NBA star converts to Catholicism months after retiring

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Military Services in the United States recently shared the encouraging news Former NBA star Gordon Hayward has become a member of the Catholic Church.

The 34-year-old retired from professional basketball just two months ago, but already seemed to have a new mission in mind as he traveled to Rome for the life-changing ceremony on October 1.

Hayward, who had a successful 14-year career in the NBA with teams such as the Boston Celtics and Charlotte Hornets, celebrated his entry into the church at the historic Basilica of St. Sebastian Outside the Walls.

Archbishop Timothy Broglio led the ceremony in which the 6-foot-2 basketball player received the sacraments of confirmation and his first communion, which is customary when a baptized Christian enters the church as an adult.

Hayward’s wife Robyn and two of their four children were present to support Hayward in this momentous step in his spiritual journey.

According to a statement from the archdiocese, as Beliefnet reports, Hayward made a very fitting choice for the confirmation name, choosing “Sebastian,” the patron saint of athletes and soldiers, who famously avoided death by arrows and is popular with many athletes and women.

“Mr. Hayward chose ‘Sebastian’ after a period of prayerful discernment by the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA),” the archdiocese said. And Fr. Marcel Taillon, the archdiocese’s vocations director, was a key figure in guiding Hayward through this life-changing process.

Hayward shared his happy news on social media with a selection of photos featuring Archbishop Broglio, Father Taillon, his OCIA sponsor Maxwell Van Vliet and two seminarians from the archdiocese.

His caption included the Latin phrase Nunc coepiwhich means “Now I have begun” and symbolizes the beginning of his new life as a Catholic. This phrase is also used by quarterback Philip Rivers, who states it is his family motto.

Robyn Hayward also shared her excitement on Instagram by posting photos from the occasion and expressing her pride: