“Friday Night Lights” Carnival at Sacred Heart Church in Manville

The “Goodness of God” was EVERYWHERE and “it was running after us” as the beautiful lyric of this song goes, blessing us all in attendance including Alpa, Wilber and myself, Mary Ann.

A lovely young woman came up to us and eyeing our table with multiple-colored rosaries, asked, “Is this all you do?” Loving her question to us and her sweet boldness, I quickly responded, “We pray, would you like to pray?” Sensing that it was a normal thing for her to pray, not just alone but to pray with the love and support of a community, we folded our hands and prayed together for her father who has cancer. We asked God for His healing, His grace, His strength, His guidance to carry the family through this difficult time, this cross, knowing that God hears our prayers and is with us always. She looked visibly more peaceful and voiced her gratitude for our presence at the Carnival, and for our praying together with her. She felt God’s Grace and Goodness. In speaking to her after the prayer we found out she graduated from Immaculata last year and in her words, ” I absolutely loved it!” Good Going Immaculata! What a faith centered young lady!

We spoke and prayed with a young family of four- Mom, Dad, a three-year-old boy and baby girl. We were excited to share in their joy and anticipation of Baby Girl’s Baptismal Day, her welcoming into God’s Family this weekend at St Ann’s Church by Father Tom. God bless her and the family on this momentous Day! All the Angels will be singing.

We spoke to a man who took a rosary and who attends mass each Sunday. We asked him about going to Confession, encouraging him and speaking of the peace that this powerful and healing Sacrament gives to us. “It’s been a while since I went to Confession”, he said. We all agreed it is hard to go but we feel great to come out with God’s grace filling us, that it gives us His Peace. Then he went on to speak to us about something beautiful that he does that gives him peace. “I frequently go into that church in Raritan”, he said, “the one with those doors that are always open wide, on Main Street. I go in and just sit there. I might go in maybe anxious or upset but I always leave more relaxed and in a better mood! I love it”, he said with much conviction. What a wonderful example for us all to imitate. That is the Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament where Jesus is exposed on the Altar every day!

We spoke to Donna who was worried about her sister who in her words, “does not even believe in God”. She took a rosary for herself and one to give her sister as well as many pamphlets on How to say the rosary, Why return to the Catholic Church, Why be Catholic , a Gospel card and a Sacred Heart card. We prayed together asking for her sister to open up her heart to the Lord’s love and for Donna to persevere in praying for her. We suggested that she say a rosary everyday asking for Blessed Mother’s intercession.

I saw a young man in his twenties walking by. I went up to him asking if he would like a free rosary. He came back to our table, in curiosity I believe, not actually wanting a rosary. I asked him if he was a Christian “No, I am nothing. In fact, I am surprised you are even talking to me,” he voiced. That comment struck my heart and I wanted to give my all to him in whatever way the Holy Spirit would lead me. I was not sure where to go with this. I think he thought I might be turned off by his appearance. I was not. I told him that God gave us two great commandments, to love God and to love each other. “I do not think anybody does that “, he said. “As a Christian, I try but I mess up. I am far from perfect. My name is Mary Ann.” What ‘s your name?” He smiled and put out his hand to shake mine. “I’m Scott.” Our eyes locked for a silent moment and I believe we both felt God’s presence. And so… I started the story, do you know about Adam and Eve? He did and preceded to tell me. I spoke of Jesus coming down from heaven to atone for sin, dying on the cross, rising from the dead, and telling us to repent and be baptized and to follow him, that Jesus loves us and wants eternal happiness for us all in heaven. Scott took many pamphlets and said he would read them. I told him that this meeting of ours was God’s will and was not an accident, that we are nothing without Him, an empty vessel but with Him, He fills us with Everything Good and we have our Purpose in life and our destiny is Heaven. God bless Scott.

Let us pray for Scott and all those we encountered at the Carnival tonight. May the Goodness of God keep “running after us”.