St. Paul Street Evangelization

"We Were Just Talking About This"

This report comes from team leader Mark with our Eastern Market SPSE team in Detroit, Michigan:

Eric and I returned to the farmer's market on a sunny and mild Saturday morning in late September. Traffic at the market was lower than usual, and we got off to a slow start, though there were still plenty of people to evangelize.

A street performer quickly approached our table. I immediately recognized him and remembered talking to him last year. Likewise, he remembered me and how we prayed together last time. His visit today was short but cordial, and it's good that he has a positive memory of us.

There were three separate times when someone either ignored or rejected our outreach but quickly changed their mind. A group of four young adults initially passed us, but then one of the women wanted a necklace with a medal and crucifix. Her interest convinced all of the others to follow. Later on, a middle-aged couple declined our offers, kept walking, but stopped and received prayer on their way back.

Near the end of the outing, I spotted a family of three passing by, and I addressed the father first. They kept walking for another couple of seconds until the teenage son turned around and came back to us. I offered him a free Rosary, and every family member accepted one. The father said, "We were just talking about this." I responded, "That's very providential; maybe that's a sign from God." They didn't respond to take but ended the conversation and walked away.

Pray for all of those we met last Saturday, especially those who rejected our outreach.

Blessed Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael!

A reading from the book of Revelation:

War broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon. The dragon and its angels fought back, but they did not prevail and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. The huge dragon, the ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, who deceived the whole world, was thrown down to earth, and its angels were thrown down with it.

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have salvation and power come, and the Kingdom of our God and the authority of his Anointed. For the accuser of our brothers is cast out, who accuses them before our God day and night. They conquered him by the Blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; love for life did not deter them from death. Therefore, rejoice, you heavens, and you who dwell in them."

- Revelation 12:7-12

Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, pray for us!

The Rosary, Eliminating Complications

The following report comes to us from team leader Lucy in Boise, Idaho:

Jesus remains the answer to life’s confusions. Thank you for praying for our Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A man in his early 30s stopped for a Rosary, though he was unfamiliar with the devotion. Raised Christian, he described his spiritual life as “complicated.” For years he had lived without much thought of God. Then, at 27, he realized he needed God in his life. He began reading the Bible and admiring the way Christians lived. As he told us about the changes he had made, his face lit up. I explained how praying the Rosary could help him come to know Jesus and His love. He said he would try.

Another man, wearing a “God’s Plan” T-shirt, returned to our table after hearing the offer of a Rosary. “I really needed this,” he said. He admitted that he hadn’t been a great Catholic lately, but he had begun praying daily. He believed the Rosary would help him continue drawing closer to God.

Several families and groups of young people also stopped. Four teenage girls were delighted by the Rosaries and listened attentively as we spoke about prayer and meditation on the life of Christ. Of four teenage boys who visited, two were eager to learn about the devotion. Another, though cautious, took a booklet so he could learn more.

On a beautiful Sunday afternoon, the two evangelists gave away about 25–30 Rosaries with instructions for praying them. Please pray that those who received them will come to know Jesus more deeply, and that God will prepare the hearts of those we meet next.

Thank you for your prayers and support. May God bless you and all those you love.

Blessed Memorial of St. Wenceslaus!

St. Wenceslaus, also known as St. Vaclav, was born in 907. He was the son of Vratislaus, the Duke of Bohemia, and Wenceslaus was 13 years old when his father died. St. Wenceslaus was subsequently raised by his grandmother, St. Ludmila, and took a vow of celibacy. St. Wenceslaus gained control of the duchy in 925 before his martyrdom on September 28, 935, by his brother Boleslaw. Wenceslaus was buried at the site of his murder. Three years later, Boleslaw repented and moved the relics of St. Wenceslaus to the Church of St. Vitus. Today, St. Wenceslaus is recognized as the patron of both Prague and the Czech Republic. (source: New Advent)

St. Wenceslaus, pray for us!

Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew:

Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people: "What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, 'Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.' He said in reply, 'I will not,' but afterwards changed his mind and went. The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, 'Yes, sir, 'but did not go. Which of the two did his father's will?" They answered, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw that, you did not later change your minds and believe him."

- Matthew 21:28-32

Church in Prison

The following story comes to us from team leader Anne with our new Detroit Criminal Justice Center team in Detroit, Michigan:

Each time we enter the jail, we know we're evangelizing even before we enter the pod where the inmates stay. We have brief encounters with the guard who signs us in and runs our belongings through the x-ray machine, and then the guard that sits behind glass and speaks to us through a microphone.

She (or sometimes he) makes sure we are on the Chaplain's list of people who are scheduled for that day. Our pod is then assigned. We then wait for our third guard to walk us to the pod. This is quite a long walk with many doors that are opened remotely by others or opened with a key on the guard's belt.

Finally, we reach the pod after an elevator ride. We have the most time with this third guard (due to the length of the walk) and then he or she stays with us for our time in the pod. We learn a little about the inmates in the pod and the jail in general as we chat. Once in the pod, this third guard helps summon inmates to our "church". He or she listens as we introduce ourselves, lead the inmates in a song of joyful praise, preach the Good News of Jesus, and share the Gospel.

He or she stands very close watching over the situation as we conclude our visit by praying for each inmate who desires individual prayer. Before you know it, our time with the inmates (about an hour) is over. We always offer to pray with the third guard before he or she drops us off back at the door. Often, the answer is yes. All the guards have always been very kind to us and are appreciative that we've come to visit.

Praised be Jesus Christ!