With the upcoming clash between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII, two faith-based nonprofits are poised to benefit from a friendly wager between the Catholic bishops of the respective cities.
Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone of San Francisco and Bishop James V. Johnston of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Mo., have agreed to promptly fulfill the terms of the bet if their team loses. In the event of a Chiefs victory, Bishop Johnston will savor a meal of Dungeness crabs, while a 49ers triumph will see a Kansas City steak gracing Archbishop Cordileone’s plate.
Beyond the culinary stakes, both religious leaders have a higher purpose in mind: a donation to the local pro-life organization chosen by the winning bishop.
For Patti Lewis, a cardiology nurse and the founder of Alexandra’s House in Kansas City, a donation from the San Francisco archbishop following a Chiefs win would support the work of the perinatal hospice she established in 1997 in memory of her niece, who passed away at just 45 days old from a rare genetic disorder. The logo of Alexandra’s House, featuring a six-fingered handprint, symbolizes the individuality of each person.
Initially focused on providing care for families facing perinatal loss, Alexandra’s House has since broadened its mission to offer various forms of assistance to families dealing with miscarriages, stillbirths, fatal neonatal conditions, and high-risk pregnancies.
With a dedicated team of four physicians, a health care ethicist, and four parent advisors, Alexandra’s House operates round the clock, offering support in person, online, and over the phone to families and their terminally ill infants. The hospice provides counseling, support for parents and siblings, memorial services, care packages for hospitals, and even companionship during subsequent pregnancies.
Lewis is currently working to help families cover funeral expenses for their deceased children, recognizing the financial strain many families face due to factors like student debt, mortgages, and increased medical bills from complicated pregnancies. She emphasizes the importance of providing a dignified burial for these babies, offering swaddling clothes and small burial vessels with integrated vaults to address the practical needs of honoring these young lives.
In San Francisco, a victory for the 49ers would result in Bishop Johnston’s donation supporting nurse practitioner Dolores Meehan’s efforts at Bella Primary Care. Established in March 2022 after the closure of Seton Medical Center, the city’s last Catholic hospital, Bella Primary Care aims to fill the void in Catholic health care in the region.
Bella Primary Care, located six blocks from Planned Parenthood, offers a range of services including primary care, pediatrics, gynecology, pregnancy confirmation, and postpartum care—all aligned with Catholic teachings. The clinic also provides patient advocacy, house calls, infusion, and lab services, serving as a safety net for crisis pregnancies referred by sidewalk counselors.
Both Meehan and Lewis express gratitude for any potential donations resulting from the bishops’ bet, acknowledging that their missions are ultimately sustained by a higher power.