Kobe Bryant and daughter Gianna
reportedly attended Catholic mass and
prayed together at their local church hours
before they both passed away in the tragic
helicopter crash.
The NBA star and his daughter attended
the 7am service at the Our Lady Queen of
Angels church in Newport Beach. Shortly
after, they boarded the helicopter which
crashed into a hillside, killing all nine
onboard.
A spokesman for Our Lady Queen of
Angels has reported that Kobe was at the
morning service on Sunday. The NBA
legend reportedly sat at the back of the
service, received communion and left early
to avoid disturbing fellow parishioners.
The service was held by Father Anthony
Vu, a Vietnamese parochial vicar at the
church.
Julie Hermes of Our Lady Queen of Angels
Catholic Church, confirmed to The Daily
Mail: “He attended the 7am mass prior to
going to the Orange County John Wayne
Airport. I imagine he went straight to the
airport, because the mass was 7-8am. I’m
told generally 7am was his mass.
“He was very discreet. He would come in
and stay at the back, and his family too,
and then he would usually leave a little
earlier prior to the very end of the service.
He was very much loved at the church, and
he was very devout, very dedicated to his
faith.”
Mourners gather outside the Staples Center in Los
Angeles on Sunday following Kobe Bryant’s
death. Monica Almeida/Reuters
Bishop Timothy Freyer of the Orange
Diocese posted on Facebook: “Our hearts
remain heavy after the tragic loss suffered
in the wake of yesterday’s helicopter crash
in Calabasas. We pray and mourn for the
friends and family of the victims who have
been publicly identified in news reports:
Basketball icon Kobe Bryant and his
daughter, Gianna. Orange Coast College
baseball coach John Altobelli and his wife,
Keri, and daughter, Alyssa. Basketball
coach Christina Mauser and pilot Ara
Zobayan.”
He added, “Kobe was a basketball icon who
inspired us through his words and actions
to set our goals, work hard and achieve our
dreams.
“He was a committed Catholic who loved
his family and loved his faith. A longtime
Orange County resident and parishioner in
our Diocese, Kobe would frequently attend
Mass and sit in the back of the church so
that his presence would not distract people
from focusing on Christ’s Presence.”
He concluded saying, “Please join me in
praying for the victims. May God grant
their loved ones peace and bring them
comfort during these difficult times.”
Meanwhile, Los Angeles Archbishop Jose
H Gomez tweeted, “So very sad to hear the
news of #KobeBryant’s tragic death this
morning. I am praying for him and his
family. May he rest in peace and may our
Blessed Mother Mary bring comfort to his
loved ones. #KobeBryantRIP.
“There can be nothing more consoling to
those who mourn than to know that a loved
one worshipped God just before his death
because worshiping God is what heaven
is.”
Kobe was raised a Catholic by his family
and has credited his faith for getting him
through bleak times in his life.
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