By Reagan Scott
for the Register
Looking to capitalize on the sporting craze sweeping the nation, Chad Trofholz, a member of St. Peter Parish in Lincoln, started a pickleball ministry last year to build fellowship in a low-pressure, fun environment.
Pickleball is a paddle sport known for being accessible to a wide range of ages and skill levels. It combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis, and is played on a small court with a modified tennis net. Players use solid paddles to hit a perforated plastic ball over the net in either singles or doubles matches.
Trofholz said the idea for a parish pickleball club came about after several years of participating in the parish’s basketball ministry.
“I had discovered that as I got older, my skill set for basketball was declining and pickleball ran at a much more suitable speed for myself,” he said. He met with Father Clark about what would need to happen “and he set me in the right direction.”
While the group met once a week last year, Trofholz determined that hosting the ministry every other week has been the best way to engage more participants.
Members get together to play on Sundays at 3 p.m. at the St. Peter School gym, where Trofholz has taped pickleball court boundaries on the floor. This way, the group will be able to meet throughout the winter. After getting together Oct.19, the group’s next meeting will be Sunday, Nov. 2.
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SNR photos | Cathy Blankenau Bender
Last year, the club collected free-will donations at its weekly matches and raised enough money to have equipment available for everyone, so that there wouldn’t be any deterrent to participation.
Trofholz said instruction is provided to attendees, and all skill levels are welcome.
“We have one court assigned for beginners who are still getting their lay of the land and another court for members who have more experience and play the game at a faster pace,” Trofholz said.
So far, at least 20 people have responded to the ministry announcement in the St. Peter bulletin this year, and Trofholz is hopeful that word-of-mouth promotion will help the group’s numbers increase as well.
Bailey Frey, the director of discipleship and communications for St. Peter Parish, said the parish wanted to bring the pickleball ministry back for a second year because St. Peter Parish is trying to focus on “relational outreach” events, which is a term used by Jim Jansen, the author of “A Clear Path to Discipleship.”
Frey said relational outreach events or ministries are those that serve as an entry point for inactive parishioners, non-Catholics or non-Christians. She said these individuals may be in the thresholds of pre-trust, trust or openness in their walk of discipleship.
“They are also events or ministries that serve as an active bridge to further someone’s walk in discipleship to a ‘conversion moment,’” Frey said. “Activities like pickleball are a great way to invite someone into the community who has little to no interest in something directly faith related.”
Ultimately, what Frey and Trofholz want for the ministry is to see it serve as a bridge for community to those on the outskirts, not just operate as a “family reunion” for existing members. They truly seek and hope to include all, and to have fun while doing it.
Anyone interested in participating can email Trofholz at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
