And now for something completely different: a story about a priest who has a truly moving ministry:

For many parishioners on a Sunday morning, once the closing hymn hits the second refrain, the race is on to get out the door and out the parking lot before a log jam of cars blocks the exits. For Father Phil DeRea’s flock, the close of Mass bring a whole other type of race entirely: one that accelerates up to 200 miles per hour.

Father DeRea, MSC, is the Catholic chaplain of the Indianapolis Racing League Ministry, a group he has been involved with for over 40 years.

He travels the circuit of races providing spiritual guidance to members of the racing community and offering Mass to those far from their home parishes on race day. The IRL circuit includes 17 different venues, with one race located in Japan, one in Brazil, two in Canada and the rest in the United States – including the Indy 500, one of the most celebrated races in sports with nearly 100 years of history behind it. Father DeRea will travel to them all.

A priest on the move, his ministry is a far cry from the quiet parish life, but nevertheless he enjoys his work and considers it “an uplifting ministry.”

It was Father DeRea’s childhood friendship with members of the Andretti family that first led him to his racing ministry. The Andrettis are a well known racing dynasty that has produced three generations of champions in Indy racing: Mario, considered one of racing’s all time greatests; his son Michael and now grandson Marco – all Catholics. Mario and Father DeRea grew up together in an Italian community in Nazareth, Pa.

“I went on to the seminary, Mario went on to win the Indianapolis 500,” said Father DeRea.

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