‘Blessed beyond words’

Colts’ Joe Reitz keeps his focus on faith and family while living his football dream

Offensive lineman Joe Reitz prepares to block a defender during an Indianapolis Colts football game. (Photo courtesy of the Indianapolis Colts)

By John Shaughnessy

For Joe Reitz, three words describe the essence of his life as a husband, a father, a Catholic and a football player with the Indianapolis Colts.

Actually, the three words come from the description that his wife, Jill, uses in connection to her Twitter account:

“Blessed beyond words.”

Indeed, the life of the 28-year-old Reitz is marked by a wife he raves about, their two small children he glows about and his role of playing for his hometown National Football League team while being coached by a man he respects and admires.

Add in his status as an Indiana All-Star in basketball in high school, plus the fact that he became a pro football player without playing the sport in college, and there is a storybook quality to Reitz’s life.

Still, the offensive lineman for the Colts insists that the true story of his life is a story of faith.

It’s a faith that shapes and guides his marriage, his fatherhood and his playing career.

It’s a faith that has developed through the years at two parishes in the Lafayette Diocese—St. Louis de Montfort Parish in Fishers, Ind., where he grew up, and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Carmel, Ind., where he and his family are now members.

Reitz talked about all those key parts of his life and his faith in an interview with The Criterion.
 

Q. Talk about the importance of your faith in your life.

A. “My faith is the most important thing and the number one thing. I’ve tried to keep my priorities in order. That’s tough sometimes in the NFL. I’ve tried to keep faith number one, family number two and football number three. When I go to speak to kids in school, I tell them to keep those priorities.

“When faith and family are in balance, that’s when life is the smoothest. When we try to put things in our own hands, that’s when life can get rocky.”
 

Q. You’ve had ups and downs in the NFL—getting cut, starting games, suffering a knee injury, making the playoffs. How does your faith help you in dealing with the ups and downs in the NFL?

A. “It gives you perspective. Football is very important, but faith and serving God are what really matters.

“When you’re worried, when life isn’t going your way, you have prayer to give you peace. One of my favorite Bible verses is Philippians 4:6-7. [‘Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.’] God will give you peace to transcend your human understanding. I’ve always tried to pray.”
 

Q. You’re part of a team that has witnessed up close head coach Chuck Pagano’s battle with cancer, his recovery and his comeback. What impact has that experience—and how it rallied the team and the community—had on you?

A. “Faith is his rock. It helped pull him through. And you could see how the city, the state and the country were pulling for him. Now, he’s trying to give back. It shows the kind of man he is—of serving others and putting them in front of himself.”
 

Q. Who are the people who have had the most influence on your faith?

A. “My parents, Jane and Dave. My dad has taught me what it means to be a man, a father and a husband. Another major influence is Father Richard Doerr. He was at St. Louis de Montfort [Parish], and he’s now the pastor at Our Lady of Mount Carmel [Parish]. He married my wife and me. He’s been a big spiritual influence on me, someone who has helped me in my faith.”
 

Q. I’ve been told that your wife, Jill, is also deeply rooted in her faith.

A. “She’s a convert to the Church. Going to church, she saw a lot of loving, spiritual families. She said one day that she was going to RCIA [Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults]. She learned more and more how deeply rooted are the things we do in the Catholic Church, and the reasons behind them. The more she learned about it, the more she loved it.”
 

Q. What role does faith play in your marriage?

A. “It plays a huge role. We always try to keep God at the center of our life.

“Someone told me to think of our marriage as a triangle—with each of us on one side leading up to God. We’ve tried to keep faith as the most important thing for each other and as a couple. We pray every night as a family, and we go to Mass together. We feel if we make our faith life stronger, our family life will be even stronger.”
 

Q. What impact does being a father have on your faith?

A. “It just brings so much more love into your life. You realize the importance of faith in your life, and you want that for your children. You realize your duty to raise your children in your faith. It takes your faith to the next level. You’re not just worried about you or your spouse. You’re worried about your children as well.”
 

Q. Talk about your involvement in the men’s group at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish.

A. “It’s called ‘This Man is You.’ It’s all about what it means to lead your household. We meet on Monday mornings at 6:30. That can be tough after a game on Sunday, but once you’re there, you get fired up. There were 150 guys there. You talk about your faith and your family. You realize they’re more important than football.”
 

Q. You were recently involved in a fundraiser to fight homelessness. What are some of the ways you try to make a difference in the community?

A. “My wife and I got involved in tackling homelessness to help the Horizon House downtown. I really like to talk to kids at the middle school level. And I go to Riley Hospital to sing Christmas carols to the kids. That’s something the Colts are good at organizing. I think it’s our duty to give back to the community.”
 

Q. Another way you give back is by leading a sports camp at St. Louis de Montfort Parish. Talk about that.

A. “We do it every February inside. It’s both a football and basketball camp, because I’ve played both. We have about 60 to 70 kids there. A lot of parents and high school students volunteer. It’s a great day. St. Louis de Montfort has been instrumental in my life. It’s a way to give back to the Church and the community that raised me.”
 

Q. On game days, do you still get the time to attend Mass?

A. “There’s a Mass and a chapel service in the hotel the night before the game. That’s really cool. It’s something I’m very happy for during the season. It would be tough if you couldn’t get to Mass for the 16 or 17 Sundays during the season.”
 

Q. Your wife uses the phrase, “Blessed beyond words,” to describe herself on her Twitter account. Do those words seem to describe your life at this point?

A. “I have a loving wife, and she’s so unselfish. And we have two beautiful children. God really has given our family many blessings. It’s something to be thankful for every day.” †