{"id":898177,"date":"2026-06-28T07:27:18","date_gmt":"2026-06-28T07:27:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/898177\/"},"modified":"2026-06-28T07:27:18","modified_gmt":"2026-06-28T07:27:18","slug":"parishioners-chip-in-to-give-priest-ticket-to-watch-argentina-at-dallas-stadium-in-arlington","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/898177\/","title":{"rendered":"Parishioners chip in to give priest ticket to watch Argentina at Dallas Stadium in Arlington"},"content":{"rendered":"

Luis Prado, the priest who invited<\/a> Lionel Messi and the Argentine national team to attend Mass at his church in Dallas, went to Saturday\u2019s game<\/a> thanks to parishioners at St. Bernard of Clairvaux Church, who bought him a ticket to enter the stadium. <\/p>\n

\u201cSomeone called me and asked what I was doing on Saturday, and I told him I had to celebrate Mass. Then they told me I had to find a substitute,\u201d Prado told The News. \u201cAnd I said, \u2018Don\u2019t play with my feelings.\u2019\u201d <\/p>\n

The person then explained that they had asked several parishioners to chip in so they could buy him a ticket to the game, in gratitude for all the work he has done for the young people of Casa Linda, the Dallas neighborhood where his parish is located. <\/p>\n

The priest became popular on social media after recording a video<\/a> in which he wore the Argentine team\u2019s jersey under his cassock and invited parishioners and his country\u2019s national team to Mass and to receive the sacraments at his church. <\/p>\n

\"Father<\/p>\n

Father Luis Prado celebrates Mass at St. Bernard of Clairvaux Catholic Church, Tuesday, June 23, 2026, in Dallas. (Chitose Suzuki\/The Dallas Morning News)<\/p>\n

Unable to believe that his parishioners had given him a ticket, Prado received lots of congratulatory messages in person, by phone, and on social media. <\/p>\n

\u201cI feel so happy, really excited,\u201d said the priest. \u201cThis is unique. It\u2019s a dream come true, a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me, and it\u2019s so wonderful that people came together to buy me the ticket. I am really grateful.\u201d <\/p>\n

On Saturday, his day began with confessions at 8 a.m., 30 baptisms at 10 a.m., and a Mass at 5 p.m., after which he stayed only a few minutes because he rushed off to the stadium, arriving at 8 p.m., an hour before kickoff. <\/p>\n

And he still hasn\u2019t given up hope of welcoming Messi and his national team to St. Bernard Parish. <\/p>\n

\u201cTomorrow is Sunday\u2014it\u2019s a day to go to Mass\u2014and I still hope they\u2019ll be able to come to our church to receive the sacrament.\u201d <\/p>\n

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