Downers Grove, IL
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This story comes to us from team captain Nick and station leader Rachel with our team in Joliet, IL:
Nick:
Once again, our team evangelized at Rotary GroveFest. For the second year in a row, the Knights of Columbus helped us get a booth for all three days of the festival! Although I could only stay a short time this year, my son was able to untangle some rosaries and pass those out to other kids, and also connect some chains and medals for passersby. I engaged in a few conversations, as one of our evangelists was in front of the booth, and I was behind. After they spoke with our person in front, they came to me, where I prayed with a few people. One of them was a nurse preparing for her exam. We prayed together that all would go well. She was very thankful for us being there, and said she was a practicing Catholic to our other evangelist. It was great encouraging her!
Rachel:
The two most powerful encounters that I can’t stop thinking about were actually with toddlers. One little girl was drawn to look at the picture of Mary on our sandwich board. Later that same day, a little boy was passing by with his mom and wanted to stop to look at the picture of Jesus on our sandwich board. She pulled him a few feet away, and he shrieked loudly and ran back to look at Jesus for a few more seconds before continuing on. Both of these moments were very brief, but I was touched by how our sandwich board was bringing truth at the eye level of even the smallest visitors. While we don’t get into deep conversations with unaccompanied minors, that’s who makes up the bulk of our visitors at GroveFest, including many not even in their teens yet. Many of these were drawn to the Holy Face of Jesus, which we paired with the “O Come Let Us Adore Him” Eucharist cards that briefly share the kerygma and invite visitors to try out Eucharistic adoration. One boy, maybe 12 or 13, very sincerely asked for a Bible. I saw many other children who were with their families look interested in what we were offering, even though their parents kept walking.
Praised be Jesus Christ!