The final innings of Vin Scully’s 67-season career as the Dodgers’ Hall of Fame voice in October 2016 — which included his attending ballpark-hosted Masses at Dodger Stadium and in San Francisco on the final two Sundays — also marked the beginning of something that has become a cherished part of his legacy for Catholics in Southern California and beyond.
Scully’s narration of “The Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary,” a two-CD set conceived by the Catholic Athletes for Christ in conjunction with Relevant Radio, continues to raise funding for the nonprofit organization’s key high school-related outreach programs two years later.
Nearly 12,000 copies have been sold, downloaded, and streamed, not to mention the donations to religious groups, through various media platforms. A copy was also delivered to Pope Francis that elicited a response of gratitude.
“I get more favorable comments about me and my faith, but I just want to say: I only read the prayers,” said Scully, who recites the Annunciation with Christ’s Nativity, Last Supper, Crucifixion, Resurrection and Ascension from the Gospel of Luke. He also prays the beginning of each Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be and “O My Jesus” Fátima prayer.
“All the people behind the scenes are far more responsible. This isn’t false modesty. I was just privileged to do it and grateful it’s circulating. God knows the faith we can use in solidarity right about now.”
CAC Major League Baseball ministry coordinator Kevin O’Malley came up with the idea after hearing Scully do Mass readings in the summer of 2015.
“So many have heard him call a Kirk Gibson home run or a Sandy Koufax no-hitter, but how few have heard him read from the Bible?” said O’Malley. “Now I’m told stories about those in their 60s or 70s who say they haven’t prayed the rosary since they had their confirmation in eighth grade, but it’s remarkable how they pray it again because of Vin’s participation.”
Brian Golden, the Antelope Valley News sports columnist who has been the sacristan for the Dodger Stadium CAC Mass, said he hears about “Dodgers fans who pray the rosary home now with their family before going to bed. More and more are discovering the peace and power of the rosary through this.”
Visit Catholic Athletes for Christ for more information on the CD that can be downloaded from Apple iTunes, Amazon music and Google Play.
Tom Hoffarth is an award-winning journalist based in Los Angeles.
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