CHARLOTTE -- On Super Bowl Sunday, parishioners at St. Gabriel Catholic Church in Charlotte read from the Bible, Luke Chapter 5.
Father Ed Sheridan explained “Verse 9 talks about how the apostles were astonished at the catch of fish.”
That's Luke 5:9. Carolina Panthers Linebacker Luke Kuechly's number is 59.
Pat Taft said “ It just happens to be that this Sunday the scripture verse for the day is about the catch Jesus helped disciples to get. So, I think god might be a football fan!”
And over at St. John's Episcopal Church on Carmel Road, a sea of black and blue filled the sanctuary.
Even Father Paul Winton's stole matched the Panthers colors.
But all the fun aside, Father Sheridan told us there are lessons to be learned.
His homily focused on the Panther's journey from being the underdogs to being in the national spolight.
“They had to do a lot work, a lot of sacrifice, a lot of self-discipline, a lot of teamwork. And that's the same way as our lives,” Father Sheridan said. “We have to have the help of other people. We also have to have the help of God, of course to help through the challenges that we face every day.”
And with that in mind, fans hope they can follow the Panthers lead and keep pounding.
St. John's Episcopal Church is hosting a Super Bowl party Sunday night for the city's homeless.
Dozens of people from the Men's Shelter in Charlotte will go to St. John's, so they can cheer on the Panthers in front of a big screen while they serve as judges in a chili cookoff.