Priests and Bishops Prepare for Super Bowl LII

Everyone on the East Coast is getting excited for the Super Bowl — even these priests and bishops.

Earlier this week, Catholic News Service interviewed the two priests who say Mass for Catholic players and coaches of the Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots, respectively.

Fr. Thomas Barcellona of New Jersey says that serving the Eagles “has been an enjoyable experience.” He hopes to attend the Super Bowl with the team this year.

“My experience of the Patriots has been extremely positive,” said Msgr. Mike Foley of Massachusetts. He hasn’t been to any of the Patriots’ previous eight Super Bowl appearances, and will not attend this year’s game in Minneapolis.

The priests also described what it’s like to say Mass for these NFL teams in CNS’s interview, published by The Catholic Spirit.

Fr. Barcellona and Msgr. Foley aren’t the only ones getting in on the Super Bowl fun.

Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston and Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia have made a friendly wager for the game, each pledging a $100 donation to a charity in the other’s diocese if his respective team loses.

“We pray for a safe and enjoyable Super Bowl for both teams and all spectators, and that the gifts of God’s love and peace may bring us closer together as a society,” they said in a joint statement.

Read more about the charitable wager, including their game predictions in Crux’s coverage of the friendly competition.