St. Mary’s man found faith through pre-game football Masses #Catholic – Billy Harris, longtime parishioner at St. Mary’s Parish in Denville, N.J., “is a person who lives his faith, and you can see it in his actions, in his words, and in his deeds. He lives it very faithfully every single day,” according to Father Martin Glynn, St. Mary’s pastor. That faith was in motion back in 1980, when Harris and his Whippany Park High School Wildcat teammates faced reigning state champion Madison High School in the 1980 Group II Section II state football final. Early in the second quarter, the Wildcats led 3-0 and had the ball at their own 40-yard line when quarterback Mark Grasso heaved a 50-yard pass, which Harris took away from the opposing defender at the 10-yard line and scooted for the touchdown and an eventual 10-0 lead. It was the biggest catch of the season for the 1980 Wildcats football team, a team that rarely passed the ball. The Wildcats would go on to win, 10 – 9, for Whippany Park High School’s lone state football crown, and they finished the season with 10 wins and one loss. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Harris said, “We [he and his former teammates] have gotten together and brought back the old game films, and I just remember smiling the entire time. It is almost indescribable how the bond has stayed with us.” Harris and his teammates also had deep faith and relied on God. Before every game, except one [coincidentally, that game against Chatham was their only loss], the team would travel in the morning to the chapel at Notre Dame of Mount Carmel Parish in the Cedar Knolls neighborhood in Hanover Township, N.J. There, they attended a Mass celebrated by the late Father Regis Wallace. The club would also recite a pre-game prayer in the locker room before heading out to the gridiron. In 1980, Harris was a parishioner of Notre Dame of Mount Carmel. Later, he was part of their Operation Appalachia Ministry group, where he spent a week each year in Preston County, W.V. doing volunteer construction work. Harris eventually moved to Denville, where he became a member of St. Mary’s Parish and joined its Outreach Ministry. The ministry combined with that of Notre Dame’s to travel to West Virginia with more than 50 volunteers. Harris has been part of that first-week-of-August volunteer effort for 20 years. Harris, who is also a member of the Knights of Columbus, and his brother, Joseph, an ordained permanent deacon at Notre Dame, would bring their children with them on Operation Appalachia Ministry mission trips. Joseph’s daughter, Julia, met and later married Dan Rizos, a member of Saint Mary’s volunteer group, and now runs Operation Appalachia for Notre Dame. In 1980, Father Wallace’s pregame homily spoke about teamwork and friendship, which moved Harris and his teammates. “That team was comprised of friends, and we grew together for a common goal. And playing together built relationships that are still very dear to us today,” Harris said. With his wife, Dawn, Harris has a daughter, Kelsey, and his son, Mark, who are also involved at St. Mary’s. In addition to Operation Appalachia, Harris helps with the annual parish picnic and live streaming of the Sunday Masses. “Billy is very much involved with our outreach programs,” Father Glynn said. “He has a very open heart, especially for those who are vulnerable. And he really comes to the plate when you need him. He’s also involved in the celebration for the 100th anniversary of the founding of St. Mary’s,” the pastor said.  

Billy Harris, longtime parishioner at St. Mary’s Parish in Denville, N.J., “is a person who lives his faith, and you can see it in his actions, in his words, and in his deeds. He lives it very faithfully every single day,” according to Father Martin Glynn, St. Mary’s pastor.

That faith was in motion back in 1980, when Harris and his Whippany Park High School Wildcat teammates faced reigning state champion Madison High School in the 1980 Group II Section II state football final.

Early in the second quarter, the Wildcats led 3-0 and had the ball at their own 40-yard line when quarterback Mark Grasso heaved a 50-yard pass, which Harris took away from the opposing defender at the 10-yard line and scooted for the touchdown and an eventual 10-0 lead.

It was the biggest catch of the season for the 1980 Wildcats football team, a team that rarely passed the ball. The Wildcats would go on to win, 10 – 9, for Whippany Park High School’s lone state football crown, and they finished the season with 10 wins and one loss.

Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

Harris said, “We [he and his former teammates] have gotten together and brought back the old game films, and I just remember smiling the entire time. It is almost indescribable how the bond has stayed with us.”

Harris and his teammates also had deep faith and relied on God. Before every game, except one [coincidentally, that game against Chatham was their only loss], the team would travel in the morning to the chapel at Notre Dame of Mount Carmel Parish in the Cedar Knolls neighborhood in Hanover Township, N.J. There, they attended a Mass celebrated by the late Father Regis Wallace. The club would also recite a pre-game prayer in the locker room before heading out to the gridiron.

In 1980, Harris was a parishioner of Notre Dame of Mount Carmel. Later, he was part of their Operation Appalachia Ministry group, where he spent a week each year in Preston County, W.V. doing volunteer construction work. Harris eventually moved to Denville, where he became a member of St. Mary’s Parish and joined its Outreach Ministry. The ministry combined with that of Notre Dame’s to travel to West Virginia with more than 50 volunteers. Harris has been part of that first-week-of-August volunteer effort for 20 years.

Harris, who is also a member of the Knights of Columbus, and his brother, Joseph, an ordained permanent deacon at Notre Dame, would bring their children with them on Operation Appalachia Ministry mission trips. Joseph’s daughter, Julia, met and later married Dan Rizos, a member of Saint Mary’s volunteer group, and now runs Operation Appalachia for Notre Dame.

In 1980, Father Wallace’s pregame homily spoke about teamwork and friendship, which moved Harris and his teammates.

“That team was comprised of friends, and we grew together for a common goal. And playing together built relationships that are still very dear to us today,” Harris said.

With his wife, Dawn, Harris has a daughter, Kelsey, and his son, Mark, who are also involved at St. Mary’s. In addition to Operation Appalachia, Harris helps with the annual parish picnic and live streaming of the Sunday Masses.

“Billy is very much involved with our outreach programs,” Father Glynn said. “He has a very open heart, especially for those who are vulnerable. And he really comes to the plate when you need him. He’s also involved in the celebration for the 100th anniversary of the founding of St. Mary’s,” the pastor said.

St. Mary’s man found faith through pre-game football Masses #Catholic –

Billy Harris, longtime parishioner at St. Mary’s Parish in Denville, N.J., “is a person who lives his faith, and you can see it in his actions, in his words, and in his deeds. He lives it very faithfully every single day,” according to Father Martin Glynn, St. Mary’s pastor.

That faith was in motion back in 1980, when Harris and his Whippany Park High School Wildcat teammates faced reigning state champion Madison High School in the 1980 Group II Section II state football final.

Early in the second quarter, the Wildcats led 3-0 and had the ball at their own 40-yard line when quarterback Mark Grasso heaved a 50-yard pass, which Harris took away from the opposing defender at the 10-yard line and scooted for the touchdown and an eventual 10-0 lead.

It was the biggest catch of the season for the 1980 Wildcats football team, a team that rarely passed the ball. The Wildcats would go on to win, 10 – 9, for Whippany Park High School’s lone state football crown, and they finished the season with 10 wins and one loss.

Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

Harris said, “We [he and his former teammates] have gotten together and brought back the old game films, and I just remember smiling the entire time. It is almost indescribable how the bond has stayed with us.”

Harris and his teammates also had deep faith and relied on God. Before every game, except one [coincidentally, that game against Chatham was their only loss], the team would travel in the morning to the chapel at Notre Dame of Mount Carmel Parish in the Cedar Knolls neighborhood in Hanover Township, N.J. There, they attended a Mass celebrated by the late Father Regis Wallace. The club would also recite a pre-game prayer in the locker room before heading out to the gridiron.

In 1980, Harris was a parishioner of Notre Dame of Mount Carmel. Later, he was part of their Operation Appalachia Ministry group, where he spent a week each year in Preston County, W.V. doing volunteer construction work. Harris eventually moved to Denville, where he became a member of St. Mary’s Parish and joined its Outreach Ministry. The ministry combined with that of Notre Dame’s to travel to West Virginia with more than 50 volunteers. Harris has been part of that first-week-of-August volunteer effort for 20 years.

Harris, who is also a member of the Knights of Columbus, and his brother, Joseph, an ordained permanent deacon at Notre Dame, would bring their children with them on Operation Appalachia Ministry mission trips. Joseph’s daughter, Julia, met and later married Dan Rizos, a member of Saint Mary’s volunteer group, and now runs Operation Appalachia for Notre Dame.

In 1980, Father Wallace’s pregame homily spoke about teamwork and friendship, which moved Harris and his teammates.

“That team was comprised of friends, and we grew together for a common goal. And playing together built relationships that are still very dear to us today,” Harris said.

With his wife, Dawn, Harris has a daughter, Kelsey, and his son, Mark, who are also involved at St. Mary’s. In addition to Operation Appalachia, Harris helps with the annual parish picnic and live streaming of the Sunday Masses.

“Billy is very much involved with our outreach programs,” Father Glynn said. “He has a very open heart, especially for those who are vulnerable. And he really comes to the plate when you need him. He’s also involved in the celebration for the 100th anniversary of the founding of St. Mary’s,” the pastor said.