Shepherd’s Cup a big success for seminary, Catholic education and faith formation
October 14, 2014
KINGWOOD — More than 365 golfers from across the Archdiocese participated in Daniel Cardinal DiNardo’s seventh annual Sean and Kari Tracey’s Shepherd’s Cup Charity Golf Classic on Monday, Oct. 6, at Kingwood Country Club benefiting St. Mary’s Seminary, Catholic education and faith formation.
The event kicked off with the Shepherd’s Sponsor Dinner and Auction on the eve of the tournament at St. Mary’s Seminary. Father Brendan Cahill, Director of the Secretariat for Clergy Formation and Chaplaincy Services, was the auctioneer. Steve Smith was the evening’s emcee. Cardinal DiNardo celebrated Mass prior to the dinner at St. Mary’s Chapel.
At the dinner, Cardinal DiNardo said the annual event allows the local Church to grow in its Catholic identity, whether it’s in the schools, faith formation or in the seminary.
“The legacy of a Catholic education is more than just knowledge — faith development, the realization of moral character, the inspiration to set upon a lifelong journey of learning are really the lasting fruits that come from good Catholic formation,” he said. “The support you give to our seminary will help form and educate leaders of the Church and can guide the faithful with the heart of Christ.”
Father Trung Nguyen, the rector at St. Mary’s Seminary, thanked the participants for their support of seminarians. “In his homily, Cardinal asked us to be good stewards of the vineyard... it is a joy to work with you, to see your love and support of the seminarians,” Father Nguyen said. “The most precious gift that God entrusted to me and the faculty are the seminarians.”
Channel 2 anchor, Owen Conflenti, served as emcee for the awards dinner following the the tournament.
Tournament low gross winners on the Island Course were Woolner, Hiskey, Delgado and Knudsen. Winners on the Lake Course were Conflenti, Martinez, Yanez and Hornberger. Winners on the Marsh Course are Cantu, Rodriguez, Tristin and Remiro.
Sean Tracey, title sponsor of the event, said it is extraordinarily gratifying to see the growth of the Shepherd’s Cup in recent years. “This year in particular, it is seen in the number of people helping and the number of people participating,” he said. “(This event) is a great opportunity for us to engage with people from all over the community, Catholics and non-Catholics. I love it, it is great.”