At 38 years of age, Cathedral Catholic tennis coach Ron Marquez has been influenced to become confirmed in the Catholic Church. He chose senior Brooke Millay as his confirmation sponsor.
Coach Marquez first decided to strengthen his faith and complete the commitment of his practicing during a Mass several Sundays ago. He said, “There was an announcement during a Sunday mass a few months ago regarding adult confirmation classes. I remember that sparked a thought – how did I miss getting confirmed? I was between tennis seasons so I had the time in the evenings to attend so I figured why not? Being a part of the CCHS Community, we are preparing students to grow academically and spiritually – I should do the same.”
He felt so involved in the Cathedral Catholic community that he wanted to go experience what his players and other students were experiencing. He took the liberty of initiating a connection with God and experiencing what most sophomores do at CCHS and throughout the Catholic world.
Regarding what he has learned on his faith journey, Coach Marquez said, “This whole experience has been about being a more complete person – for me, spiritually. Whether we are students, faculty, or staff, we all still learn from each other, our daily experiences, and interactions to become better versions of ourselves.”
Coach Marquez chose Brooke Millay as his sponsor because of their commonalities. “Brooke and I belong to the same parish (St. Michael’s Poway),” he said. “I had mentioned to her that I was planning on attending the Confirmation classes and getting confirmed. We talked about sponsors, and she offered to be my sponsor. She and I, along with many other students here at CCHS, are St. Michael’s alums and even had some of the same teachers. So, I felt that our common bond with St. Michael’s and the tennis team made it an easy decision.”
Coach Marquez is glad to have chosen Brooke, who has been involved in the CCHS tennis program for four years, as his sponsor. He said, “Brooke played on the girl’s varsity tennis team this year and was an integral part of our CIF Championship. She has been a great role model for her teammates. She, like many other students I have coached, makes my experiences as a coach here at CCHS very rewarding and something I continue to love to do everyday.”
After two months of preparation and six classes of reflecting on the sacrament itself, Coach Marquez was ready to be confirmed. He said he did not have any great obstacles along the way. He said, “This really hasn’t been difficult at all. Maybe balancing my time since my Confirmation coincides with some of my coaching responsibilities [was the most difficult obstacle] but I’ve already made arrangements for everything to be taken care of so I can just focus on my Confirmation.”
He said that his “special bond” with his players helped him along his journey. “I have a special bond of trust and communication with my each of my players. Regardless of where we are – in school, on the tennis court, or out to eat after practice or a match – our teams learn how to challenge, support, and appreciate each other. One theme that was used in our Confirmation class was to become the better version of yourself. Many of my players have actively done this – academically, athletically, and spiritually. They are my inspiration during this process of Confirmation.”