The turn that brought a Manchester United(MU) player to become a Dominican Priest

During the World Meeting of Families taking place in Dublin, Dominican Father Philip Mulryne shared about his path to football and then his Dominican vocation.

“There is no contradiction between faith and sport. God makes things better and makes them more interesting. He knew not only my 15 years of playing football, but also the subsequent years of the Dominicans. Now I await from Him a new chapter in my life…”. Those are the words of Philip Mulryne, a former Manchester United and Norwich football player, now a Dominican priest.

Father Mulryne said: “I lived in Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland, during the civil war, with a very bad atmosphere, but the connection with the parish lifted us up. In 1994, I played for the first time for the parish team and it was there that they discovered my ability to play.”

My father, who is a fan and fan of the football team, was delighted with this; and my mother, a worried person, was worried. Every night she taught us to pray and worry that success might take me away from the faith.”

Mulryne's mother's worries came true when Mulryne played his first game for Manchester and when he succeeded, "faith was tarnished by materialism."

However, Father Mulryne observes that sport has played an active role in a large and healthy family. When coach Alex Ferguson found Mulryne homesick, he called his mother. Besides, his teammates, great champions, were by his side, giving him sincere advice. From them, Mulryne learned about sacrifice and solidarity in the team dressing room.

In 2000, to ensure he could play more often, Mulryne moved to play for another team in the English Premier League, Norwich, and later a number of other teams. One day, the captain asked Mulryne to attend Mass. It was 2008. Beautiful luxury cars no longer made Mulryne enough. Father Mulryne shared: “In the faithful I see radiating a joy that is different from my joy and I want that joy. I found that joy again thanks to my younger brother.”

In 2009, Mulryne returned to her hometown of Belfast and took a year off from playing football. It was during this time that he rediscovered his faith. Then the desire to be a priest came to him, even though he had never thought of it before; His whole life is devoted to football. He wanted to ignore this wish, but it didn't go away. Mulryne understood now that this was not from him. In July 2017, Mulryne was ordained a priest in the Dominican Order.

(Hồng Thủy - VaticanNews)

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Philip Mulryne, a Northern Irish player, was once selected as a character in the 'star of the world' category, although as a player he was not a prominent star like David Beckham or Cantona... That 'star' is known. came more when he parted with the professional football environment and put on the Dominican shirt and became a priest. A priest who, after leaving the podium, enjoys going to the football field to practice and recalls the time when the player recalled the goals that broke his football.

On the day of his priestly ordination, Archbishop Joseph Augustine Di Noia, a Dominican, from Rome to Northern Ireland, gave this special homily specifically related to football. Archbishop Joseph said: ‘In a sense, my (Philip Mulryne) player experience helped prepare me for this moment. I have learned what it is to work hard to achieve a goal and now that purpose is to choose to follow God and preach the Good News to everyone…'.

During his time as a player, Philip Mulryne grew up on the team of a small parish in Belfast, Northern Ireland and played very prominently. At the age of 14, the MU furnace discovered and invited Philip Mulryne to Manchester United City for a trial job. Philip Mulryne had two years of work there and then wore the traditional red shirt at Old Trafford for four years… Then, Philip Mulryne switched to Norwich City and stepped on the Northern Ireland team…

... And celebrated Mass at the church where Philip Mulryne was playing for his parish team at that time.

The turning point for "star" Philip Mulryne to step into the line again is the tragedy of the player's life. In 2008, Philip Mulryne suffered a serious injury that prevented him from continuing his playing career.

Philip Mulryne also did not expect that the tragedy of the player's life was the lead of the 'vocation'. Philip Mulryne is no longer a footballer but is constantly involved in charity work. By chance Philip Mulryne met Bishop Noel Treanor, of Northern Ireland, who had a great influence on directing him to a Dominican convent at the seminary of the diocese of Saint-Malachie, Belfast.

Philip Mulryne shared: 'The main reason I decided to become a monk and consecrate myself was through the vows of poverty and obedience'.

A special thing is that Father Philip Mulryne was ordained a priest and served in the parish where young Philip Mulryne played football for the parish.

Video Philip Mulryne from being a player to becoming a priest and shared with everyone on the 'Stars of the World' program.