For Father Seán Connolly, running the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon was an opportunity to reconnect with a longtime passion, challenge himself physically and spiritually, and support an organization whose work he has witnessed firsthand.
A priest of the Archdiocese of New York for 11 years, Father Connolly is now pastor of St. Margaret of Corona–St. Gabriel Parish in Riverdale. Throughout his ministry, he has seen the impact of Catholic Charities of New York, having partnered with the organization to host pop-up food distributions at both his former parish in Manhattan’s East Village and his current parish in the Bronx.
“To see the Catholic Charities team come up on a designated day and just distribute so many meals to so many families, it’s a beautiful thing to see,” he said. “I know it’s a great help to all of those families.”
When Connolly decided to return to long-distance running, participating in the New York City Marathon became a personal goal, but he also wanted to connect the months of training to a cause that would keep him motivated.
His preparation brought him back to familiar ground. As a student at Fordham Preparatory School in the Bronx, Connolly spent four years running cross-country and training in Van Cortlandt Park, just a mile from the parish he serves.
“It was really wonderful for me because I got to retrace those footsteps of my high school years, running the same trails,” he said.
The months of preparation also taught him a lesson about perseverance.
“The hardest part about the marathon is not getting to the finish line, but it’s getting to the starting line,” he said.
“It’s all the training when no one’s watching, all the months in advance,” said Connolly. That requires the most discipline and the most work. “I don’t let any suffering go to waste I offer up every run as a prayer, as a sacrifice, as a form of penance. I made every workout a prayer.”
He spoke about the importance of helping parents provide for their children through his fundraising efforts, particularly as the rising cost of everyday necessities places additional pressure on families.
“The Catholic Church has always been a supporter of the family, and we refer to the family as the domestic or the local church,” he said. “The Church Universal, society at large, will only be healthy and strong if the families are healthy and strong.”
Through their participation in the 2026 Marathon, runners for Catholic Charities of New York raised a record-breaking total of over $135,000. Much of the money will support efforts to provide food to families, including much-needed Thanksgiving meals later in the month.
Connolly has a message for anyone considering getting involved in their community or supporting a cause close to their heart: “Do not wait for tomorrow. If you have that thought come into your mind, how can I do positive good to make the world better? I really think it’s an inspiration of the Holy Spirit. I would say act on it.”
He encourages people to start by getting involved in their local parishes, asking how they can support the Church’s mission and serve their neighbors.
Reflecting on race day, Connolly recalled the energy of New Yorkers who lined the streets to cheer on runners and support one another.
“New York is truly the greatest city in the world,” he said. “It was a city coming together just to support one another and celebrate each other. And it was all worth it, you know, 10 times.”
He returned to the central message of the Christian faith as he reflected on the experience
“Christ our God says to us, ‘A new commandment I give you: love one another as I have loved you.’ And they will know you are my disciples by your love,” he said. “I think Catholic Charities provides opportunities for us to be an instrument in the Lord’s hand, to show that love, to be that love of God in the world.”
What began as Connolly’s personal goal brought him back to familiar trails, challenged his discipline, and connected his love of running with his commitment to serving others.
