Brewers Chaplain Father Jerry Herda talks World Series

for a win tonight. Of course, they're praying for the Brewers. They're safe travels in themselves as well. One of those people right beside me, Father Jerry Herta, who is the chaplain for the Brewers. He's been in that capacity for 19 years. Brother, thanks so much for being with us this morning. Happy to be here. Yes. Tell me this. How big of a role is faith for the players? You see some of them wearing cross necklaces. You have, as I mentioned earlier, William Contreras has Dios tattooed across his neck, which is God in Spanish. How big of a role does that play for this crew? Well, for this crew, it's an important role. I mean, so many of the individual guys, faith is such a big part of their life individually, but it also works as a team. You know, the sense of having faith in each other. You know, so even the guys who might not have their own personal church faith, there's a faith in each other and really kind of working together as a team, and that makes such a difference. What is it like for you to be a part of that? That's a sacred space that you all share. Yeah, so it's been a great ride for me. I've been doing this for 19 years. So guys have come and gone, so I've seen a lot of people working with the different employees of the stadium. And it's been a great experience just to be able to be a part of the ride. Is there a certain scripture that comes to mind when you think of the crew, how well they've been doing, how well you want them to continue to do? Well, the scripture passage that comes to mind is hope does not disappoint because that's what we've been all about. is our journey has been hoping to get to this point, hoping to get to the World Series, and here it is. So let's enjoy it. What I've been noticing is everybody gets so nervous for these games. It's like, okay, now let's enjoy it. We're here. It's hard to believe I attended Game 1, and when I first came to my seat, I had to pinch myself and say, is this for real? We are in the World Series? So it's like the hope is being achieved, and we're here. And you had an incredible front row seat to history, right, for games one and two. I can imagine how noisy it was. Can you kind of set the scene, paint the picture for us? What was that like from your perspective, sir? Well, the crowd was amazing. It was a fantastic experience. I was able to get here early and really kind of experience it all and just kind of take it all in. But the crowd was with it every pitch, every part of the game. And I think it makes a difference. You know, it's like being a special community together. that's the beauty of coming together as a ballpark too you know in the power of community coming together the team has that community but I think overall the fans have become a big community as well so how meaningful is it for you personally as a man of faith as a fan for the fan of the crew how meaningful is it to be a part of the team in this in this way that you serve well for me personally it's been a great experience because I've been a baseball fan all my life you know I I was a young kid when the Brewers came into town. And so watching this team, even through the struggles, I've always been a faithful fan. I've cheered every single year. And so for them to be able to finally get there, it's been a wonderful experience. Tell me this. Is there any prayer that you have for the team and even their opponents, their Rays? Well, what's interesting is I do Mass, the Catholic Mass on the weekends. We had a Mass on Saturday. And, of course, all the Brewer personnel regularly come. But there were two Rays players that came as well to the Mass. And so I had to be careful in my prayers. I can't just pray for the Brewers to win. It's always a beautiful experience of coming together. And, you know, I went over beforehand and congratulated them on making it to the World Series. But it's a great opportunity to come together and celebrate faith together. Come on. Come on. All right. Well, as the crew prepares to take on the Rays tonight in St. Petersburg, what do you want to tell them from afar? Well, I've been saying this all along. Faith can do great things. And having the faith and belief, you're able to do the great things that God has given you, the ability that God has given you to do. And so for these guys, for all of us, to recognize that the God-given abilities that we have, if we have faith in them and believe in them, we can do great things. Hey, you know, it's just reminiscent of my favorite scripture, Philippians 4.13. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. And I'd like to believe that so many of the players believe that same powerful scripture as well, Father. Amen. I mean, and that's really, for each of us individually, the message for each of us is that God can do great things through us if we allow God to work through us. Amen to that, brother. All right. Well, we'll be watching together from here, or unless you're going to Tampa? I'll go do a watch party. Hey, Don. There you go. You and me both. I think we've got a question from one of my co-anchors. I'm listening to you, Nick. Talk to me. I wanted to ask, Father, if there's a patron saint of sports that we should be aware of. Repeat that for me. Is there a patron saint of sports that we should be aware of, or like a special prayer that we can all say? Is there a special prayer, she says, that we can all say? I'm sorry, I can barely hear you, but a special prayer that we can all say with respect to the game tonight? Well, God bless us all. it's a it's a matter of like let's let's let the best team win which i think is the brewers you know so god help us to be able to play the best of ability no errors tonight let's get the let's get the job done there we go there we go something universal nick there you go