07_30_2010_Cougar_Mass.jpg
Some readers may remember the “Mass on the Grass” from last month — a liturgy celebrated before a baseball game on a field in Illinois.

Catholic News Agency has a followup:

Thanks to discussions between a priest and a minor league baseball team official, the Kane County Cougars of the Class A Midwest League hosted a Catholic Mass before a Friday baseball game earlier this month.

The Cougars of the Class A Midwest League, a team affiliated with the Oakland Athletics, organized the Mass at their baseball field in the Chicago suburb of Geneva.
The liturgy began at 5:30 p.m. and Mass attendees were required to have a ticket for the game. The July 16 event, which was billed as “Mass on the Grass,” drew participants from 14 area churches.

Cougars assistant general manager Jeff Ney said about 400 people attended the service. He did not think any players attended because they were preparing for the game. He added that the players have baseball chapel service on Sundays.

While the team was unsure whether it would hold any similar services this year, it planned to have religious events next year with other faiths and denominations as well.

Asked if there were any complaints about the event, general manager Jeff Sedivy told USA Today, “Not at all. Not one.” He added that the Catholic Mass was the first religious event the team had hosted simply because Cougars media relations coordinator Shawn Touney, a Catholic, had the idea.

There’s more at the link. 

UPDATE: CNA has posted more pictures in this video report.
More from Beliefnet and our partners