Photo by Jonah Dycus/Herald
Former professional soccer player Chase Hilgenbrinck scrimmages with participants of the annual Explore program at St. Mary’s Seminary earlier this month. Hilgenbrinck left his career in soccer to pursue his priestly vocation. He was a special guest speaker at the event.

Local teens get kick out of former pro soccer all-star, current seminarian
Explore ’09 held at St. Mary’s Seminary, June 9-11

By JONAH DYCUS
Herald Staff Writer

HOUSTON – To Chase Hilgenbrinck, soccer and the Catholic Church have some notable similarities. Each is celebrated and recognized all over the world, the Illinois native observes, and both have already played major roles in his young life.
Growing up, the 27-year-old believed he was destined for great success in the sport of soccer. That goal was realized when Hilgenbrinck flourished on the collegiate level at Clemson. He burst onto the professional scene in Chile as an all-star and a member of a national championship team.
But the other constant in Hilgenbrinck’s life – his Catholic faith – became more prevalent when he was set to join Major League Soccer (MLS) action in the United States.
“A few years ago, I was desperately looking for God’s love and His comfort in my life,” he said. “All the time I wasn’t playing soccer, I spent a lot of time at church. I started to develop this relationship I began in college with our Lord. It became a personal relationship. I would sit in front of the tabernacle and talk to Him as a friend. It was right then I felt Him calling me to the priesthood.”
Hilgenbrinck, who is currently enrolled at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Maryland, was a special guest at the annual Explore program, held every year at the St. Mary’s Seminary for high school age boys (15-18). The event is sponsored by the archdiocesan Office of Vocations.
In college, the pro soccer player-turned-seminarian had regularly attended Mass but never considered becoming a priest a serious career option. “But I started to feel (the calling to priesthood) during prayer. It was the strangest thing – it started to take over my thoughts daily and that went on for two and a half years,” he said during a presentation at Explore. “I was discerning for a long time and started using excuses why I couldn’t …but the Lord continued to call me, especially through the sport of soccer. I was experiencing success, championships, trophies, fame and fortune, but those things didn’t completely fulfill me as I thought they would.”
Hilgenbrinck urged the Explorers to prioritize listening to Christ during moments of silence – a challenge, particularly for young people ear-deep in iPods.
“God is speaking to each one of us – he is speaking to you right now. He uses us as instruments, so we must be attentive,” he said. “He is calling through all of the experiences in our life. He is constantly searching for us, attempting to show us His will for our lives.”
Later that day at the retreat, Hilgenbrinck fielded questions about his life and then played a game of soccer with Explore participants.
Abel Ibarra, a 16-year-old student member of St. Charles Borromeo Church, was stirred by Hilgenbrinck’s talk. “I thought his story was inspiring, the way he just left his life to give to God while giving up his career in professional soccer,” he said. “That was deep and it had to be a hard decision, but I really admire him for doing that.”
Dylan Camerino of St. Ignatius in Spring was impressed with Hilgenbrinck’s conviction in deciding to enter the seminary. “He continued to go to Mass and Adoration, even though it was counter-cultural in some sense,” the 16-year-old participant said. “He was not completely taken in by the world of professional soccer.”
Local seminarian Victor Perez, a coordinator for Explore, said Hilgenbrinck’s message properly reflected the retreat’s theme, “No greater love has any man than this, to lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)
“Whatever vocation a man is called to, he is called to lay down his life for all of his brothers and sisters. We want to encourage that, and show that Christ is the true model of that,” Perez said. “That is one thing I hope these guys understand – true manhood is about being a brother to others, about love – showing charity, putting others first, self-sacrifice.”
Hilgenbrinck said that sports have taught him a thing or two about faith. “It is all about perseverance. You are going to have triumphs, you are going to have successes, but you are also going to have failures and suffering,” he said. “It is those times when you have to persevere and continue to rely on your faith to get you through.”
For more information about the Office of Vocations, call 713-652-5461 or visit www.archgh.org.