Faith: The Competitive Edge

Seniors, students, veterans, clergy, and employees of the Archdiocese of New York receive a $5 discount on tickets with valid ID. Please contact our box office at info@sheencenter.org or call (212) 219-3132 for more information and to purchase tickets.

Purchase a ticket to Faith: The Compettive Edge and be enterted to win a voucher for four tickets and a complimentary parking spot to a select 2023 Mets regular-season home game! (Monday-Thursday). Dates subject to availability (excludes Opening Day and Subway Series games).

Mookie Wilson was a switch-hitting outfielder drafted by the New York Mets in the 2nd round of the 1977 amateur draft out the University of South Carolina. In his 13 seasons within the Major Leagues (10 with the Mets 1980-1989), he hit .274 with 67 home runs, 438 RBI, and 327 stolen bases in 1403 games. A favorite with Mets fans, who would chant "Moooo-kie" for their hero, the up-beat Wilson was a positive force on the field and in the club-house, bringing a certain something to his teams that could not be measured in numbers alone and was a key asset in the 1986 World Series Championship run. Post Career Mookie has been very active obtaining a bachelor’s degree from Mercy College in New York, becoming an ordained minister in 2014, and starting a Future Leaders program mentoring young men on Saturday mornings and taking them on outings in the Columbia South Carolina area where he currently resides.

1988 US Olympian (Track & Field), and media professional, Leslie Maxie, began her media career as a reporter. She has interviewed some of the biggest names in entertainment and sports, including Jesse Owens, Brad Pitt, Denzel Washington, Angelina Jolie, Serena Williams, Barry Bonds, and Mike Tyson. Today, Maxie is the Principal/Founder of Maxie Media Group (MMG), a company that provides training and crisis communications to several influential clients and corporations. Maxie has built a dynamic business, designing strategic campaigns to help thought- leaders, Fortune 100 businesses, and individual influencers identify and achieve their media goals. More than being a media powerhouse, Leslie is most proud of her role as mom to Daughter Andrea (28), son Nicholas (26), and wife to attorney and award-winning photographer Phillip Dowdell. 

Inspired by the Vatican’s Sport at the Service of Humanity movement, Faith: The Competitive Edge was launched at The Sheen Center in May 2022. Previous guests included NHL Hall of Famer, Pat LaFontaine and MLB Hall of Famer, Mike Piazza, and Lonnie Ali, widow of late boxing legend Muhammad Ali.

Sport at the Service of Humanity (SSH) is a global movement dedicated to promoting the positive values of ALL faith and sport to unite communities, inspire youth, and better serve humanity. Sport at the Service of Humanity was launched in October 2016 when the Pontifical Council for Culture hosted the first global conference on Faith & Sport at the Vatican. This gathering brought together global thought leaders and influencers from different religions, sports organizations, and businesses to discuss how faith and sport could work together for the betterment of the world.