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Ray Of Light Powered JCA

The memory of 'Father Ray' inspired the Joliet Catholic Academy football team to the Class 5A football state championship game.

On the back of Joliet Catholic Academy helmets, on wristbands and on sweatshirts, one phrase from the Rev. Ray Foster, O. Carm., turned into the theme of the Class 5A state runnersup.

Gung Ho.

When Foster died on May 28, 2011 at the age of 64, the Joliet Catholic graduate, science teacher and former U.S. Navy and Marine chaplain became an inspiration to the returning Hillmen football players.

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“The day we had the eulogy for him at school, the kids decided they wanted to dedicate the season to Father Ray,” JCA coach Dan Sharp said. “They chose to make ‘Gung Ho’ their motto for this year, and they asked Rudy (assistant coach Francis Ruettiger) to continue Father Ray’s pregame prayer for them.

“With Father Ray being a military man, we figured we would get a Joliet police officer to help in Rudy, and it kept his spirit alive. Father Ray had a tremendous spirit. He loved everything about JCA, and he had a special feeling for the football program because of our masses and his pregame ‘Gung Ho’ prayer.”

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Northwestern-bound senior Malin Jones, a wingback/safety/linebacker and captain, felt the presence of Foster helped form a bond that carried JCA (11-3) to a 17th appearance in the state championship game.

“When we lost him, it was understood our season would be dedicated to him,” Jones said. “We played for ourselves, but like Coach Sharp said, we knew Father Ray was looking down on us the entire season. Through all the wins, through the losses, we always kept him in our prayers and he was always there.”

“When he passed away, we decided we were going to play our hearts out for him,” said senior safety Dominick Allen, who paced JCA with 96 tackles (47 solos), 4.5 tackles for loss, 2 fumble recoveries, 2 sacks and an interception. “It was a motivating factor all season long and he deserved our best effort.”

The latest effort included T-shirts that the football players wore during Saturday’s ceremony, which followed the 70-45 loss to Montini. The brown-and-gold shirts featured the saying, “Ray of Light, We Believe,” with the letter I in the word light being the symbol of the school’s iconic victory light.

“I think it helped to develop us and made us into a better team,” said senior linebacker Mike Passo, a defensive captain for JCA. “We always wanted to push farther and farther and make it to the state game for Father Ray. We had ‘Gung Ho’ on the back of our helmets, and it was a signature sign for us.”

For Sharp, Father Ray was more than a passenger on the football bus rides. He was the master of puns who would have enjoyed a minor mishap with the bus’ brakes. He was also a trusted, caring friend.

“He instilled that spirit in our kids — service, dedication and work ethic that is the Hilltopper way,” Sharp said. “His quick wit and humor kept the guys light, and he was always there. He will always be with us.”

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