Sports & Spirituality | Villanova University

“Sports contribute to the love of life, teaches sacrifice, respect and responsibility, leading to the full development of every human person.” - Pope Saint John Paul II

Augustinian spirituality encourages each of us to strive for meaning and fulfillment by humbling ourselves, reflecting on our personal life experiences, and building authentic relationships with God and our community members.

Sports and the way that we play the game can reveal to us who we truly are as a player, as a teammate, and as a person. In turn, our journey towards holistic development will ultimately shape how we live our lives and will impact how we play the game.

Campus Ministry's Sports & Spirituality program seeks to walk with student-athletes along their journey towards discovering their best selves by providing opportunities for prayer, self-reflection, and meaningful connection with one's self, friends, and teammates both inside and outside of sports.

Team Retreats & Reflections

Retreats and reflections are opportunities for teammates to step back from their demanding schedules to renew their spirits and form deeper relationships with themselves and one another through personal reflection, team-building activities, and conversation. Retreats and reflections are tailored to the team and can range from full days to an afternoon or evening. For more information please contact David Walsh.

Timeout

Timeout is a reflection group that invites all student-athletes, regardless of their faith or spirituality, to take a break from their busy schedules to reflect on and talk about life inside and outside of sports. During the fall 2019 semester, Timeout will meet every other Sunday evening from 7-8 PM in Tracy Lounge in St. Rita Hall. For more information please contact David Walsh.

Athletes in Action

Athletes in Action is a student-led bible study to help student-athletes plug in with other Christians and learn how to take their passion, faith, and sport to new places, and understand what it mean to play for an Audience of One. Meetings are Thursday nights at 7:30 PM in the Devon Room in the Connelly Center. For more information please contact Caroline Jones or Chuck Smith.

Student-Athlete Service Experience

In partnership with Habitat for Humanity, Villanova Athletics organizes a service trip the week after spring semester final exams that provides student-athletes with the opportunity to work towards social justice and the common good by living out Villanova's Augustinian values of veritas, unitas, and caritas. For more information please contact Lynn Tighe.