(Photo by Gary A. Vasquez/NFL)
Bishop David A. Zubik of Pittsburgh and Bishop David L. Ricken of Green Bay, Wis., have placed a friendly wager on the outcome of Super Bowl XLV on Sunday. If the Steelers win, Bishop Ricken will make a personal donation to Catholic Charities of Pittsburgh; if the Packers win Bishop Zubik will do likewise, donating to Catholic Charities of Green Bay.
But wait, there’s more — and it involves foods special to each bishop’s home region.
The bishop of the losing team’s diocese will send a package of food associated with the team’s region to the winning team’s diocesan bishop. For Pittsburgh, that’s pierogies and kielbasa; for Green Bay, that’s brats and cheese. Once the bishop with the winning team receives the food package, he’ll deliver it to a local food pantry.
Besides cause for an episcopal wager, the big game has been the subject of two informative and entertaining pieces by veteran journalist James Breig, who retired a couple years ago as editor of The Evangelist in Albany, N.Y. Both articles are posted on the Fathers for Good website.
In “Faith on the field,” Brieg writes about the Packers’ chaplain, Norbertine Father Jim Baraniak. The priest is also featured in the latest issue of The Compass, Green Bay’s diocesan newspaper.
His second piece, “Super Bowl Catholics,” is about the deep Catholic roots of both the Steelers and the Packers.
When the two football powerhouses face each other Feb. 6, “you may want to pray for your team to win,” writes Breig. “But you should know that both teams have equal favor in heaven with their deep Catholic roots.”
Our Super Bowl tradition is meatball sandwiches made from scratch.
I’m just sad my Chicago Bears couldn’t pull through. Lovie Smith’s impeccable sense for calling timeouts at the most inopportune time cost the Bears the charge and arguably the game. It was a good game regardless and I’m already preparing for next year. God Bless everyone and have a good weekend whatever you do!