Feb. 19, 2006

The men's and women's lacrosse teams along with the baseball, softball, golf and men's tennis teams celebrated the start of their respective seasons with the annual Spring sports team mass.  Through the collaboration between campus ministry, the athletic department and the Sisters of St. Francis, this wonderful event became a terrific reality.  The mass was celebrated in the chapel within our Lady of Angels Convent with more than 300 members of the Neumann College community in attendance.

 

One may ask, "What is so special about this mass?"  The answer lies in the event itself.  This is more than a regular mass.  This is a commissioning.  Greeted by the co-celebrants Fr. Jude Krill and Fr. Phillip Lowe each team takes their places around the Alter.  When everyone is in place Director of Athletics, Chuck Sack commissions the student-athletes challenging them to lead with character, play with integrity and compete every second of every game.  Sack stated, "This event truly makes us distinctive.  Our student-athletes embrace our mission and purpose as a Franciscan College.  All the while they are each working at becoming the best student-athlete they can be."

 

Following the commissioning and mass the Sisters of St. Francis hosted the student-athletes, coaches, chaplains and families in a social.  Neumann College was founded by the Sisters of St. Francis in 1965.  The social provides an opportunity for the current Sisters of St. Francis to share their memories with the current student-athletes.  In those magical moments one can see, taste and hear the magic that makes Neumann College so distinctive.