Well the Berkeley team was back at it. We went to the newly refurbished plaza at the Shattuck Avenue BART Station. This are always waves of people coming up the escalators from the underground station to make their way to where they are going. A girls scout troupe was selling cookies on the opposite side of the entrance from us. There are many other walkers going to shops. There are the those who live in half-way houses and the homeless. Then there are the young men who congregate with their bikes in much same way I did when I was 10 years old. This is an area where you can count on somebody approaching you about some cause or a talk being given by a thought leader or an upcoming cultural or music event. As a result, many of the walkers wear protective gear such as sunglasses and ear buds to make themselves less approachable. We just act as if those shields are not there and ask them if people would like a free Rosary or prayer card. I personally gave out about three of the daily prayer cards. Together we probably gave out about 20 Rosaries. We started our session with sprinkling of holy salt around the table and a prayer to St. Paul.

Here are some stories-

David-
One young man returned after refusing a Rosary. He decided to accept one and immediately tried to put it on while thanking us for what we were doing. I started instructing him about the proper use of a Rosary and he asked, “What if you see people putting this on even when you tell them not to?” I told him, “I can’t control what people do with it once they leave, but if they
are walking around with an image of Jesus right in the middle of their chest for the whole world to see, I am happy with that.”

I offered a Rosary to a young man on a bike. He mumbled something as he took the beads from me. I asked him to repeat himself. He told me more boldly that he is an atheist. I immediately asked him if he had ever considered becoming Catholic. He was a little surprised by this question and then proceeded to very demonstrably dropped the beads into the front of his pants. This attempt to shock did not phase me. He then proceeded to challenge me on staying in a church that was going to collapse under the weight of the sexual abuse scandal. I asked him if he considered himself an open-minded person. He defensively told me yes and countered with are you?! I said yes and made sure I was standing shoulder to shoulder next to him looking forward to avoid being physically confrontational and asked my next question. I asked, “Would it stand to reason, that the percent of priests who abuse is the same as the percent of men in the general population who abuse?” (knowing full well that it is actually lower for priests. He responded from a confident slouched position that it was a far higher percentage with priests than the rest of the population. Being the open-minded person that I am, I said, “Really. I would like to see the data you have to support that.” He started pulling away on his bike and gave me his email address so I could email him and get this information. I have emailed him and am waiting for his response. This guy needs your prayers and fasting. Add him to your list.

I met a young father who was with his very cute little 5-year-old son who said he was searching for a faith and a church. In addition to the Rosary and a Rosary manual I have him, The Good News and Why Be Catholic. We visited for a while and his wife came up. They then walked off together with their boy discussing church.

Some people who do not stop immediately start talking about the church or God after they pass. Our presence offered an intersection in their conversation to take a turn toward Go
I met another gentleman who said no to the Rosary but then did a u-turn and told my his granddaughter would love a pink one. I gave him a pink one and a manual. Go evangelize grandpa.

Tracy-

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