Sister Marie Cacciatore talks bridging ministry and athletics on Catholic Sports Radio
She may not be on the roster, but she’s a vital part of the team.
In her recent appearance on , Sister Marie Cacciatore, OSF, reflects on her own journey from being a high school athlete to a Bernardine Franciscan Sister, where she serves as spiritual mentor to ×îÐÂ91ÖÆƬ³§'s student-athletes.
Sister Marie brings prayer, presence and purpose to the lives of student-athletes on and off the field. From praying with teams before games to leading study halls, her ministry embodies Alvernia’s Franciscan Catholic mission to educate the whole person — mind, body, spirit, and community.
(Podcast Timestamp 26:10): "The athletes... I am convinced that this generation has a deeper hunger than I have seen in many years for prayer and to have a prayerful experience," she said. "It's been a profound thing for me to see, feel, know, and experience it in a real way. They're welcoming, and I really mean that. I was touched many times by how I was embraced by teams of men and women who were ready and right for prayer. That is a blessing for me, and I don't even know how to explain the joy I experienced."
On behalf of Alvernia Athletics, she also serves on the Thoughtful Assessment Group as a licensed counselor, which provides another level of support to students by taking a proactive approach in offering personalized interventions, behavior strategies, and resources to meet the students’ needs holistically. Overall, her goal is to continue to expand her work with student-athletes and across the to support and minister to as many students as possible — win or lose.
(Podcast Timestamp 30:10): “God’s not watching his television to see you win. He’s watching to see how you’re growing, how the world, how his children are growing. So, to be mindful of your opponents, to be mindful of your coach and the referees, I think that’s all a part of our mission moment before any kind of athletic event."
Listen to Sister Marie’s full episode where she also discusses the concerns of student athletes, the expansion of women's sports and her dedication to the Philadelphia Eagles (in her words, she "bleeds green") on on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube or Amazon Music.
