The Catholic Sportsman Show Podcast

Christopher McLaughlin - The Cause for Tommy Burns – The First Step Toward Being Declared a Saint in the Catholic Church

Christopher McLaughlin joins us from Glasgow, Scotland and is one of the people heading up the Cause for Tommy Burns, hoping that Tommy will eventually be declared a saint in the Catholic Church. Christopher is our guest on this episode and shares his experiences and knowledge about the quest for Tommy’s sainthood that many are praying for. Tommy was a professional soccer player, which in Scotland and most of the world, is called football. Tommy was a footballer for the famous, and beloved, Celtic team in Glasgow from 1975 to 1989 and later coached and managed the team. Tommy died in May of 2008 at the young age of 51 of melanoma, a form of skin cancer. He left behind his wife and four children.
Christopher has a wealth of knowledge about Tommy, his life, and his humble and deep devotion to God and the Catholic faith. Christopher shares some history of Catholicism in Scotland and how it is intertwined with Celtic football. Tommy was very pious and humbly practiced corporal works of mercy throughout his life. According to Christopher, the love for Tommy was very apparent at his funeral, which included 40 priests and an estimated 20,000+ people.
Christopher describes the process of opening a Cause for Sainthood according to the Church’s Canon Law. The first step involves the bishop of the diocese where Tommy passed away. The final step, which could be a few years to hundreds of years away, culminates in the Pope declaring the person a saint. There are many steps and an enormous amount of prayer, research, and verification prior to a Pope declaring someone a saint. Opening a Cause for Sainthood does not guarantee Canonization, it often does not. 
Christopher, and his fellow researcher Philip Church, are the “petitioners” in this process (see sainthood link below). They are asking for anyone who knew Tommy or is praying for an intercession from Tommy to contact them at contact@tommyburns.org
Information about the process of sainthood in the Catholic Church: Saints | USCCB
#catholicsports, #tommyburns, #celticfootball

Amayrani Higueldo - Intense Ocean of Grace

Amayrani Higueldo actively participated in the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage last year and is our guest in this episode. This event was a precursor to the National Eucharistic Congress that was held in Indianapolis on July 20 – 21, 2024. The Pilgrimage consisted of four routes, East, West, North, and South which made the shape of a cross over America. The four groups met in Indianapolis for the Eucharistic Congress. Each group took our Lord, present in the Eucharist, as they made their way across the country ministering to everyone they met. Amayrani was on the Seton Route from the East that began in Connecticut. The Pilgrimage and Congress were part of a three-year Eucharistic Revival currently taking place in the Catholic Church nationwide.
A devoted Philadelphia Phillies fan, Amayrani shares some experiences she had on the pilgrimage, which she describes as an intense ocean of grace. Although each day was different, Amayrani experienced her love for Our Lord in the Eucharist and in the lives of the people she met along the way. Amayrani shares many heartfelt and inspiring stories as she traveled with our Eucharistic Lord and fellow pilgrims. She has had a close relationship with Our Lady of Guadalupe for most of her life. Amayrani credits Our Lady’s intercession with helping her apply for and participate in the procession. 
Amayrani is now embarking on her profession as a nurse and looks forward to blessing her patients with the dignity and love of Our Lord, as she prays for them and strives to deliver the best care possible. Amayrani encourages us all to strive daily to stay close to Our Lord by attending Mass, receiving the Eucharist, completing a Holy Hour, reading Scripture, and praying the rosary.
 
Amayrani’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amayrannniii?igsh=aDExemppZXlmZDRr&utm_source=qr
Link to the National Eucharistic Revival, Congress, and Pilgrimage:  10th National Eucharistic Congress - Official Website
Link to information about the Eucharist: The Eucharist | USCCB
Link to information about Our Lady of Guadalupe: The story of Our Lady of Guadalupe - Vatican News
 #catholicsports, #eucharisticpilgrimage, #eucharisticrevival #Phillies

Kevin Becker - Intercessory Prayer by an Unknown Friend Leads to Healing

Kevin Becker played soccer in college and is our guest on this episode. Kevin was in his senior year of college at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania when he fell off a roof. He was found on the ground by friends, his head fractured, and his body broken. Kevin was in a coma and his devout parents rushed to be by his side. They were told by his doctors to brace for the worst.
His family continued to pray and started a novena to Blessed Giorgio Frassati, a young man who died in 1925. While in a coma, Kevin had a supernatural experience which he explains in this podcast. Kevin didn’t know who he encountered while he was in a coma until after his miraculous recovery. Now Kevin is a healthy man who enjoys playing soccer and beach volleyball with friends. He maintains a relationship with his friend Giorgio, is involved with the organization Frassati USA, and talks to groups about his experience.
Blessed Giorgio Frassati’s canonization to sainthood will take place during the Jubilee of Youth from July 28–Aug. 3, 2025, in Rome.
https://youtu.be/S4JPnDZWQoo
Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati | USCCB
Brief Biography of Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati | FrassatiUSA, Inc. | Nashville, TN
Information about the process of sainthood in the Catholic Church: Saints | USCCB
Go Fund Me link for Blessed Giorgio Frassati canonization trip to Italy: https://gofund.me/8becefb9
 #catholicsports, #blessedgiorgiofrassati, #frassattiusa, #miracle 

Father Tom Baker - Ironman Priest – All Things are Possible

Fr. Tom Baker is our guest on this episode. He has been a Catholic priest for over 35 years and has participated in approximately 130 triathlons since his ordination. Fr. Tom explains what an Ironman competition is and what it involves. Fr. Tom talks about how he initially got involved in triathlete training and Ironman competitions. He enthusiastically talks about his life as an athlete.
As a Catholic priest, Fr. Tom finds fulfillment in living for others. The support he has received as a priest and a triathlete from the parishes he has served in is very important to him. Fr. Tom enjoys using the lessons he learns in sports as tools to preach the Good News of Jesus to his parishioners. In his personal life and priestly ministry, Fr. Tom compares the discipline of being an athlete with the discipleship of being a Christian.
Fr. Tom ends with the message the Angel Gabriel gave to Mary at the beginning of Luke’s Gospel at the Annunciation: All things are possible.
#catholicpriest #triathlon #ironman #prayerschedule 

Curt Tomasevicz - One Curve at a Time - The Catholic Sportsman Show podcast #57

Curt Tomasevicz is a former Olympic bobsledder and our guest on this episode. He participated in several Winter Olympic games encompassing about ten years and discusses his experiences and lessons learned. Curt is quite humble about the Olympic medals he’s accumulated.
Prior to his Olympic days, Curt played football at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). Currently he is a professor of Biological Systems Engineering at UNL and continues to be involved in sports as the Director of Sport Performance for USA Bobsled-Skeleton. Curt also works with the Nebraska Athletic Performance Laboratory and in his spare time he is a motivational speaker at high schools in Nebraska and around the country.
Curt talks about how his faith has been woven in his life, even at a young age growing up in a small town in Nebraska. While a student at UNL, Curt was convinced that creation did not occur by chance, from the balance of the human body to the balance of space and the cosmos.  It was during this time he came to appreciate the importance that then Pope John Paul II gave to science. While an athlete, Curt did not pray that he (or his team) would win, he prayed that everyone would be safe.
Much like in bobsledding, Curt believes that life should be taken one curve at a time. He discusses his view of fear, how he dealt with it as a bobsledder and how his experiences can be useful in everyday life. 
#bobsledding #cornhuskers #catholic #prayer

Chris Massaro - Living the Gospel of Life on the Roadways of America - The Catholic Sportsman Show podcast #56

Church on Wheels
Chris Massaro is the Director of Mission Advancement for the Biking for Babies organization and our guest on this episode. Chris talks about how his love for sports began at a young age and continued into his college years. His relationship with our Lord grew in college at Vanderbilt University and later at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. Chris’s time at the seminary shaped his understanding of virtue, courage to witness the Gospel, and made him a better man. Chris talks about his saintly devotions and his favorite Bible passage and how they affect his life.
The main topic of his interview is the organization Biking for Babies which exists to renew the Culture of Life in society. Biking for Babies works with young adults and trains them to develop relationships with pregnancy and maternity centers. These ongoing relationships are central to the organization’s mission to help women and families who face unplanned pregnancies. The funds raised by the bike rides are distributed to the pregnancy and maternity centers who have a relationship with Biking for Babies.
Chris talks about how the redemptive suffering experienced for 600 miles on a bike can be offered to God for the suffering experienced by an unplanned pregnancy. He wants all listeners to know that God loves you, desires a deep relationship with you, and wants you to share that relationship with others!
Biking for Babies - Renewing the Culture of Life 

Brenda Lorena Garcia - Stuntwoman on a Mission - The Catholic Sportsman Show podcast #55

Brenda Lorena Garcia is a professional stuntwoman and our guest on this episode. She trains in mixed martial arts, which she compares to the monastic life. Brenda is passionate about her faith and is driven to share it! Brenda eagerly shares her belief that dedication to physical training begins and ends with devout spiritual training. Her rigorous daily physical training for her job can only begin with the rigorous daily training of her spirit.
Brenda explains what her participation in Opus Sanctorum Angelorum (Work of the Holy Angels) means to her and how it helps shape her life. She talks about how her early days working in Hollywood were different than they are now. In her experience, Hollywood is changing for the better.
Brenda discusses the meaning of her statement that “as Catholics we’re not called to fit in, we’re called to stand out.”  Brenda challenges us all to be courageous and bravehearted and not to be afraid to be a saint! She wants everyone to know that God really loves us!
Links to Brenda:
https://www.facebook.com/brendalgarcia
https://www.facebook.com/OfficialBrendaGarcia
Instagram.com/BrendaLGarcia
twitter.com/BrendaLGarciaX
threads.net/@brendalgarcia
linkedin.com/in/brendalorenagarcia
For information about Opus Sanctorum Angelorum: Opus Sanctorum Angelorum - Work of the Holy Angels
 

Natalie Garza - Preview of Heaven on the Brooklyn Bridge? - The Catholic Sportsman Show podcast #54

Natalie Garza, who actively participated in the recent National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, shares her amazing stories and experiences on this podcast. This event was a precursor to the National Eucharistic Congress held in Indianapolis on July 20 – 21, 2024. The Pilgrimage consisted of four routes, East, West, North, and South which made the shape of a cross over America. Each group took our Lord, present in the Eucharist, as they made their way across the country, ministering to everyone they met.
 
Natalie was on the Seton Route from the East that began in Connecticut. Natalie was the point person, taking care of behind-the-scenes activities. She also took her guitar and led songs of worship to our Lord present in the Eucharist as the group made their way to Indianapolis. Natalie’s love and enthusiasm for our Lord is quite evident in the presentation of her experiences along the way as she walked and traveled with our Eucharistic Lord!
 
Natalie teaches theology at St. James Academy in Kansas City.
She has taken up tennis and is the tennis coach at the school. Natalie encourages us all to be aware of where we are in relation to Jesus throughout the day and reminds us that He is always waiting to be found!
 
Links to Natalie:
Email: nrgarza7@gmail.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Txb_4Yi0chY?feature=share
Link to the National Eucharistic Revival, Congress, and Pilgrimage:  10th National Eucharistic Congress - Official Website
Link to information about the Eucharist: The Eucharist | USCCB