When Archbishop Robert Casey steps on the mound at Great American Ballpark on Aug. 30, he’ll bring more than a ceremonial first pitch. He’ll bring a blessing to the ballpark, a celebration of Catholic education, and, hopefully, a little divine help for the Cincinnati Reds.

The moment will be part of a special night. In addition to that first pitch from Archbishop Casey, the Reds will honor Catholic school principals by inviting those from all 87 grade schools and 24 high schools in the archdiocese onto the field for a pregame ceremony. The event will also raise funds for the Catholic Education Foundation, with

$5 from each Reds ticket purchased through the archdiocese’s website going directly to the cause.

“It was a wonderful invitation for the Reds to invite me to throw out the first pitch,” Archbishop Casey said. “It went from an invitation to throw out the first pitch to an invitation of, well, what else can we include in this moment? Recognizing that it’s Labor Day Weekend, typically the last hurrah before people go back to school, we decided to have it be a moment of celebrating our Catholic schools and our principals and the good work they do.”

The idea struck a chord with the archbishop, who saw the evening as more than just a fun night out—it was a chance to show how faith can be lived joyfully in public spaces.

“It’ll be a good moment,” he said. “It’s also the recognition that, as a faith community, our life is not just about what we do in church. It’s also what we do outside of church. It’s being a witness to the joy of life, not just within the four walls of our church buildings, but in our community. I love this opportunity for us to give witness to the joy of life, the gift of life. … It brings us together and offers us a time for food, fellowship, and watching a good ball game.”

At his introductory press conference in February, Archbishop Casey joked that he’d need to trade in his “Cubbies blue” for “Cincinnati red” after growing up a Chicago Cubs fan. A fan of baseball, he admits to not being a standout player. “After one year of Little League, I said, ‘I am done with baseball,’ and I became a spectator,” he said. “I enjoyed watching my brothers play baseball, but I was not the baseball player in the family. My older brother came to town a couple weeks ago and brought two mitts and a ball. We played catch for the first time in probably 50 years.”

The Reds and Catholic communities of greater Cincinnati have a long history together. Every year, St. Vincent de Paul teams up with the Reds for the Strike Out Hunger drive. Several parishes, Catholic schools, and their marching bands take part in the annual Opening Day parade. Catholic school choirs have sung the national anthem before games. And prior to the 1960s, Cincinnati’s Holy Name parades often ended with a Mass at the Reds’ old home of Crosley Field.

This year’s event at the ballpark continues that rich tradition. With Archbishop Casey on the mound and principals on the field, the evening blends America’s pastime with a celebration of faith, service, and community.

This article appeared in the September 2025 edition of The Catholic Telegraph Magazine. For your complimentary subscription, click here.