Philadelphia, PA

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The following report comes to us from Nancy with our team in Lower Bucks County, PA:

Rich and I went downtown to Suburban Station in Philadelphia for a morning of street evangelization. It was the day before Good Shepherd Sunday and prayers for following where God would lead brought them to meet and pray and speak with many people.

A man named Frank asked for prayers for his job and for help with mental clarity. He noted that his thoughts caused him to be bothered and not settled. We prayed for Frank to have peace and hope of mind and heart through Jesus, the divine physician. Frank definitely was less distressed after the prayer. As we continued, we learned that he was raised Catholic but lacked real knowledge and faith. Frank explained that he didn’t know much about scriptures and Christianity and Jesus until he started attending a non-denominational church in Philadelphia. We told him that we understood. We noted the Holy Eucharist in our Church being a most important part of Catholicism, not present elsewhere and the nature of apostolic succession down to the Pope and bishops today. He understood but noted that he found community and welcome, attended Bible studies weekly, and he was even going to a Phillies game with his church that evening. He invited our team to come and see his church. Perhaps we will go and see and gather some ideas for how we might find ideas for our parish and our lives to be more welcoming to seekers.

We spoke with and prayed at length with two young men, Steven and Jeremy, who are battling addiction. We prayed for the soul of Steven’s grandma who had recently passed away and for his 4 year old daughter who is being raised by his mom. The young men spoke of how some people treat others like they’re trash. They noted how they think that God loves all of humankind, rich, poor, addicted, clean. Nancy asked what they thought about the possibility of coming to church and whether they thought finding Jesus in their lives might help them get off the streets and back to family life. Steven noted that the only people he has met who have been able to resist the draw of addiction had done it through faith. They prayed together for Jesus to heal them of their addictions and for them to be safe. They prayed for Steven to become a good father for his daughter. They shared their email and the team promised to contact them to see how they are doing.

Praised be Jesus Christ!