Last weekend Nancy, Aggie, Deacon Mark and Dan K. went out in downtown Philadelphia 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, which is located in Lower Bucks County. Two members of the team were set up on the sidewalk next to twin sisters 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 St. Paul Street Evangelization with Our Lady's Rosary Makers insignia on the crucifix, which are a wonderful sacramental 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.

Walking down the parkway towards the Philadelphia Art Museum Nancy and Aggie met a man who originally came to Philadelphia from California. This was a coincidence as Aggie came from Cali too, ten years ago. The man's name was Philip but he was called Philly. He noted how funny it was that here his nickname is Philly and now he lives in Philly. 🙂 Philly was very moved that we were concerned about people knowing Jesus, knowing the Catholic Church, and that we were doing street evangelization. He said he loved the Catholic Church. Philly had lost all of his father figures in his life, the last one 3 weeks ago. They were Harry, David and Allen, father, grandfather and ex father in law. We prayed for the repose of their souls and for Philly to be guided by them and their love for him. Philip told us that we did not just make his day, we made his life. We told him that he built us up in our mission and that we loved to hear about him and truly hoped to meet him again.

Also on the way down the parkway, the team met a woman named Heather who was also a street evangelist. She noted that she had recently been speaking with the Jehovah's witnesses down the street. She said that they were very nice but she did not like the divisions between different types of Christians. We agreed that we did not think that division among Christians was something that Jesus likes. Heather explained that she is autistic and has some difficulties communicating and that she hoped we knew that all she wants is for everyone to know that Jesus is the only way to heaven and that once she was lost and that sin separates us from God and that we need to tell people that we meet about this. She gave us an envelope with her materials that she shares with others. It is a beautiful pamphlet pretty much summing up the Kerygma along with a couple of dollars and sweet handwritten notes. She noted that she lives at a Project Home location nearby and tries to save her money so she can make her evangelization materials. She was not open to coming to our church to see it, but perhaps another time she will consider taking a look. Aggie noted that perhaps she had been hurt by others in a church setting in the past.

Please consider praying for these intentions also. God bless you!

Heather - for her evangelization ministry and for her to come to know and love Jesus in the Catholic Church
Philly - for his wellness and for the repose of Harry, David and Allen
Raquel - to find a home
Drew - for his good health and his life
Shamika - to find a good part time job preferably warehouse associate
Chris - for his life and his girlfriend Morgan
Nancy - for a new position to work out
Maxwell and Dino - for peace and sovereignty over their lives, under God
Gary - for his good health
Tariq and Kayla - for their travels and safety and life choices
Robert - seeking God's guidance for life and for the welfare of all those in Philadelphia
Edie - for her son who is bipolar and struggling
Elijah - for focus on his life and choices for his good, for a home
Walt - a former Jehovah's witness / homeless, for a home for his life in Christ and His Church