Star leaves football fame for priesthood

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Star leaves football fame for priesthood
By Christian de Lisle
25 July 2008

Footballer Chase Hilgenbrinck

An American Major League football player is to take early retirement this year in order to pursue a vocation to the priesthood.

Chase Hilgenbrinck, 26, is a defender for the New England Revolution. He has played professional football for the past four years and has played for teams in both Chile and the United States. He will be attending a seminary in Maryland.

"It was something very personal to me. I didn't discuss it with anybody for a long time," Mr Hilgenbrinck said. "I just discerned it through personal prayer for a long time, trying to come to a conclusion if this was really what the Lord was calling me to or not."

His team fully support his decision.