Seminarians pull away in second half to defeat priests, 68-35, in traditional clash highlighting faith, fun and fraternity
DETROIT — Holy orders hit the hardwood Jan. 30 during the semi-annual priest-seminarian basketball game at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit.
Seminarians from various dioceses studying at Sacred Heart tipped off against priests from the Archdiocese of Detroit in a game of fraternity and tradition that dates back decades.
“This is a pretty long-standing tradition,” Fr. Zachary Mabee, assistant professor of philosophy at Sacred Heart and director of the college propaedeutic stage, told Detroit Catholic. “I can’t tell you exactly (when it started), but I know when I began as a seminarian in 2008, we were certainly doing it then, so I think it’s been going for a good 30-plus years.”
The priest-seminarian basketball game was the brainchild of the late Fr. Paul C. Berg, a former philosophy professor at Sacred Heart, who coached the Sacred Heart basketball team and started the game as a way to bring alumni back to the seminary.
The seminary's basketball team "has evolved a bit through the years," Fr. Mabee said, but "it's something the guys really enjoy."
The seminary's basketball team plays other church teams from around the area, and at the end of their season, they play in a tournament against other seminarians.
“It’s part of life (here at the seminary)," Fr. Mabee added. "We have this, we have the spring musical, so it's one of those extracurricular activities that means a lot to the guys, and that has an enduring significance here at the seminary.”
A decent-sized crowd was on hand for the game, including Detroit Archbishop Emeritus Allen H. Vigneron, who was on hand to watch the clerics take the court.
After both sides traded possessions — and some friendly barbs — the seminarians took a 29-17 lead into halftime.
Other Sacred Heart seminarians who aren’t on the team kept score and served as the public address announcer, promoting upcoming events at Sacred Heart while the seminary’s mascot, Leo the Lion, banged on a gong, hyping up the crowd.
Coming out of halftime, the seminarians started to pull away, taking advantage of their youth against the priests’ heavy legs. The scholars went on a series of runs and impressive fast breaks, outscoring the priests 39-18 in the second half to secure a 68-35 win.
Nate Schoenle, a first-year philosophy seminarian for the Archdiocese of Detroit, said the tradition has been a big part of building brotherly kinship among seminarians from different dioceses.
“This is an age-old tradition here at the seminary that we were able to bring back this year,” Schoenle said. “Our basketball team generally has one game per week throughout January and February. We play different church teams around the area, but the priests' game is the highlight of the year.”
After the final buzzer, the priests and seminarians gathered at center court for prayer and a photo. Schoenle said the game is a unique opportunity for men to build up and support one another in their development as followers of Christ.
“Sports, I think, have been one of the most formative things in my life,” said Schoenle, a former wide receiver on the University of Michigan's football team before entering the seminary. “It’s taught me so many virtues of teamwork and fraternity and brotherly love, as well as hard work, determination, perseverance, all the things that we need to live a life in Christ that he calls us to. Sports is a beautiful way to learn all these things.”
