Going for the ¡Gol!

Jan. 2, 2023

Florida council’s soccer program gets hundreds of kids outside and brings families together

By Elisha Valladares-Cormier

Jan. 2, 2023

A kids soccer team — Past Grand Knight Walter Silva (back row, center) of San Eugenio de Mazenod Council 17299 in Miramar, Fla., coaches, and Father Franky Jean, pastor of St. Stephen Protomartyr Catholic Church, stand with players from the council’s youth soccer program. (Photo by Tom Tracy)

When men from St. Stephen Protomartyr Catholic Church in Miramar, Florida, banded together to form San Eugenio de Mazenod Council 17299 in 2019, they looked for ways to fulfill Blessed Michael McGivney’s vision and serve families in their community.

“As immigrants, we know that when people come to the United States, they don’t have money to take their kids to join soccer clubs,” said Walter Silva, the council’s charter grand knight. “We created this program so we could give the opportunity to families who otherwise wouldn’t have the chance to play.”

An empty yard on church grounds was offered as a field, and the Knights created makeshift goals out of PVC pipe. Businesses donated equipment, and professional coaches offered to assist with the program’s three weekly sessions. When the first practice was held in , almost 200 local children signed up.

The program — initially intended to run only during the summer — was such a hit that the Knights decided to run it year-round. Council members fashioned and erected lights to extend playing time after sunset in the winter.

“We’re getting kids away from the computer and video games, and parents are able to spend time with them outside,” said Grand Knight Ramón Palma. “It’s very family-oriented.”

The Knights organize group birthday celebrations for the players once a month, as well as a monthly family potluck during which parents play a scrimmage themselves.

The council has been able to purchase real goals and nets, and a local business donates water for the practices. There’s still plenty of work to be done — the Knights hope to upgrade their lighting equipment and purchase uniforms for all the players — but they say the effort is well worth it.

“We’re just happy to be giving back to the community,” Palma said. “The kids want to be out there every day, rain or shine.”

*****

ELISHA VALLADARES-CORMIER is associate editor of Columbia.

Keep Christ in Christmas-themed model boxcars roll along the O-gauge track layout at the Railroad Museum of Long Island

Going for the ¡Gol!

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