Philly United: How Super Bowl Run Brought City Together

Philadelphia held its second Super Bowl parade in its great city. A team defied so many odds from analysts, refs, and even denied a team a chance to make history in a record-setting Super Bowl in New Orleans.

Philadelphia saw an opportunity to cheer on a monumental achievement made by 53 men, including veterans of Super Bowl 52, players solidifying their legacy, and even a stellar class of young players getting their feet wet. Many of them have been exciting to watch.

Like the victory over the Patriots in 2018, 2025 was no different as it brought an entire city together. Philadelphia, or often referred to as “Philly”, has had a reputation over the years when it comes to its passionate fanbase. The list and stories are too long to mention, but I’m certain one would have heard of many by now like an incident at Franklin Field in December 1968.

As someone who attended many of the celebratory activities while going about my business, I couldn’t help but think that millions of people in the City of Brotherly Love set aside their petty differences and feasted on their local team’s victorious achievement. I saw so many people giving strangers fist bumps, high fives, and even yelling, near or far, a great catchphrase in Philadelphia: “Go, Birds.”

Now, when I look back at the phenomenon and place it under a Catholic lens, I feel Catholics can learn something about it all.

First of all, fans didn’t care what the other person’s politics, race, or religion was. Rather, they came together and celebrated with dancing in the street, having a beer, and even extended that “Brotherly Love” to every stranger one would encounter.

Second, this teaches us that Catholics can do the same. Yes, someone may be a sinner but guess what? Jesus wine, dined, and spent time with sinners. Instead of celebrating the sin, he used every opportunity he could to preach the gospel to them all.

His approach was loved by many and then hated by others. Like Jesus, he must welcome the stranger in our midst. We will have our differences, but Jesus wants us to love our neighbors and enemies. He never told us to judge. At the same time, he does encourage us to judge the sin.

Like Philadelphia celebrating a Super Bowl or any other sports victory, we must celebrate the times when people want to get right with God. Jesus celebrates when we receive his mercy in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. He will even celebrate more when we choose him during our life journey and die in the state of grace.

Let’s be like the Eagles’ fan who high fives every stranger that we come across when the Eagles win the big game. Instead of doing the high fives, let us invite every person we come across to attend Bible Study, adoration, or even a social event. The seeds must be planted for them.

Onward to heaven.