proclaimed and agreed to these Gospel values, it is not a big step to say that excellence and distinction in athletic achievement are consistent with the Gospel values. Athletic achievement shows the development of an individual person or group of people as a team reaching their full human potential in this area of human activity. It is very Catholic to be good in sports!”