By John Rohlf
The Message assistant editor
Thanks to a couple of parishioners in the Diocese of Evansville, individuals will have an opportunity to “Race for Vocations” next month.
Anna and Nick Bragin, parishioners at St. Benedict Cathedral in Evansville, moved to the area a few years ago. They previously lived in Bloomington, Indiana. While living there, they both participated in a Race for Vocations for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. Thanks to a push from St. Benedict Cathedral Rector and Diocesan Vicar General Father Alex Zenthoefer, Anna Bragin brought the idea for a Race for Vocations to Father Tyler Tenbarge, diocesan director of vocations, in June.
“I really enjoyed doing the Race for Vocations up in Indianapolis,” Anna Bragin said. “We moved down here about three years ago and I noticed there wasn’t anything like that down here. And it kind of had been in the back of my mind I feel like it could happen here. I think it would be easy enough to do with the Evansville half marathon.”
She said she initially thought it may be something they would start next year, but Father Tenbarge encouraged them to start the Race for Vocations for the Diocese of Evansville this year.
Father Tenbarge said he also was familiar with the Race for Vocations in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. He served on the Race for Vocations team there when he was in seminary at Marian University.
“I loved that Anna wanted to get a race started here in our diocese,” Father Tenbarge said. “Anna quickly connected with the Evansville YMCA’s half marathon and five-miler leadership to ask if we could participate in their annual runs in October. They were happy to welcome us.”
As of Sept. 3, the diocese had 60 runners signed up to participate in the event and wear a Race for Vocations shirt. The turnout as of Sept. 3 either met or exceeded both Nick and Anna Bragin’s expectations for the first year of the event.
Nick Bragin said at the race in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, they had a pretty large group of people that participated in their Race for Vocations.
“It was a really powerful experience,” Nick Bragin said. “Everybody wearing the same shirt. It drew attention to what we were doing. People asked questions while we were running. After the race, people just wanted more. And just with a need with an increase in vocations, we thought this was something that could be replicated down here.”
The event’s purpose is to join, pray and witness, Father Tenbarge said. He said they will join one another in preparing to run or walk Oct. 5 in downtown Evansville. They will pray for particular intentions as they train and participate in the race. He said they will also pray together at a Mass Thursday evening at St. Benedict Cathedral.
Father Tenbarge said the dozens of men and women of all ages will wear matching shirts during the race, reminding the nearly 2,000 other participants and spectators that God has a plan for them.
“I am excited for the city to catch a glimpse of Christ in our runners and walkers,” Father Tenbarge said. “And I am excited for our team to share the morning together.”
Both Anna and Nick Bragin said they hope this is a good start to what they anticipate being an annual event. Anna Bragin said she would love to see the Race for Vocations build momentum in the years to come.
“I’m very grateful and thankful for Father Tyler in his support and enthusiasm. He’s been a great inspiration to me,” Anna Bragin said. “And of course, Father Alex too and kind of igniting that spark and just being that little extra push to really get this going and getting it started for me. I’m very grateful to these other people that have really kind of helped me along the way to get this started.”
There will be a pre-race Mass and dinner two days before the race at St. Benedict Cathedral in Evansville. Mass will begin at 5:30 p.m. CDT Oct. 3, with supper and T-shirt pickup scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CDT in the cafeteria.
The races will begin at 7 a.m. CDT Oct. 5. There will be a family and friends tailgate at the Sts. Mary and John Parish parking lot from 9 a.m. to noon.
After registering on the Evansville Half Marathon website and paying the fee for the race, there is no additional fee to participate as part of the Race for Vocations group.
“It’s really there to just support all of us in our vocations, our path to holiness,” Anna Bragin said. “Our path to holiness and happiness is really through our vocation. And so really being thoughtful, intentional about that.”
To register for the race, visit: https://evansvillehalfmarathon.org/register/. To register to participate in the race as part of the Diocese of Evansville’s Race for Vocations, visit: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdNsfxt7SRsyYzo9AWkKoSds-QjX5moNjtDixumv51-eHG5Qg/viewform.