It was a glorious evening in Manville when Albert, Wilber, Mary Ann and I set up our booth for the annual Catholic festival. We were a little nervous as we didn't have official permission from the parish staff or clergy. Albert was able to talk to a deacon at the church, who texted the pastor. The pastor not only said yes to us, he came and led us to move our booth to a very prominent position in the fair! We are so grateful for their willingness to have us at their parish festival!

We had many many grace-filled encounters over our three hours at the festival. A few notable interactions:

A man was walking by and refused a rosary. I asked him very casually about his faith life. This opened up an extremely long conversation. He came from a family of very devout parents who fostered him as a child. He clearly loved and respected them. Because of that, he still continues to think of himself as Catholic, but he doesn't go to Mass. He has a lot of contempt for the clergy and what he feels is their lavish and hypocritical lifestyles, as well as for the institutional church. I commiserated with him about his encounters and then shared why I still choose to remain Catholic, and why I feel that there are a lot of holy and ascetical priests out there.  I offered to pray with him and he declined. As the conversation was wrapping up, he said "I will actually take this rosary" and reached for it out of my hands. It was a very positive conversation.

Two women walked by our table and took rosaries. When I spoke to them about their faith, they enthusiastically said that they both go to Mass every Sunday at this parish. It was a fun and lively conversation. I then asked about confession and offered a brochure about the sacrament, the one woman took it out of my hands and tossed it back on the table and said "I don't need that!" I shared with her that I go to confession frequently and she asked "Why?". I joked "Because I'm bad, just ask my husband." And she asked Albert, and Albert said "She's not bad, she's just a sinner like all of us." I then picked up the brochure and held it in my hands as I spoke to her about why I go to confession, why I find it so challenging to go and how wonderful I feel afterwards. She was smiling and very receptive throughout. When I held out the brochure again, she took it as she walked away thanking us and still smiling.

We spoke to a young family who had just moved into the area.. When I asked if they were Catholic, they gave me a very emphatic YES.  When I asked them about if they registered at this or any other parish, they said no, they hadn't gotten around to it yet. I asked about their sacramental life, and they said that they don't go to Mass often. The mother laughed and said "Yes, I know I should be going to Mass every week!" We prayed together, for their young son and daughter. and their family. They were very touched and moved, and their little girl was smiling ear to ear as she made the sign of the cross when we closed the prayer. She clearly knew this sacramental! The father also thanked me.

God is so good, all of the time! We are so grateful to be able to share our love of Him!