• St. Raphael team leader
• Started with SPSE Sept 2019 •
Sharon just started her team last fall and has one other team member. Currently she is concentrating efforts at her parish, St Raphael in Crystal, Minnesota. Their first outing was the parish Christmas Village in December. For now, team outings will depend upon parish activities where the ministry fits in. Sharon plans to have a booth at their parish “Hospitality Sunday” in February 2020 and the parish festival in August.
– What motivates you to evangelize?
I have long had a desire to evangelize, to save souls, to convert people. I am a normally reserved person, so my ambition is larger than my comfort zone. I thought having a parish team would allow me to evangelize in my second home, as I volunteer often at my parish. I hope by handing out Catholic articles at parish events, I can help keep people Catholic by strengthening their faith and also prompt the interest of non-Catholics who may be at the events.
– How does prayer impact evangelization?
My desire to evangelize/convert/revert and my prayer life are very much entwined. Like most practicing Catholics, I have many family members who are not practicing. I pray Liturgy of Hours as part of my secular Carmelite life. Almost daily, either during Morning or Evening Prayer, I pray to keep family members (including extended-cousins, aunts, uncles, spouses and boyfriend/girlfriends of family members) Catholic, draw back those who have strayed from the faith, and bring into the Church those who have never been Catholic. In the past, I have tried to evangelize family members with words. I now concentrate on praying and when I am with my extended family, I strive to be the best example I can of a Catholic who loves the faith.
– What are your personal plans for 2020?
Please pray for my son, Paul. He is a transitional deacon for the Archdiocese of St Paul-Minneapolis and will likely be ordained in May 2020. My grandmother wanted my father to become a priest so I hope God will allow her a glimpse of the ordination Mass from wherever her soul is, be it Heaven or purgatory.