By Jay Sorgi • Posted February 6, 2026

Basketball can help build community and bring a focus on religious vocations, even if they don’t have the quickness of Philadelphia 76ers star Tyrese Maxey, the “ankle-breaking” moves of Allen Iverson or the high-flying leaps of “Dr. J,” Julius Erving.

Ten teams of four — including priests, religious sisters, postulants, seminarians and basketball-loving young adults — took the court in a faith-filled, friendly three-on-three basketball competition during the Holy Hoops event held Saturday, Jan. 31 at Archbishop Wood High School in Warminster.

“Sports can help us to become saints (and) can help us to really build up discipline for many different aspects of life, including spiritual life,” said Pauline Father Timothy Tarnacki director of the archdiocesan Office for Ministry With Young Adults.

Sports in itself has “great value,” he said, and it offers a connection “to faith, vocation, and our purpose in becoming saints.”

His office organized the event in partnership with Czestochowa Young Adults from the National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa, the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and St. Charles Borromeo Seminary.

The day began with Mass at nearby Nativity of Our Lord Church in Warminster.

Father Sean English, the director of the Vocation Office for the Diocesan Priesthood at the seminary, encouraged the participants to grow in faith “whether we have the talents to win this tournament or not.”

“These seminarians believe they do. I assure you they do not,” he added with laughter.

One priest could be seen sporting his religious habit and Nike athletic shoes while popping a mid-range jump shot over a young adult weekend basketball warrior.

Sisters donning their habits made a habit of going low-post to work for buckets, while former college athletes and late 40-something hoopsters with families could be seen closely guarding seminarians who regularly play on a traveling team.

No Sixers scouts were on hand to watch the festival of errant jump shots, loose balls and rebounds, but that wasn’t the point for the assembled players.

Young adults like Conor Curtin, a former lacrosse player at Gwynedd Mercy University, observed that events like these help build the community of Catholic faithful that he seeks.

“It’s always been a part of my life,” the Archbishop Wood graduate said about his love for both the Catholic faith and basketball.

“I went to high school here (and) my college was Catholic, but I feel like when I got in the adult world and started working, I realized what was truly important in life. I really got back into meeting like-minded people, and starting to grow in my faith and take it more seriously.”

Curtin’s experience of basketball reflects a path that so many young people who grew up in Catholic parishes and schools have experienced from youth to adult years.

“I definitely played CYO basketball growing up. I remember going to Mass with my basketball uniform like every other team did back in the day,” he said.

“It’s very connected with the faith, especially when you’re an adolescent or a child. You go to Mass first, then you play basketball. It’s connected. You put God first, and then you enjoy playing the game.”

The athletes of various skill levels on Archbishop Wood’s court Saturday put God first, even amidst a series of short three-on-three games.

A pizza lunch paused play as the 60 people on and around the court listened to talks on priestly and religious vocations.

“Even though we’re sisters, we’re still out here to have fun. Just because you become a sister doesn’t take all the fun out of life,” said Sister Sarah Ellen McGuire, I.H.M., joking that the best part of her game is her skill in passing to people with “more talent.”

“We’re living our daily life, but all pointing towards God,” she added. “Everything we do, say, and think is for His greater glory. We can only do that through the gifts and talents that He has provided us. To be able to share that with others is such a gift and a wonderful opportunity.”

Father Tarnacki even cited St. John Bosco on his feast day, saying the 19^th century saint saw the value of sports in his ministry with youth.

“I think the famous quote from him is ‘Run, jump, play, but don’t sin.’ He was always encouraging young people to build their character, to build discipline through sports,” Father Tarnacki said.

“There’s also a saying that when the basketball court or a soccer field is occupied, then the devil is really mad because what the devil is often using is boredom and lack of discipline.”

The priest also noted St. John Paul II, who as a young athlete played goalkeeper in soccer, as one of many pontiffs like Francis and Leo XIV afterward who have encouraged the value of sport.

“St. Paul said we have to run in the race, as he would encourage us in his first letter to the Corinthians,” Father Tarnacki said. “To run in a good race, to do it well, to keep the discipline.”