Rochester, MN
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The following is the first story in a series that comes to us from team leader Dr. Deb with our team in Owatonna, MN:
What a blessing-filled day! We expected the normal 90+ degrees, but had a lovely sunny day in the 70s. Tom, Madonna, and I were joined by Bp. Barron, Fr. Sauer, Brian from the diocese, and Maureen from Word on Fire. We gathered by the water fountains and set up our Prayer Station sign. We also had an Ask a Priest and Ask the Bishop sign. Almost as soon as the Bishop came out, a woman (Gail) saw our prayer sign and hurried over. Her brother, James, was dying in the hospital and she’d just stepped out for a bit. She told us what a wonderful man he is and only in his late 40s. She was helping his two daughters navigate the medical system and end-of-life issues. Bishop Barron prayed for her, her nieces, and her brother and gave her a blessing.
Life had taken the next man we met on quite a journey. He stopped to talk to Bishop Barron and shared his story of attending and graduating with a Theological degree from a Protestant college. He didn’t go forward with ordination, because something just didn’t feel right. After that, he investigated the Orthodox Church and was a member there for 12 years. After that, he became Catholic and is working in prison ministry. He also plans on starting a men’s ministry that includes street evangelization.
A Florida man (Jay) was in town for medical appointments, and was walking by talking to his wife on the phone when he looked up and said to her in a shocked voice, “I think I see Bishop Barron”. He shared that on the flight to Minnesota, he’d been listening to the bishop on Word on Fire. He was wearing a shirt that said, “Into the Storm”. A farmer friend told him that the saying came from the behavior of buffalo. When a big storm hit, instead of running from it, they’d head into the storm and that’d get them through it faster. Jay told us whenever he’s going through a rough time, he remembers to try not to run from it but to go into the storm to get through it faster. He took a blessed medal and was so grateful to receive a blessing from the Bishop. Continued prayers for the management of his genetic disorder.
Praised be Jesus Christ!