Author: admin

We just closed the books on another Olympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina, Italy. Amid the hype and some controversy, some athletes cemented their names in history while others jump-started their careers. Events of this magnitude offer a chance at glory and a moment on the world stage — but also a platform for witness. Some athletes did just that. Here are some Catholic Olympians from past and present.

Britta Curl-Salemme, who played on the U.S. women’s hockey team that broke Canada’s hearts, winning gold in overtime, says she draws strength from her Catholic faith. Hockey is her “path to becoming a saint,” she said, because in a team sport “you sometimes have to die to yourself and put the team first,” she told The Catholic Spirit. St. Therese of Lisieux helped reignite her faith in college.

Jadin O’Brien competed in bobsled for the U.S. and has overcome a serious health issue. “I use my platform to glorify God,” she said. At every event she blesses the race location with holy water. “At competitions I just dive into my faith; I stop thinking and just do.”

Kacpar Tomasiak, a Polish ski jumper, drew attention after placing his silver and bronze medals on the altar of a church in Predazzo, Italy. He became the first Polish jumper to medal three times in one Olympics. Instead of celebrating, he asked for a Mass of thanksgiving, Father Edward Plen said. “His humility is striking, especially given the scale of his achievements,” he told the Catholic Register. He crosses himself before every jump and serves as an altar server in his parish. “You do not need to loudly proclaim your faith; people who look at your life will begin asking about Jesus and that is the greatest victory,” Father Plen said.

Maxim Naumov lost both parents in a 2025 plane crash over Washington, D.C., but his faith helped him return to competition and qualify for this year’s Olympics. He spoke of skating with love in his heart and Mary by his side. His second piece was set to Ave Maria. He crosses himself before every routine and wears his cross. After his final routine, holding a picture of his parents, he said, “I love you. We did it. God is good,” according to Aleteia.

Yuna Kim, Olympic gold and silver medalist from South Korea, converted to Catholicism in 2008 after a knee injury and care from Catholic doctors. “I had a providential encounter with these Catholic doctors who would quote from the New Testament to keep my morale high,” she said, according to Catholic Review. She also met met a priest in the hospital who gave her private lessons in understanding more about the Bible and Church teachings.

Amy Orr-Ewing shares the miraculous story of a trip to Afghanistan to give a Bible to a Taliban leader, who had been praying for one for years. 

“It really changed my life, that experience. It changed how I see people. Who could our God actually speak to and reach? Who seems to be outside of the realms of possibility?”

Amy Orr-Ewing shares the miraculous story of a trip to Afghanistan to give a Bible to a Taliban leader, who had been praying for one for years. 

“It really changed my life, that experience. It changed how I see people. Who could our God actually speak to and reach? Who seems to be outside of the realms of possibility?”

Amy Orr-Ewing shares the miraculous story of a trip to Afghanistan to give a Bible to a Taliban leader, who had been praying for one for years. 

“It really changed my life, that experience. It changed how I see people. Who could our God actually speak to and reach? Who seems to be outside of the realms of possibility?”

Amy Orr-Ewing shares the miraculous story of a trip to Afghanistan to give a Bible to a Taliban leader, who had been praying for one for years. 

“It really changed my life, that experience. It changed how I see people. Who could our God actually speak to and reach? Who seems to be outside of the realms of possibility?”

What if hospitality isn’t about perfect menus or curated Spotify playlists, but simply an open door and heart? Lauren shares her thoughts on how real hospitality can look like leftover pasta bake, kids’ bedtime stories, someone loading their own dish into the dishwasher, and a Marvel movie on in the background.

What if hospitality isn’t about perfect menus or curated Spotify playlists, but simply an open door and heart? Lauren shares her thoughts on how real hospitality can look like leftover pasta bake, kids’ bedtime stories, someone loading their own dish into the dishwasher, and a Marvel movie on in the background.

What if hospitality isn’t about perfect menus or curated Spotify playlists, but simply an open door and heart? Lauren shares her thoughts on how real hospitality can look like leftover pasta bake, kids’ bedtime stories, someone loading their own dish into the dishwasher, and a Marvel movie on in the background.

What if hospitality isn’t about perfect menus or curated Spotify playlists, but simply an open door and heart? Lauren shares her thoughts on how real hospitality can look like leftover pasta bake, kids’ bedtime stories, someone loading their own dish into the dishwasher, and a Marvel movie on in the background.

Have you ever made yourself smaller to make others more comfortable?

In this reflection, Jo looks back on her 20s, the years of striving, self-doubt, and hiding, and what it took to unlearn those stories. Through the Hebrew word ezer, meaning ‘to rescue, to protect, to be strong’ she came to see that strength isn’t something to hide but something God intentionally placed within us.