Retired NBA player Gordon Hayward converts to Catholicism

Knowledgeable basketball participant has transformed to Catholicism at a ceremony in Rome held simply two months after he retired from the NBA.

In an announcement launched final week, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese for the Navy Providers, USA introduced that not too long ago retired NBA participant Gordon Hayward had joined the Catholic Church in a ceremony held on Oct. 1 in Rome, Italy. The archdiocese said that Archbishop Timothy Broglio carried out the sacraments of initiation on Hayward, referring to affirmation and his first Holy Communion.

Hayward was formally initiated into the Catholic Church on the Basilica of Saint Sebastian Outdoors the Wall along with his spouse and two of his 4 youngsters in attendance. The archdiocese stated Hayward selected Sebastian as his affirmation title, noting that Sebastian was the patron saint of troopers and athletes. 

“Mr. Hayward selected ‘Sebastian’ as his affirmation title following a interval of discernment via the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) below the instruction of Father Marcel Taillon, who serves Archbishop Broglio as Director of Vocations for the Archdiocese,” the archdiocese said.

OCIA is the method adults looking for to affix the Catholic Church endure, which incorporates lessons the place they be taught concerning the Catholic religion. 

Hayward, whose profession within the NBA spanned 14 years and included stints with the Boston Celtics, Charlotte Hornets, Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder and Utah Jazz, took to social media to share the picture posted by the archdiocese following his affirmation. The image consists of Hayward, Broglio, Taillon, Hayward’s OCIA sponsor Maxwell Van Vliet, and two seminarians finding out to be monks with the Archdiocese of Navy Providers, USA.

A caption that includes the Latin phrase “Nunc coepi,” which interprets to “now I’ve begun,” accompanied the picture.

Hayward’s spouse, Robyn, with whom he shares 4 youngsters, posted further photographs of her husband’s affirmation on social media.

“Gordon joined the Catholic Church this week and why not convert in Rome?” she requested in an Instagram submit accompanying the image. “It was so unbelievable, the Arch Bishop of the US army confirmed him into the Church. What a real blessing! So many nice seminarians and monks helped with the service and made it potential!”

Pictures shared by Robyn Hayward included an image of the couple exterior the Basilica of Saint Sebastian and {a photograph} of the members within the mass. Her Instagram biography features a reference to Luke 1:37, which declares, “For with God nothing shall be unimaginable.” 

Hayward’s initiation into the Catholic Church comes after he introduced his retirement from basketball in an Aug. 1 X submit.

“God has blessed me with a tremendous journey, one which has taken turns I couldn’t have anticipated or dreamed of as a child in Brownsburg, Indiana,” he wrote earlier than informing his followers that he was “formally retiring from the sport of basketball.”

The retired NBA participant recognized Philippians 4:13 as his “favourite [B]ible verse” relationship again to “a younger age,” reciting the scripture declaring, “I can do all issues via Christ who strengthens me.”

“I need to thank God for giving me the grace and the privilege to play this recreation and permitting me to deliver my finest each day,” Hayward added. His retirement announcement was accompanied by a caption studying, “Thanks” alongside an emoji of praying fingers.