Detroit, MI:
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This report comes from team leader Mark with the Eastern Market SPSE team in Detroit, MI:
Bob and I recently returned to Eastern Market on a hot and sunny Saturday morning. Charlie, who is studying to be a permanent deacon, joined us for some of his summer ministry training.
We had a dozen good conversations but the best might have been at the end of the outing. While we were starting to break down our table, a butcher from the nearby meat market saw me handling rosaries and approached our table. He asked for a black Rosary so I gave him one as well the How to Pray the Rosary pamphlet. Bob asked the man if he’s Catholic and he said yes, he’s Chaldean. Bob asked him when was the last time he went to Confession (a common question when he evangelizes Catholics) and the man said its been a very long time. He repeated the common, Protestant claim that he can just confess directly to God.
We gave him multiple reasons based on Scripture, Church law, and personal experience why he should go to Confession. We told him that its a requirement for Catholics to have a sacramental Confession to a priest at least once a year and I talked about how frequent Confession has brought peace in my life. We also reference Bible verses that talk about Confession to another person, such as James 5, John 20, and more. In the end, he accepted a Confession pamphlet, the Rosary, and said he would talk to his parish priest.
Praised be Jesus Christ!