Saint Patrick

Saint Martin’s Ministry Tree

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Every year around the middle of November, I talk about Saint Martin. Martin (as you hopefully know) is the patron saint of France and of chaplaincy and it’s from his life and story that we understand and see the origins of chaplaincy.

In sports and especially in football (soccer), these days, there is more and more attention on “coaching trees.” These are a bit of historical record and a tracing of different coaching influence and “family” tree kind of connections. When did a particular philosophy emerge? Who developed a style of play or formation? And whom has been an influencer or had a following and disciples?

On today’s episode of From the Touchline, I (Rev Brad) take a look at Saint Martin’s “ministry tree.” Who are the people that he influenced? Who are those who took something away from their time with Martin and changed their own community or world? I narrow in on Saint Ninian. If you want to hear our previous podcasts on Saint Martin from 2019 and 2020 here are the links:

Saint Martin of Tours (origin story) November 11, 2019 podcast
Saint Martin Gives His Shirt Again November 11, 2020 podcast

From the Touchline is a short-feature (10-15 min) podcast with Rev Brad Kenney, Founder and Executive Director of Soccer Chaplains United and Volunteer Chaplain to the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer.

Rev Brad and occasional guests touch on various issues around the topics of faith, family, and football (soccer).

Also, don’t forget that you can listen in our app, SoccrChapUtd, in the Apple and Google store.

November 8, 2023

From The Touchline

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (20.7MB)

One of my favorite days and favorite historical persons is Saint Patrick and his feast day is March 17. I feel that I connect with Patrick on many levels — from the way he lived life, to some of the ways that he, by faith, came to understand and know and believe in God. My Scot-Irish background also plays a big part of of why I have enjoyed studying and reading Patrick a bit more closely — whether his legacy or his legend.

In today’s From the Touchline episode, I look at a couple stories from Patrick’s life and share one or two of my own. At the close, is a reading of the Breastplate of Saint Patrick, also known as the Lorica of Patrick. It is a long prayer, but one in which a person prays for the power and protection of Jesus to be with them no matter what may be faced. It is a good prayer for us to know today — much of scripture is woven into the prayer.

Here are some helpful links for today’s episode:

From the Touchline is a short-feature (usually 10-15 min) podcast with Rev Brad Kenney, Founder and Executive Director of Soccer Chaplains United and Volunteer Chaplain to the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer. Rev Brad and occasional guests touch on various issues around the topics of faith, family, and football (soccer).

Also, don’t forget that you can listen in our app, SoccChaplain, in the Apple and Google store.

March 18, 2020

From the Rev: Practicing Patrick

From the Rev

Today is a day celebrated around the world – the achievements of a man in bringing a message to an island are recognized at least in some part by the faithful and even faith-less. The man? Patrick – a kidnapped, slave who endured six years of forced labor before escaping. He later would return to share a message with those who had enslaved and mistreated him. The message? A Gospel of hope, Good News, of forgiveness offered by God for all who would listen and receive.

Saint Patrick, and his celebrated day of March 17, has (as many prominent figures do) elements of his story that are legendary (some say he and his disciples once were seen as a company of stags and by passed by a chief looking to kill Patrick), some that are fictional (did he really drive all the snakes out of Ireland?), and some that are true (he returned to the people who enslaved him and gave them God’s forgiveness). One of my favorite stories about Saint Patrick centers around his praxis of ministry. It is a philosophy and methodology that CrossTraining and its chaplains seek to employ in the different places where it serves.

Saint Patrick and his traveling company would move from village to village in Ireland spreading the Message of God to the people. With Ireland being tribally governed, Patrick and his colleagues did not always receive a warm reception from a village chief or the people. So, Patrick and his troupe would camp outside of a village and then during the day, they would go with the villagers to their places of “work” – here they would offer a blessing or prayer over those places – that God would bring forth His bounty. For those fishing, a prayer that the river or ocean would bring forth fish; for those hunting, a prayer that the forest would produce game; for those planting or harvesting, that the fields would have an abundance of grain. The villagers and chief began to see things change – as God worked through the blessings of Patrick and company the people became curious about this message of God.

In chaplaincy settings (sport and otherwise), much of the chaplain’s work is similar in scope. We enter into the work spaces and places of people and we ask for God’s favor, for His abundance to show forth. Instead of fields, forests, and streams a sports chaplain may ask for God’s favor in victories, achievements, and protection from injury and harm. And there maybe many in these contexts who are hesitant to receive the message – but as they begin to see the hand of God blessing the fruit of their labors, as they experience the compassion and care of a chaplain who is, essentially, an outsider, people become more curious, more receptive to hearing the message of God.

It is a work that, as chaplains, we hope and pray will be as impactful as a simple man like Patrick – who, being transformed by God in turn transformed an island and a people and left an impression that is forever remembered around the world. Pray for chaplains, for those who practice being like Patrick and the various villages and communities we serve.

Blessings,

Rev. Brad Kenney

March 17, 2013

From the Rev: Oh! and Eight

From the Rev

Toronto FC, at one time one of Major League Soccer’s bright stars, has reached an embarrassing low. Starting the 2012 season with a league record of 0-8, the Toronto club has yet to get a win, or even a draw (tie), for any points on the season. The accompanying sense of frustration from the losing streak is one of the places where chaplains are often called to minister and speak into – sometimes with mixed results.

For some, the presence of a team chaplain, can represent a desire to meet holistic needs of the individuals that make up a team (players, coaches, staff, etc.). To others, the team chaplain can also represent something of a religious token where by superstitions and mythical beliefs get played out by players and staff alike. Or, there can be a mixture of both extremes and perceptions of a team chaplain amongst a team – much having to do with how well the chaplain represents himself, his work, and the nature of God to those that are being served.

No team likes to begin the season in a deep hole. And no team wants the dubious distinction of being one of the most ineffective or hapless teams of all time. Although, the Detroit Lions, at 0-16 in 2008 (the sum total of all league games for one season in the National Football League), will probably carry the distinction of being perhaps the worst team in modern sporting history for many years to come.

So a typical question that people ask is, “Does God really care?” (about sports, results, wins, etc.). Serving as a chaplain for a professional sport team for over 10 years, I have wrestled with this question often. What has been helpful for me is the example from the life and ministry of Saint Patrick. He would enter into a village and share the Good News of Jesus, and during the week he (and his team) would go out with the villagers and pray over and bless the streams (to produce fish) and for the fields (to produce crops) and for the woods (to produce game). Patrick realized that in praying for “our daily bread” involves how food gets put on the table. For the athlete, this means having success in their work, in their profession.

So while, 0-8 might be cause for alarm, for the chaplain – there is opportunity. There is an opportunity to pray for God’s provision (for all involved with a team or organization) and also for teaching people to understand more clearly the nature of God – His concern and care for us (our families, etc.) and the work we are called and gifted for.

May God bless the 8-0 and 0-8,

Rev. Brad Kenney

May 6, 2012

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Saint Martin’s Ministry Tree

Saint Patrick

From the Rev: Practicing Patrick

From the Rev: Oh! and Eight

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