By Katie Vasquez
Hundreds of Catholic school students from the Archdiocese of New York took a break from their schoolwork Tuesday for a lively and faith-filled gathering at the Sheen Center for Thought and Culture.
The students quickly filled the venue with smiles and cheers as they jumped out of their seats to the sounds of The Pro Players, an inspirational choir made up of former NFL athletes. The group performed a mix of gospel, soul and R&B music, energizing the crowd.
“I came in, I touched every chair here because I want our influence to be more than just a singer. I want people to feel something and I want lives to change,” said KeShun Freeman, a member of The Pro Players. “So coming in here this morning to pray over each chair was my way of saying, you know, God be with each person.”
The students are part of the Inner-City Scholarship Fund, which provides families with financial needs the opportunity to give their children a quality, values-based Catholic education within the Archdiocese of New York.
Many students said the experience brought them closer to their faith.
“They mostly talked about God and how they went to a lot of churches and church is good to go,” said Jonas De la Rosa, a seventh grader at Our Lady Queen of Angels School.
“I think that God is a really important part in faith,” added eighth grader Judah Nuno. “And like the gifts that they were given, they sang so wonderfully. And it was a really, like, great vibe that they created, which was all about love and gratitude.”
Another highlight of the event came when Frank and Lynn Mara were honored for their commitment to Catholic education.
“I’m one of 11 siblings and all 11 of us had 16 years of Catholic education, so we know how important that is,” said Frank Mara, senior vice president of community relations for the New York Giants.
“The closer you come to God, the more you want to be around that and proclaim it and live it,” said Lynn Mara, a board member of the Sheen Center.
The Sheen Center has additional faith-based programming scheduled in the coming months. Meanwhile, The Pro Players will continue performing throughout the tristate area over the next week.