As the world turns its eyes to World Cup soccer in South Africa, SVDs in Chicago celebrate a victory of their own.

The SVD soccer team entered Catholic Theological Union (CTU) sports history as they won the school’s first CTU Haiti Cup, a tournament to raise funds for earthquake victims and programs that are improving the lives of Haitians.

Billed by Formation Director Quang Duc Dinh as the Miracle on Grass, the win was reminiscent of the 1980 US Olympic hockey team’s “Miracle on Ice” defeat of Russia. The SVD team bested a team from the University of Chicago’s Calvert House in the final game of the 5-player tournament.

The SVD team included Joseph Minh Nguyen (the oldest player at the age of 50+), ordinand Tinh Nguyen, seminarians Son Le and Giang Nguyen, associate Truong Le, novice Huy Tran and Redemptorist novice Jacky Merilan from Haiti. Holy Spirit Sister Marcina Stawasz served as coach, trainer and cheerleader.

To get to the finals, the SVD squad beat teams from St. Thomas Parish, the Columbans, Mundelein Seminary, and a group calling itself “Team America.”

According to Brian J. Murphy, CTU vice president for External Relations, the tournament raised $900, and they evenly divided the funds between "Just Haiti" and "Haitian Connection," organizations that have special connections with CTU students.
“We could not have done it without the support of one of our Holy Spirit sisters, Sister Marcina,” Nguyen said. “I think the Pink Sisters are also cheering for us with their prayers throughout the world.”