Following some “tough relationships,” twin Catholic brothers John and James Ondrey were ready to meet new people and like-minded Christians — maybe even that special someone. So, they started two Catholic softball teams in a public league in Roseville in 2015.
Today, they’re up to 12 coed teams with 144 participants in a private league in Little Canada, including a few agnostic friends. Some teammates drive from Wisconsin.
John and James Ondrey
The brothers talked softball with Patrick Conley, host of the “Practicing Catholic” radio show, for a program that airs at 9 p.m. April 16 on Relevant Radio 1330 AM.
The Ondrey brothers said their mission as a nonprofit is to serve Christ through softball, service and social events. Service events have included volunteering with Feed My Starving Children, Every Meal and Habitat for Humanity. Team members also participate in a midseason donation drive, an annual retreat and monthly adoration at various churches.
Social events include midseason and end-of-year barbecues, a Twins game, all-you-can-eat chili following a tournament, a Halloween tournament and socializing after games.
The brothers called participation “a great thing” — combining softball, service, social events and fun. They said it fills a void for those who want to meet other Catholics or Christians. Especially during the pandemic, they said, many people have been thirsting for in-person interaction.
Most team members are young adults, ranging from beginners at softball to Division II players. Any skill level is welcome.
Word of mouth is mainly responsible for the teams’ growth, the brothers said.
To learn more about the team and its social and service events, visit catholicsoftball.com or its Facebook page, Facebook.com/CatholicSoftballGroup.
It’s not too late to sign up for this year’s softball season. Team members comply with Gov. Tim Walz’s Covid-19-related guidelines.
Have any marriages resulted from being part of this Catholic softball group? Maybe. To learn the answer, tune in to this episode of the “Practicing Catholic” radio show. It airs at 9 p.m. April 16, 1 p.m. April 17 and 2 p.m. April 18 on Relevant Radio 1330 AM.
Produced by Relevant Radio and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, the latest show also includes interviews with Father Bruno Nwachukwu, who describes how the call of God “moved him” from his native Nigeria to Minnesota, and Father James Stiles, who discusses the challenges and opportunities of rural parish life, especially during a pandemic.
Listen to all of the interviews after they have aired:
soundcloud.com/practicingcatholic
Practicing Catholic on Spotify
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