Racing Louisville FC’s Sarah Weber discusses balancing faith with professional athletics
Sarah Weber, a soccer player for Racing Louisville FC in the National Women’s Soccer League, says her Catholic faith is central to her life and athletic career.
Weber, who grew up in Gretna, Nebraska, began playing soccer at age five. Her mother was her first coach and also taught her about faith. “We would never miss [Sunday Mass], even when we were traveling for sports,” Weber said.
As she moved on to play collegiate soccer at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Weber found support from Catholic teammates and FOCUS missionaries. “One of the biggest graces was finding good, Catholic friends,” she said.
After college, Weber signed with Racing Louisville and relocated to Kentucky. She described quickly connecting with an active young adult Catholic community in Louisville. “I’ve never had so many, like, young adults come up to me after Mass and introduce themselves,” she recalled.
Weber explained that as her career progressed, her approach to both sport and faith evolved. “For the longest time, I put so much of my identity into soccer — the way I performed, how many goals,” she said. As her faith deepened, she realized that her identity is rooted in her “relationship with ‘him,’ ” which has allowed her to “play so much more freely.”
She added that making Jesus her “first thought” changed her perspective: “That was the flip from high school, early college to now: Jesus is no longer an afterthought. He’s my first thought, which is the way it should be. He’ll always come before soccer and before sport.”
Weber aims to be a Christian witness among teammates by being consistent on and off the field. “I want them to see me as someone who lives their life for Christ in a joyful way” and to “wonder where that (joy) comes from,” she said.
Offering advice for young Catholic athletes, Weber encouraged them to be open about their beliefs: “Live boldly” and “don’t be ashamed” of the faith. She suggested simple acts such as making the sign of the cross before meals or openly attending Mass: “Don’t be ashamed of saying you’re gonna go to Mass.”
These actions have given Weber opportunities to share her faith through invitations or conversations during team activities. She also advised consistency in prayer life and attending Mass regularly. For those who travel often for sports, she recommended using resources like the Mass Times app.
The Archdiocese of Louisville serves as a Catholic ecclesiastical territory based in Louisville, Kentucky according to its official website. It oversees parishes and ministries across central and southern Kentucky while providing spiritual guidance and religious services to its members. The archdiocese promotes spiritual development through various ministries and community outreach, aiming to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ while addressing human needs and encouraging spiritual growth.
