When it comes to the pressures associated with being the shepherd of a diocese, it doesn’t get much easier than advocating for your community’s football team.
Sports
The Catholic School Roots of Football’s Iconic ‘Hail Mary’
Super Bowl LIX is upon us, and this year’s big game features the perennial powerhouse Kansas City Chiefs against the mighty Philadelphia Eagles.
Pope, Catholic Leaders Offer Prayers Following Deadly Plane Crash
Pope Francis has expressed his “spiritual closeness to all those affected” by the midair collision of a passenger plane and military helicopter at Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington on Jan. 29.
Tom Konchalski’s Legacy a Lasting Influence on Future Generations
A few weeks ago, I released the Mount Rushmore of Brooklyn-Queens CHSAA basketball as selected by the league’s longtime coaches, administrators, officials, and superfans. Had I conceived the idea even five years ago, there would have been no question regarding who I would have contacted first — Tom Konchalski.
Former Knicks’ Fan-Favorite Starks Graces St. Kevin Court
Once again, the green and gold of the parish gymnasium at St. Kevin in Flushing turned into a sea of orange and blue … at least for one morning.
Notre Dame Players Head to Championship Formed by Pre-Game Masses, Saint Devotions
After the dramatic Orange Bowl victory Jan. 9 that secured a date in Monday’s NCAA national College Football Playoff championship, University of Notre Dame senior quarterback Riley Leonard found himself directly in the media spotlight. Grinning ear to ear, Leonard did not mince words when ESPN asked him to explain his second-half resurrection that turned a 10-3 deficit into a 27-24 victory over Penn State.
‘Mr. Baseball’ Bob Uecker Dies at 90, Archbishop Once Said He ‘Loved Playing the Fool’
Bob Uecker, known throughout the United States as “Mr. Baseball” died January 16 at the age of 90.
Journalist Covering Chiefs Historic NFL Run Has CYO Ties to Diocese
Pete Sweeney, a former Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) athlete and student at Our Lady of the Snows, North Floral Park, has covered the Chiefs since 2014, a tenure that has included Super Bowl victories in 2020, 2023, and 2024. Sweeney’s love of sports began in the CYO, where he played basketball and soccer at the parish.
Tradition Continues at Msgr. King Basketball Tournament
The holidays are all about traditions, and there’s nothing more traditional in the local boys’ high school hoops scene than the annual Msgr. King Memorial Basketball Tournament. The 54th annual tournament returned to the iconic green floor at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Flatlands, from Dec. 26-30.
Announcing the Brooklyn/Queens CHSFL All-Star Team for 2024, CHSAA Girls’ All-League Teams
After another competitive season of Catholic High School Football League action, The Tablet’s Brooklyn/Queens CHSFL All-Star team is back. Players were selected from the four high schools that field football teams in the diocese: Christ the King H.S., Middle Village; Holy Cross H.S., Flushing; St. Francis Prep, Fresh Meadows; and Xaverian H.S., Bay Ridge. Special thanks to the league’s coaches for providing nominations and statistics.