Benilde-St. Margaret’s balances both the faith, education, and extracurricular activities. Several sports teams here at BSM feel passionate about connecting with their faith before or during a game, meet, race, etc.
The girl’s soccer team has a tradition of saying a Hail Mary prayer together as a team before every game. The girls feel united as a team after doing so and feel that it’s a solid ritual to have before a big game. “Our tradition definitely motivates our team and sets us up on a good note to play a good game. It really brings the energy up and gets the team ready,” junior Emily Niska said.
Not only do the girls feel bonded as a team, but they feel bonded with God as well. Attending a Catholic school, students here strongly value their relationship with God and it’s comforting for the girls to be bonded with God before playing a sport they are passionate about. “A good prayer helps us know that God’s on our side and he’s watching over us,” junior Hannah Buller said.
Individuals on the football team have specific pre-game rituals to help them as an individual stay focused and linked with their faith. Junior football player Will Seymour can’t play a game without writing his favorite bible verse, Philippians 4:13, on his wrist tape. “I had a knee injury my freshman year and then I came back and was a starting player my sophomore year. That was a pretty big deal, so at any moment if I get overwhelmed, I use [the verse] to calm down,” Seymour said.
Though the team has individual practices, the team always unites together as well before a game. The team never misses a pre-game prayer in the BSM chapel led by Campus Minister Mr. Mike Jeremiah who plays a big role in team prayers all across BSM. “Mr. J is a really big part of our team and the team dynamic as far as connecting with our faith before each game,” Seymour said.
Mr. J is a really big part of our team and the team dynamic as far as connecting with our faith before each game.” — Will Seymour
Many would agree that BSM is a special place full of unity and faith. Mr. J plays a very special role in this livelihood that BSM holds. Mr. J loves leading many sports teams and activities here at BSM in prayer. He thinks this is a lovely tradition he shared with many teams. “At BSM we try to get across to people you have the ability to do what you do, because of the gifts you’ve received and all the credit goes back to your Creator…. I think there’s just a spirit here that goes far beyond what any other school could provide,” Jeremiah said.