Metuchen, NJ
Click here to find a team or start one of your own!
This report comes to us from team leader Alpa with our Somerville-Immaculate Conception parish team in NJ:
Our team was invited to the craft fair at St. Francis Cathedral and we were excited for the opportunity! Ingrid, Michael, Albert and I were the evangelists at the table, and Carol, Carolyn, Edith and Mary Ellen were the off-site prayer warriors. Many people accepted rosaries and took pamphlets. It was a fruitful day of prayer and conversation. A few notable interactions:
We met a woman whose daughter attended the Cathedral grammar school. She spoke about how often her daughter attends Mass and how great she thought it was. When we asked “How about you?”, she admitted that she doesn’t always get to Sunday Mass, and sometimes her daughter wakes her up on Sundays to get to church. We laughed together and then spoke about the importance of Sunday Mass and she happily accepted a confession booklet.
We spoke to a firefighter who grew up in a devoutly Catholic home. He was very involved in his parish and did a lot of volunteer work and supported the parish. Unfortunately, he no longer attends church because he was hurt by actions of his pastor, and had grown hardened toward the institutional church. We apologized for the hurts inflicted on him and urged him to reconsider, and how we can’t let the actions of men keep us from our relationship with God.
A few people with whom we prayed requested prayers for healing for themselves, due to ongoing medical conditions and complications. One was a vendor who was so touched, she thanked us profusely, said she felt much better after the prayers and came back to give us a few of the items she had for sale at her booth.
We had so many other beautiful encounters that glorified God! What a gift it was for us to spend the day at the craft fair.
Praised be Jesus Christ!