April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
FROM RINK TO CHURCH
Hockey player's goal: to become a Catholic
To reach that goal, Mr. Black, 22, has battled through something more threatening to his future than a rock-hard puck racing toward him: As a teen, he was body-checked by a major disease.
"I learned I had Graves' disease when I was around 15," he said. Ironically, the confirmation of his illness "was almost like a weight off my chest, because I could now pinpoint the problem and knew it wasn't just in my head."
Graves' disease, according to the Mayo Clinic, is "an immune system disorder that results in the over-production of thyroid hormones. Signs and symptoms can be wide ranging and significantly influence overall well-being."
In the game
With his illness identified, Mr. Black began a lengthy recovery process that isn't over yet.
"I still deal with the task of managing my hormone levels, which can be very tedious at times," he told The Evangelist. "I am constantly worried about a recurrence, because I know if I lose control of it again, I will most certainly be unable to perform as an athlete."
A native of Canada, where hockey is a national sport, Mr. Black feels that he evolved into the game.
"I didn't even realize hockey was becoming my career until it finally became a reality," he explained. "It was always something I was passionate about. I like the competitive nature that lives alongside of the sport."
He also is aware of the crowds watching him. "It is a great feeling knowing that someone attending our game is being entertained and enjoying themselves," he said.
One hockey analyst has written that "Black's future has never been brighter....He is showing promise as a two-way player.... Long-range, he projects as a quality, depth player who can chip in offensively."
The player's journey into pro hockey and away from Graves' disease occurred during another major change in his life: his attraction to Catholicism.
An assist
"I was raised in an Anglican background," he told The Evangelist, but "we stopped going to church when I was about 12, so I barely had time to grasp the concept of Jesus Christ."
His two loves -- sports and faith -- came together when he was playing hockey with the Swift Current Broncos in Regina, Saskatchewan, his hometown.
"I was longing for God and religion," he recalled. "I went to a few different churches until I stumbled into a Catholic church. The Stations of the Cross immediately drew me in and, of course, Jesus nailed to the cross."
For a while, his nomadic life as an athlete prevented him from connecting to a parish and studying to enter the Church.
"It wasn't until I moved to Albany that a friend introduced me to a family in East Greenbush that has helped me with my conversion," he noted.
Since then, he has been gliding smoothly toward becoming a Catholic.
Full strength
Rev. Joseph O'Brien, pastor of Holy Spirit parish, said, "It's great that Graham is part of our community. His journey is a wonderful story that speaks to a lot of people about the desire to be closer to Christ."
Catechumens and candidates for entry into the Church, the pastor continued, "awaken in all of us the same feelings they have and reinvigorate our faith. Their stories move us."
As Mr. Black nears his formal entry into the Church, he said that "my feelings consist of gratitude towards Jesus Christ because of all the graces God has given me. I am excited to join the Church and grow closer with God."[[In-content Ad]]
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