Posted on 01/27/2020 10:00:55 PM PST by rintintin
Most of the world knew Kobe Bryant as a basketball player with a combination of exceptional talent and tenacious desire, a calculating and cold-blooded scoring machine with no fear on the court.
At Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Newport Beach, he was a loving father of four daughters who shared the sweet joy of cupcakes.
Bryant attended Mass regularly at the church, including on Sunday at 7 a.m., about two hours before the Lakers star, his 13-year-old daughter and seven others were killed in a helicopter crash about 70 miles to the northwest in Calabasas.
"He will be missed -- his spirit, his joy, his smile," said parishioner Rosemary Egkan.
On Monday morning, church members gathered to pray for families of the helicopter crash victims. Flowers, candles, signs and other items were left outside the church in memory of the Lakers' all-time leading scorer.
(Excerpt) Read more at nbclosangeles.com ...
my family and I were at the church late today to say a prayer for kobe, family and the vcitims... we wanted to light a candle but they were all lit this evening.
Pretty incredible that he got to receive Holy Communion a few hours before dying.
Praying that all funeral and memorial arrangements — especially those open to the public — will put his Catholic faith front and center.
My mother rented a place at the beach a block from there several summers. That’s the church we attended.
He and his daughter were not just at any mass. But the 7AM early morning one. That says a lot about his commitment. And he was also known to attend WEEKDAY masses.
I’m sure his childhood upbringing in Italy also had something to do with it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.