BROOKLYN, N.Y. (CNS) -- Tiny Nicoletta Veronica Piazza was welcomed into the Catholic faith by a Brooklyn bishop who baptized her June 21 in Brooklyn's St. James Cathedral Basilica.
Auxiliary Bishop Ignatius A. Catanello christened the first child of Alicia and possible future Hall of Famer Mike Piazza on the day before the Oakland Athletics began a three-game interleague series with the Mets at Shea Stadium.
Piazza, a 12-time All-Star and Oakland's designated hitter until he sustained a shoulder injury that put him on the disabled list, is fondly remembered as a hero to Mets fans for his eight years of stardom as the team's popular catcher and slugger.
Bishop Catanello, a longtime friend of the ballplayer who witnessed the marriage of the Piazzas in St. Jude's Church in Miami in 2005, administered the sacrament, assisted by Msgr. John J. Strynkowski, St. James' rector.
The bishop said the Piazzas sought permission to have the christening at St. James after seeing pictures of the cathedral, its stained glass windows and Stations of the Cross on the Web site of the Brooklyn Diocese and becoming impressed as well with its historic status as the first Catholic church on Long Island.
Attending the 11 a.m. ceremony were a small group of family and friends, including the athlete's parents, Vince and Veronica Piazza. Nicoletta is their first grandchild. Mike's brother, Vincent, and Alicia's friend, Loren Ridinger, were the godparents.
After the baptism, the bishop said, "Mike told me how happy he was to have his daughter in the fold and said he had every intention of seeing that she's brought up in the faith. He described the baptism as a powerful and moving event in his life."
Nicoletta was born Feb. 3 at New York University Medical Center. The family lives in Manhattan.
Piazza is one of the major league players featured in "Champions of Faith," a recently released DVD, produced by Tom Allen of Catholic Exchange, in which baseball stars reveal how their faith has guided and strengthened their careers.
Bishop Catanello, who invited guests to an advance screening of the video in March at Holy Family Parish in Flushing where he resides, called the video a "nine-inning faith classic."
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