The 11th Annual CYO John Redmond Memorial Basketball Tournament will be held in Philadelphia at Girard College, Corinthian and Girard Avenue, on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 26th and 27th. The annual tournament is dedicated to the memory of John Redmond. On January 28, 1994, John, along with fellow Philadelphia firefighter, Vencent Acey, were killed fighting a Church fire in South Philadelphia.
Redmond gave his life, and spent his life, being a hero. In him, people witnessed first-hand the good that God can do through one faithful and humble servant.
Redmond was a CYO basketball coach at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in South Philadelphia. His passion and zeal on the court, however, never compromised the standard of respect and sportsmanship he demanded of his team. Redmond had a knack for dealing with young people, and was involved in every aspect of CYO.
The tournament was created to witness to the dedication and spirit of all coaches who minister to young people through athletics in the CYO. It is fitting that funds raised by this tournament assist the Athletic Ministry office in providing training for CYO coaches.
“It is with tremendous pride and respect that we speak of our association with John Redmond,” said Rosemary McGrory, who, along with her twin sister, Maryann, was active in the tournament planning. “This association began with our involvement in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish CYO in the late 1970s. We were fortunate to work with John on various CYO activities.”
Some of the activities included dances, car washes and athletic events, and according the the McGrory sisters, John was an excellent example for the youth of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
“He was an ordinary guy who lived his life as a man of God,” said Maryann McGrory. “[He was a] family man, a good neighbor and an active member of the community.”
“We knew John as a person who was always concerned for the well-being of all the people that he came in contact with. John left a lasting impression on us through his ability to deal with situations in a manner reflecting his deep Christian faith, through his character, through his personable demeanor and through his sense of humor.
“John showed us what a role model should be.”

Tournament prayer

Dear Lord, We live in a world where sports, competition and winning are emphasized daily. It is hard not to think of winning and competition as necessary to our happiness. Help us to see that unrestrained competition makes everyone our enemy, that winning at any cost destroys relationships, and that cooperation is necessary for a society that respects all people. We look to you for help in developing a healthy sense of fair play and justice. Amen.