Boston, Mass., Jul 16, 2008 / 04:01 am
A professional soccer player in Massachusetts has retired from the sport to enter a Catholic seminary, saying he is “moving on to something much greater.”
Chase Hilgenbrinck, a defender for the New England Revolution, explained the motives for his retirement:
"After years of discernment, I feel strongly that the Lord has called me to become a priest in the Catholic Church," he said in a press statement released by his team. "Playing professional soccer has been my passion for a long time and I feel blessed to have successfully lived out this dream. My passion now is to do the will of God, which is wanting only what He wants for me. Though I will miss the game of soccer, I know that I am moving on to something much greater."
Hilgenbrinck, 26, was a starting player for the team’s two U.S. Open Cup victories in July and for all six of the reserve team’s games. In the latter, he captained the team twice.