by John Sorce
john.sorce@theleaven.org
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Kansas City is proud of its football culture.
It boasts enthusiastic fans, legendary rivalries and now two states fighting over the privilege of hosting the NFL franchise.
That same metro area also offers numerous options when it comes to youth sports programs.
But not many offer a program that, after an athlete’s playing days are done, continues to make an impact on his life like CYO.
The Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas works to provide the best possible environment in which children can grow spiritually, mentally and physically through an authentically Catholic approach to youth sports.
“Where we differ from other leagues is we uphold Catholic values,” said John McGoldrick, who is in his seventh year as CYO executive director. “We have expectations on the field of play — good sportsmanship, turn the cheek, don’t engage with your opponent disrespectfully.
“We want the kids to learn how to win and how to lose.”
The program offers a variety of sports, such as flag football (boys and girls), basketball, cross country, track and field, and volleyball. Most sports run through eighth grade except basketball, which does have a league for high schoolers.
But those involved with the sport of football, which is for boys from fifth through eighth grade, feel it has a way of preparing young men for life in ways that not many other sports can.
McGoldrick believes that football — taught the CYO way — helps prepare players not only for life, but for a life of faith.
“They learn discipline and teamwork,” he said, “and to respect not only their own teammates, but also their opponents. These are some of the Catholic values that are instilled.”
Growing people through sport
Kevin Neenan has been involved with CYO for about 17 years. He grew up going to Visitation Parish in Kansas City, Missouri, and attended St. Thomas More Parish there before going to high school at Rockhurst.
But his family roots in the Catholic faith go much deeper as his uncle, Father Benedict Neenan, OSB, is the abbot at Conception Abbey in Conception, Missouri.
“There have always been very good examples around me, and that’s why I’m rooted in my Catholic faith,” Neenan said. “It took on new meaning when I raised my kids through it, so I can see the power and what our faith has to offer us.”
Neenan currently oversees the Northeast Johnson County pod consisting of Holy Name, John Paul II, Our Lady of Unity, St. Agnes, and St. Ann. He is coaching one team this year, consisting of seventh graders.
“It’s pretty simple as far as football goes,” he said when asked about his coaching style. “It’s the fundamentals. We work on blocking and tackling and we need to do it together as a team to overcome any adversities. I expect my players to work harder than everyone else and be accountable.
“In the end, what I really want is for them to be playing for each other and not for me.”
One of those players is the son of Ben Clark, who had high praise for Neenan’s continued involvement with the program despite not having any kids on the team.
“Kevin is one of the most selfless people I’ve ever met,” Clark said. “He doesn’t have a kid on the team. He’s doing it for the love of the sport and the love of the Catholic faith, and he wants to give kids the opportunity to play.”
“It’s important to remind kids and parents that God comes first and this is just a game,” Clark continued. “We’re teaching kids to compete, but we’re teaching them character first.
“I think Kevin does that better than anybody. He coaches character first and then the sport, and including your faith makes it so much easier because of all the lessons that can be learned through faith.”
Beyond football
Kathy Serrano’s three kids were all involved with CYO when they attended grade school at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Kansas City, Kansas, from fifth through eighth grade. She now has seven grandchildren, and four of them have played for various Shawnee Catholic teams.
Serrano has known pod coordinator Billy Burns for years, as he grew up with her kids. Three of her grandsons played tackle football for Burns at various times.
In March 2022, tragedy struck the family when Serrano’s daughter-in-law Jennifer died unexpectedly. She was the mother of four of Serrano’s seven grandchildren and was also an organ donor. At least eight people received life-improving gifts from Jennifer.
On the day of Jennifer’s funeral, Burns was there — and he was not alone.
“As we were receiving guests in church at St. Joseph (Shawnee) the morning of the visitation and funeral,” Serrano said, “Billy brought the entire CYO Shawnee Catholic football team — from fifth through eighth grade.
“The players were dressed in their jerseys and walked single file through the receiving line and expressed their condolences.”
“The entire church was in awe of these young men and their coaches, showing such respect and solidarity with our boys,” she added. “It is a moment our family will never forget and for which we’ll always be grateful.”
Burns views sports as a tool that can help people grow in their faith, while also providing lessons that will last well beyond the field.
“It’s more of a side-by-side thing,” Burns said. “A lot of it comes down to emphatically professing your faith and being resilient and finding how God can help you push through hard times when you don’t want to.
“CYO is a faith formation of athletics, and not a club sport. Treating it like a club sport is not what God intended for us to do. That’s why it’s different, and that’s why it’s special.”
Another facet that separates CYO is its mandatory playing time requirement, which is based on the size of a team’s roster. It is kept track of and audited by CYO staff.
“You can find as many club sports as you want,” Burns said. “The difference is we put your child first — every child will have an opportunity. And as coaches with any sport in CYO, our sole job is to make sure that we are never their last coach.”
Burns grew up with CYO and has been coaching now for about 11 years. The most rewarding part for him is maintaining those connections with former players as they grow.
“I’m at the point where last year was the first high school graduating class that is moving onto college and becoming young adults,” Burns said. “There’s nothing more rewarding than a freshman in college still calling you ‘coach.’ They all have my phone number, and I am always here for whatever they need.
“I have three sons and a daughter, but it’s like I have almost 180 sons.”
A city united
Jim Ross is the pod coordinator for Northland PLKC (Kansas City Parochial League), which consists of Charles Borremeo Academy, St. Andrew, St. Gabriel, St. James, St. Patrick and St. Therese, all on the Missouri side.
He’s been the athletic director at St. Andrew the Apostle in Gladstone, Missouri, for 18 years and wanted his kids to be involved in a Catholic sports program.
Ross worked with a few other area athletic directors and formed a pod when his first son, who is 24 now, was in third grade.
Four of his sons have since been through the program.
“The opportunity at the time was there on the CYO side (in Kansas) and in the southern portion of Kansas City with PLKC, but not in the Northland,” Ross said. “My philosophy and why I wanted to start the program is I think football has a role to play in developing young men.
“There’s a lot of things that football teaches that other sports don’t.”
Ross has even brought back some of his former players to coach, passing on the lesson that the kids should give back to others as they grow up.
“I’ve brought back some kids who have been through the program to coach,” he said. “I want them to know they have a duty to give back and be good role models for these younger kids.”
While both Kansans and Missourians can take pride on their side of the state line, all are united by one metropolitan area.
The fact that the sport of football and the commonality of the Catholic faith can also bring people together is not lost on McGoldrick.
“The really cool thing about this league is you have CYO and PLKC partnering to create a league,” McGoldrick said. “We have a border that instills pride for each state, but football is very popular here.
“If we can reach across the border, shake each other’s hands and share a commonality in football and the Catholic faith, that’s translated in our league, and we are proud of that.”
