Detroit, MI

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

During most evangelization outings, it’s just me and one, maybe two more evangelists. This week, however, I was thrilled to have four more evangelists (Anne, Bill, Carol, and Denise) join me. After a few minutes, I suggested that we break up into two groups to cover more ground and avoid overcrowding one corner. Bill, Denise, and I stayed at the main corner while Anne and Carol walked down Russell Street.

Almost immediately, one woman looked at our wagon from a distance and approached us. She said that she was raised Roman Catholic but married a Ukrainian man and now goes to an Eastern Rite church. I’ve been to her church once before and commented on its beauty and the history of the Eastern churches. After some camaraderie, she told us that her sister-in-law recently died after a difficult struggle with cervical cancer. She leaves behind a husband and a special needs son. We sympathized with her grief and prayed out loud for the repose of her sister-in-law and consolation for the family.

Two women passed us and one briefly stopped, glanced at our rosaries, then approached. I noticed that she wore a large Our Lady of Guadalupe medal around her neck and complimented her on that. Both of the women said that they are devout Catholics but asked for rosaries for their children. I offered them instructional pamphlets but they declined, saying their children already know.

Carol offered rosaries to a young couple. The young man was hesitant at first, questioning her intentions, but Carol explained that she was just encouraging people to pray. The young man accepted the rosary and kissed it. He explained that they are Chaldean and recently engaged. They went on to talk about holy matrimony, Gen Z joining the Catholic Church, and much more. In the end, Anne prayed out for the couple, for their engagement and future family.

We approached and started conversations with dozens of people but it seems that only devout Catholics were willing to stop and talk to us this outing. Regardless, even the most devout Catholics need to be encouraged in their faith.