Jockey Lot July 16, 2023
Brian who is an army vet who said he enjoyed going to that chapel on Sundays while he was in the military to get away. He was born Baptist and is now non-denominational. He seemed a bit drunk or hung over. He said because of his positive interaction with a Catholic army chaplain he was always interested in Catholics. He didn't stay long to talk, but took a Rosary and the pamphlets "How to Pray the Rosary" and "Why Be Catholic".
A hispanic man named Jose Rodriguez spoke with Ernesto for quite some time and was very passionate about what he had to say. He carried some small tracts that looked like invitations to a church service so he himself was an evangelist for this church. While he was trying to debate with Ernesto a hispanic man took a Rosary and the pamphlet "How to Pray the Rosary". Also, Gloria from Gainesville, GA who is Catholic stopped and took a Rosary, a "My Daily Prayer" booklet, and a "Divine Mercy Chaplet" pamphlet. Ernesto had to relate his conversation with Jose to me after it was done: "At about 9:15 am, Mr. Jose Rodriguez approached our table with a loud voice and without questions or interest in what we were doing. He said we were wrong in having images in our pamphlets. He refused to stay on subject for any length of time but kept bringing up apparently infinite accusations against the Catholic Church. To him the Holy Mass is wrong because everyone who goes to Mass commits sins. I asked him if Jesus ordered us to attend Mass? He said no and was hard to pin down, but when I talked about Jesus saying eat my body, do it in my memory, he grudgingly accepted but continued his shot gun evangelization. I asked if he believed in confession, after unwillingly reading John 20:21-23, he still did not accept that ordained priests could forgive. I told him he was against the Bible if he was dividing and separating from God's Church as Jesus gave us one Church and insisted we stay united. Eventually we all prayed together in the middle of the encounter. Then after about 1/2 hour Jose had to go. We never know, just as today's Gospel reading recounts, whether the seed fell on good soil."
A Hispanic couple, Mateo Cruz and Natalia Gonzalez, who are Catholic took a Rosary, a "How to Pray the Rosary" pamphlet, a "Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Truth" booklet, and a "Why be Catholic". They did not admit it, but it seemed they had been away from the Church for sometime. They asked about where to go to Mass and we were able to direct them to San Sebastian's.
Jim and Gail, who are non-denominational Christians said they are very accepting of all Christians but do not believe in confessing to priests because that person can be sinful. I gave them the pamphlet on Confession. I explained how I came to believe in Confession as a non-denominational Christian. I said it is hard to believe God can use sinful people, but he did. No Christian argues that He chose his disciples, as sinful as they were, to spread his teachings. John 20:21-23 is clear that he also gave them the power to forgive sins. In the end we prayed together holding hands, thanking God for sending his Son to be an example of holiness for us, that the Holy Spirit would convict all Christians who do not live as Jesus commanded to repent of their sins so they could truly be a light to the nations and good examples.
Jimmy Brown from Anderson who is an ex-baptist, non-denominational Christian. He said he wanted to hear us and is open to searching all Christian interpretations. He eventually asked about what I said to Jim and Gail. I was able to explain to him in more depth about the biblical foundation for Confession and how I personally accepted it when I was also a non-denominational Christian. We also talked about abortion, the meaning of human sexuality, and how to end it. He talked long about his ability to discern the course of a person's life based on their foundation and believes his mission is helping people find the truth and peace with God. He took a book entitled "Did Jesus Rise from the Dead?" and a pamphlet on Confession and Abortion. We prayed together holding hands.
A Hispanic mother with her two children came by taking a crucifix and some pamphlets. They were not practicing Catholics. We then met Wayne who is not Catholic but knows some catholics personally. He took a crucifix, some Rosaries, and a St. Jude medal. Finally we met a woman, who was very encouraged by what we were doing. She is a practicing Catholic who works in Washington DC in the Pentagon (active Air Force) and was here visiting for a short time. She left us some prayer cards for pregnant mothers. We asked if her friend was Catholic and she said she is working on her. We gave her a pamphlet "Why be Catholic" and a "Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Truth" booklet for her friend.