Competition, faith reasons to play at annual golf tournament

August 16, 2016


HOUSTON — St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church in Humble may have won the Shepherd’s Cup trophy in its inaugural year, but they have no plans for it to leave the building.

“We will be there to defend our title,” said Doug Scherr, who along with his team Tim White, Ray Holt and Cory Scherr, plan to bring the trophy right back to its current spot.

St. Martha Catholic Church and Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church are already set with teams to ruin their plan.

“We wish St. Mary Magdalene parish well in its attempt to repeat as Shepherd’s Cup champion. Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown, however,” said Father Sean Horrigan, pastor of Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church. “Though this is the Year of Mercy, we shall show no mercy in claiming the title that should’ve been ours. We look forward to bringing the hardware to Cypress where it rightfully belongs.”

The Shepherd’s Cup trophy, which debuted last year at Sean and Kari Tracey’s Shepherd’s Cup Charity Golf Classic, is a rotating cup that is presented each year to the parish team with the best low net score. It may be displayed within the winning parish facilities for the year for all to enjoy and recognize the Archdiocesan Parish Champs. St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church is the first church to display the trophy.

All parishes are encouraged to enter. In order to qualify the team must be comprised of registered members and clergy in the parish from whom they represent. Parishes are allowed to enter more than one team.

Friendly rivalry aside, the Shepherd’s Cup, now in its ninth year, has continued to assist the Archdiocese with the fulfillment of its mission. It raises funds for faith formation, clergy formation, Catholic Schools and St. Mary’s Seminary.

““One of the things I enjoy most about the Shepherd’s Cup is that it gives golfers from across our Archdiocese — Catholics and non-Catholics alike — an opportunity to support vital ministries while having a fun time out on the course in the spirit of community,” said the event’s host Daniel Cardinal DiNardo.

Organizers are hoping to recruit 360 players for the golf tournament. 

“The annual Shepherd’s Cup is an outing that unites Catholics from across the Archdiocese,” said Father Clint Ressler, pastor of St. Mary of the Miraculous Medal in Texas City. “In the same way that the Archdiocesan Youth Conference unites teens and gives them a sense of belonging to ‘something bigger,’ this tournament promotes a sense of ‘local Church’ for adults while raising funds for our Seminary and for Catholic Education.”

Sponsorship opportunities are available for the event, which began in 2008 when Archbishop Emeritus Joseph A. Fiorenza’s annual tournament for St. Mary’s Seminary and then-Archbishop DiNardo’s tournament for Catholic education and faith formation were combined into one event.

The Order of Malta has participated in the Shepherd’s Cup since its inception. Lou Pelz, member of the order, said the organization participates in the tournament each year because “We feel promoting the efforts of the Cardinal in all his endeavors is a promotion of the faith.”

While the hope is to carry the cup back to St. Mary Magdalene, Scherr said that besides it being fun, he and other members of the Knights of Columbus support the Shepherd’s Cup to assist Catholic education and clergy. That said, the team has a strategy in place to bring back the trophy.

“Make long puts and you have a shot to win!” he said. 


For more about the tournament or to register, visit www.shepherdscup.org.

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Shepherd’s Cup 2016

Galveston-Houston Knights of Columbus Charities will present Daniel Cardinal DiNardo’s Shepherd’s Cup Charity Golf Classic on Oct. 3 at The Clubs of Kingwood, 1700 Lake Kingwood Trail. Tee off is at 11 a.m.. Presenting sponsors for the tournament are Sean and Kari Tracey. Sponsorship opportunities are available. 
For more information about the tournament or to register, visit www.shepherdscup.org. †