Seminarians top priests, 77-63, in annual clash on the hardwood at Sacred Heart Major Seminary

DETROIT — From a young age, athletes are taught to respect their opponents.

From that standpoint, neither the priests nor seminarians taking part in Friday’s basketball game at Sacred Heart Major Seminary dropped the ball.

If anything, there was a lot of mutual respect for the opposing sides after the Sacred Heart Lions (the seminarians’ basketball team) topped a team of priests from the Detroit and Lansing dioceses, 77-63.

“It’s a fun event to get together with the seminarians and brother priests for some fraternal time and some exercise; it’s a joy,” said Fr. Kevin Roelant, associate pastor of St. Mary Parish in Monroe. “It was a very enjoyable evening. I’m grateful to God for the time together, and the opportunity to get some exercise and share some good times. It was a gift.”

Fr. Roelant, who played basketball on some pretty fair teams at Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central High School, served as the priests’ point guard. He’s participated in “about 10” of the annual contests, which usually occurs right before Lent as the seminarians wind down their winter athletic season.

“I was surprised at how well we played — but it wasn’t by me,” Fr. Roelant joked. “The main thing is the fraternity, the common faith. We all have a common goal, trying to grow in holiness, and the men here (at the seminary), of course, are trying to grow in formation and be those holy priests that they’re called to be.”

That respect was echoed by the Lions, particularly by Christian Salata, who is in his first year at Sacred Heart and took part in his initial priest-seminarian game.

“It’s always awesome to play the priests, because they’re the guys you look up to as seminarians,” Salata said. “They’re role models for us; they’re what we hope to be one day, living our lives for Christ. It’s always fun to be with them.”

Salata, who played “a little bit” of high school basketball at Fr. Gabriel Richard in Ann Arbor, said basketball is a good way for the seminarians to unwind after a long day of studies, and to grow their camaraderie.

“We try to play pick-up ball about once or twice a week, usually after classes,” he said. “Formal practices don’t happen that much for us, unfortunately.”

But when the opportunities arise, the seminarians will rally the team and hit the hardwood.

“Some parishes will come and play us, or we’ll go to a parish to play them, too,” Salata said. “And then there’s always a seminarian basketball tournament in Chicago. We didn’t do too well there. We lost — but we played two really good teams — so it was unfortunate.”

More than a few seminarians, and many of the priests, were active athletes in high school, and sometimes even into college. That’s why the talent level in the annual game might have surprised some of the fans.

The Lions often pushed the pace and worked the ball around. The priests amazed with their rebounding and three-point shooting abilities. The two-team output of 140 points was very respectable for two 20-minute halves, just like they play in college games.

Ultimately, the seminarians had the edge.

“It was due to many things — youth, practice — many things,” Fr. Roelant said. “It’s a good fun event; it’s the way they end their season. Of course, they can end with a ‘W’ because the priests are out of shape and we don’t practice — those things.”

“We’re winded at the end of the game, that’s for sure,” said Fr. Vincent Richardson, pastor of Cristo Rey Parish in Lansing. “But we get to have a good, competitive game. It’s a way to keep me healthy — mind, body, spirit. I’ve played every year since I was ordained five and a half years ago. I like coming back and having a good exercise goal. I like seeing other priests that I went to seminary with. It’s good to get back to Detroit.”

“It’s always fun playing with the seminarians,” said Canon Michael Stein, pastor of St. Joseph Oratory, Detroit. “It’s a time for us priests to get back together in a more recreational atmosphere, and you can tell these seminarians play together as a team and we’re playing, as priests, once in a blue moon, so they had the advantage. But the point is to keep that priestly camaraderie, and it’s always a joy to be a part of.”

While no one has really kept track, it’s believed that the seminarians have won all but two of the annual contests, which started nearly 20 years ago. But that’s not all bad for the priests — there’s a chance the seminarians might be on their team one day.

The seminarians’ squad consisted of Cory Bilodeau, James Bird, Dcn. Colin Fricke, Hew Hanstead, Mitch Kendziorski, Anthony Kersting, Seamus Kettner, Zach Mazurek, Riley O’Shea, Tyler Rivard, Christian Salata, Bro. Joseph Spears, Adam Worm, Colin Wright and Sean Yates. The Lions were coached by Fr. Timothy Laboe, dean of studies at Sacred Heart.

Suiting up for the priests team were Fr. Joseph Campbell (St. Patrick, Brighton), Fr. John Jaddou (St. Joseph Chaldean, Troy), Msgr. Todd Lajiness (rector, Sacred Heart Major Seminary) Fr. Stephen Pullis (director of evangelization and missionary discipleship for the Archdiocese of Detroit), Fr. Vincent Richardson (Cristo Rey, Lansing), Fr. Kevin Roelant (St. Mary, Monroe), Canon Michael Stein (St. Joseph Oratory, Detroit), Deacon Mark Tibai (St. Mary Parish, Royal Oak), Fr. Pieter vanRooyen (St. Joseph, Whitaker) and Fr. Tom Wilisowski (St. Andrew, Rochester). Fr. Craig Giera, deputy director of priestly vocations for the Archdiocese of Detroit, served as coach.