MN Vikings U.S. Bank Stadium gets more religion than just Hail Marys on NFL Sundays

 

Even when 60,000 Vikings fans aren't on the edge of their purple seats hoping for a game-winning miracle, U.S. Bank Stadium's proving to be a draw for the faithful to celebrate and pray.

In the past few months, the two-year-old building has played host to a concert for evangelical youth, the holiest Muslim holiday and on Wednesday, 12,000 Catholic schoolchildren celebrating mass with Archbishop Bernard Hebda. "I've been looking forward to this mass for a whole year," a smiling Hebda told the children. "How many of you believe in miracles?"

Some 70 priests draped in white robes accompanied Hebda, while many students in grades 4-8 wore their school uniforms — dark skirts or pants with red, green, white or blue shirts.

continue at Star Tribune

I have to admit, the best part of the sports weekend was actually this

88 year old Bud Grant, former Vikings coach, trots out to do the coin toss in a polo shirt despite -5/-25 temps!

Photo

Bud Grant as a young man. #GoVikes #SEAvsMIN pic.twitter.com/wo11WBFvxW

— beretta3000 (@beretta3000) January 10, 2016

Goodbye Metrodome

TJ Rubley will never forget you. 

VIDEO: Explosives demolish Metrodome http://t.co/2t5cjzR9Fd
— NFL (@nfl) February 23, 2014

Vikings chaplain brings faith to the field

For Minnesota Vikings kicker Blair Walsh, the daily schedule is packed.

Each week of the football season is filled with team meetings, practices, workouts and weight training. Even meals with teammates are scheduled for appointed times.

For players serious about their spiritual life — like Walsh, who grew up Catholic and attended Mass regularly with his family — it can be hard to find time to pray and nurture a spiritual life.

So, when he was drafted by the Vikings last season, he didn’t expect to see a guy wearing a Roman collar on the sidelines with the team during games.

For the past 11 years, Father Michael Van Sloun, pastor of St. Bartholomew in Wayzata, has been helping Catholic players, like Walsh, as well as coaches and other team staff members to keep their lives focused despite the pressures of the NFL. He helps them, he says, to “be men of God.”

One of two chaplains, Father Van Sloun’s primary jobs is to preside at Mass on Saturdays before Sunday games.

“I didn’t expect this to be the case in the NFL,” Walsh said. “The fact that they basically bring Mass to you is just awesome.”

continue at The Catholic Spirit

PS> I love the face lift on TCS, kudos to Craig Berry!

NFL all-pro Matt Birk speaks in defense of natural marriage in MN

HT BBach