When Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers took to the field to face the Detroit Lions on their home turf, he spotted some very friendly faces on the sidelines.
Several religious sisters from the Dominican Sisters of Mary, based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, beamed as Rivers ran to greet them at their seats at Detroit’s Ford Field just before kick-off.
BLESSING YOUR FEED pic.twitter.com/DKbRefmnln
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) September 15, 2019
Rivers, a devout Catholic, is an old friend of the order, which was founded in 1997 by four Sisters whose mission was to establish a new religious community that combined their Dominican monastic heritage with their commitment to the New Evangelization.
In only 20 years, the community has grown to over 140 Sisters, with an average age of 32 years old. Their youth, inspiring faith, and infectious enthusiasm even drew the attention of Oprah, who featured them twice on her show in 2010 and then, because the shows were so popular, five years later had them on again for a ”where are they now?” show.
Read more:
The Story Behind the Ann Arbor Dominican Sisters’ Appearance on Oprah
Along with his wife Tiffany, Rivers has been a supporter of the community since 2012, and in 2015, the Sisters awarded him the 2015 Medal of St. Dominic, recognizing his life of service and faith, highlighting the seriousness which he sees himself as a role model, his charity work with abandoned and orphaned children, and for serving as a proponent of chastity and natural family planning. He and his wife welcomed their ninth child in March of 2019.
Read more:
Quarterback and devoted dad Philip Rivers welcomes ninth child
Known for attending Mass before every game, upon receiving an honorary degree from The Catholic University of America in 2014, Rivers told the assembled that his priorities, were faith, family, and football – “in that order.”
While Rivers’ visit with the Sisters didn’t manage to help him beat the Lions, who won 13-10, it certainly goes down as a win in our book.
