Soccer is, without a doubt, the most popular sport on the planet, with an estimated audience of 3.5 billion viewers. You don’t even need to know this statistic to realize that people all over the world are paying close attention to the World Cup matches, which currently bring together national teams from various countries in pursuit of the title. And what about the Schoenstatters? They’re paying close attention, too!
All this international excitement reminds us, on this Covenant of Love day, that sports are an important part of life in the Covenant. In this regard, Fr. Joseph Kentenich spoke of the integral formation of the human person: the body, the soul, the intellect, and the emotions…
“By eating and drinking, exercising, and caring for my digestion, I try to balance work and rest to maintain my health. I study diligently to do well on an exam… In all these cases, I strive—for natural reasons and with natural strength—toward a goal that benefits nature” (Holiness in Everyday Life).
Fr. Vandemir Meister, provincial superior of the Schoenstatt Fathers in Brazil, has played soccer since childhood. For him, sports and the life of the Covenant go hand in hand, as he explains below:
As I look back on my journey, I realize that God leads our lives down surprising paths and that faith and daily life always go hand in hand. In addition to my deep vocation to the priesthood, there is another dimension that moves me, motivates me, and has accompanied me since my very first steps: sports.
The dirt field and that first rush of adrenaline
My story with soccer began in childhood, in the purest and simplest way possible. I fondly remember the games at home, with friends, under a tree. The “field” was a patch of ground full of gravel and dirt, with little grass, but even there, immense joy already reigned.
Over time, sports revealed their power to bring people together and foster community. When I was 12 or 13, in elementary school, we organized a soccer tournament among preteens. The tournament grew so large that the makeshift field—a mix of rocks, grass, and clods of dirt—drew a crowd. I remember how striking it was to see a Military Police car pull up to monitor the activity. For us kids back then, the presence of the police car carried the same weight as an on-call ambulance at a large, modern gym: it was the definitive sign that our tournament was important. The adrenaline was already through the roof!
From the seminary to the world: soccer without borders
That passion didn’t fade when I decided to pursue a religious vocation. Soccer was with me before, during, and after seminary. During our formation years, the ball was in play almost every week, strengthening our brotherhood.
Years later, when I had the opportunity to study philosophy and theology in Germany, I took that sporting identity with me. At the Schoenstatt Fathers’ seminary, our generation of Latin American seminarians revived a dormant tradition: we re-entered our seminary in the championship contested among the German formation houses. There, soccer served as a universal language, uniting different cultures and peoples through their love of the game.
Sports Ministry: Evangelizing in Motion
Upon my ordination, I realized that sports could also be a powerful tool for evangelization and social engagement. During my early years as a priest in Londrina, Brazil, I actively participated in the Sports Ministry, centered especially on the Sacred Heart Parish. Those were years of great dedication and integration with the community through sports fields and courts.
Later, when I was transferred to São Paulo, I set out to launch the Sports Ministry at the Schoenstatt Shrine. The goal was clear: to promote sports within the Church and to show that caring for the body, the mind, and community life are also part of our Christian mission.
Beyond the Four Walls: Surprise and Connection
Today, I remain steadfast on my athletic journey. In addition to soccer, I’ve added a new passion to my routine: tennis. And I must admit that it’s always a lot of fun to watch people’s reactions. When they find out I’m a priest, the reaction is almost unanimous:
“What?! Even the priest plays tennis? Does the priest play soccer?”
This surprise from the faithful and my fellow players on the court makes me happy, as it breaks down the prejudice that a priest must limit himself solely to the physical space of the church. Sports allow me to be in the world, to engage with different realities, and to show that faith does not distance us from life, but rather makes it more fulfilling.
Chasing after a ball, getting excited about a point, or sharing the exhaustion after a match are pure ways of celebrating life. Yesterday, on the field under the tree; today, on the fields and courts: sports have always been—and will continue to be—my place of encounter with my neighbor and with God.