The Catholic News & Herald 11
January 28, 2005
Tragedy to triumph
Catholic faith a constant Coaching values and for NFL quarterback Favre and his family wonders why God has allowed so much grief to happen to her family, “but then I know a lot of other people (face tragedy, too) but theirs isn’t public. With all the things that have happened to us in the last year, there are probably people right down the street that it’s happening to. It’s just ours was public knowledge.” Like her daughter-in-law, Deanna, Bonita Favre said she is also a strong believer that things happen for a reason. “Even with Deanna’s situation, she feels that God has given her this cancer for a reason,” she explained. “They say everything happens for a reason and sometimes it’s hard to understand, but I think that I’ve found that even from adversity there’s usually something good that develops from it.” In fact, she pointed to the Packers’ game against the Oakland Raiders, a day after Irvin’s death, as her favorite football memory. In front of a national audience, Brett threw for four touchdown passes, completing 22 of 30 passes for 399 yards en route to a 41-7 Packers’ victory. “There were just so many emotions that night,” said Bonita Favre of the game. The compassionate reception from Raider fans, whose reputation is far from affectionate, was also heart-
warming, she added. Bonita Favre has channeled some of her grief from the past year into the book project begun in March. For her second oldest son, Brett, however, the grieving process has been different. “He has his own way of grieving,” she explained. Watching her son cope with Deanna Favre’s diagnosis has also been difficult, said Bonita Favre, noting they share a feeling of helplessness. When tragedy strikes, the Favre family is supported by the Catholic community and retired Bishop William R. Houck of Biloxi, Miss., who “is like a personal family friend,” said Bonita Favre. She also pointed to Deanna as a source of strength for the family. “She’s definitely Brett’s strength.” A former special education teacher, Bonita Favre said she is equally proud of all four of her children — there are no favorites. But she is especially proud Brett came public and conquered his drug addiction. “He went through rehab and to go public with that and state that he would beat it and he did, that’s a proud moment,” she said. “If Brett tells you he’s going to do something, you better pretty well believe it.”
CNS photo from Paramount
Samuel L. Jackson stars in “Coach Carter,” a formulaic but interesting story of real-life basketball coach who accepts a job at a high school with the stipulation that all the players sign contracts agreeing to uphold academic standards, and when some of them don’t, he grounds the entire team. The film is reasonably absorbing, and although parents may consider it important for inner-city kids to see this inspiring story, be warned that there’s a good deal of crude language and an abortion subplot with questionable moral implications. Much crude language, drug dealing, some violence, abortion, suggestive dancing and sexual situations. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 — parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
by
MARYANGELA ROMAN catholic news service
BROOKFIELD, Wis. — As the mom of Green Bay Packers’ No. 4, quarterback Brett Favre, Bonita Favre has been along for the ups and downs of her son’s career on and off the football field. From Super Bowl appearances, MVP awards and record-shattering performances to the sudden death four days before Christmas last year of Irvin Favre, her husband of 38 years and Brett’s father, the family has gone from triumphs to tragedies. In October, more misfortune struck the Green Bay Packer legend’s family. Casey Tynes, 24, the brother of Brett’s wife, Deanna, was killed in an all-terrain vehicle accident on the Favres’ Mississippi property and a week later Deanna learned she has breast cancer, for which she is now undergoing treatment. Through it all, however, the Favre family’s Catholic faith has been a steady constant, their main strength, said Bonita Favre. “The main strength of all of us is
our faith,” she said. “Without God, we have nothing and with him anything’s possible.” Bonita Favre is promoting her new book, “Favre,” co-written with her son and Green Bay Press-Gazette sports columnist Chris Havel. The book is filled with photos and includes a DVD of personal and professional highlights. Raised a Catholic, Bonita Favre said she attended an all-girls Catholic high school in Mississippi. Thirteen members of her graduating class of 33 entered the convent. One of those young women was Bonita’s best friend, Patricia Ladner, who has been a Sister of Mercy for seven years. Now a member of the state board of nursing in Louisiana and author of college textbooks on nursing, Sister Ladner is also Brett’s godmother. Bonita Favre called Sister Ladner her strength through the trials of her life. Her friend reminds her to “never give up, read that Bible every morning, say your prayers.” She admitted that she sometimes