Philadelphia, PA
Click here to find a team or start one of your own!
The following report comes to us from team leader Nancy with our team in Lower Bucks County, PA:
Last weekend Aggie, Deacon Mark, Dan K., and I went downtown near the Cathedral of SS Peter and Paul. At the cathedral there was a graduation Mass for the young ladies from Villa Joseph Marie High School. Two members of the team were set up on the sidewalk next to Sister Cities Park and then the other two were tasked with walking around and meeting people they passed. We traded off positions after about an hour. The two teams met and prayed with many people and gave out over 70 sacramentals and rosaries. We had red, white and blue rosaries from SPSE with Our Lady’s Rosary Makers insignia on the crucifix, which are wonderful sacramentals to offer to people in Philadelphia in celebration of our nation’s upcoming 250th birthday! The graduates especially liked getting these and we reminded them to pray with them, as all good Catholic school girls know.
Early on a young man passing by, when asked if he’d like a free blessed medal or a prayer, noted that he was never going to die as he smirked and passed by. That comment brought thought to the team that we and many go through life thinking this for a good bit of it. It really is such foolishness as we know that our mortal lives are for a short time and then we will all meet God. Another frequent comment heard is “oh I’m ok” when a person is offered a prayer or a medal or a rosary. Are we really? Life goes on day in and day out and time is fleeting, imagine “living without faith, without hope and peace in the promises of Jesus for one day, let alone weeks, months or the nightmare of years. This really reminds us of why we are out on the street trying to help people and invite people to think about God, to consider praying to Him with us, to remind of the importance of worshiping Him, to remember to honor His Holy Lord’s day.
Tariq and Kayla, visitors from out of state, stopped to pray with us. We prayed for their safe visit and travels and for God to guide them in life. A young Asian woman stopped to pray, she asked for prayers for a position she was hoping to get for work. Her name happened to be Nancy also. Shamika prayed with the team especially for the intercession of St. Joseph, to get a part time job as a warehouse associate. We spoke of how the Lord loves for us to be good workers and that we knew He would hear and answer our prayers if she did her part of looking for the job. We asked if she wanted help making a resume but she said she didn’t think that the job needed it.
Praised be Jesus Christ!