Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

What a wonderful weekend we experienced! Last weekend, two special events overlapped: St. Joseph’s bazaar on Friday and Saturday evenings, and the River Market farmers market on Saturday morning from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. Both gatherings were overflowing with opportunities for evangelization. Our team engaged with people from all walks of life—many curious about our beautiful faith, and many seeking prayers.

One memorable encounter at St. Joseph’s was with Mr. S., who was raised Baptist and had questions about the Sacrament of Reconciliation. He asked, “Why do I have to speak to a priest when I can go straight to Jesus?” I assured him that Jesus is indeed the only one who can forgive sins. We explained that, in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, God forgives our sins through the priest. We shared John 20:21-23 with him and explained that the priest says, “I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”—the formula of absolution. We provided him with information about confession and prayed with him.

Another encounter was with Mr. E., an elderly man of faith. He spent considerable time sharing his life story, including past struggles with drugs, alcohol, women, and self-harm. He shared that the only true happiness he has ever known is in finding the Lord Jesus Christ, and his life since then has been a blessing. Mr. E. praised Jesus Christ for intervening in his life and expressed gratitude for every heartbeat and breath. We prayed for him and his family and spoke at length about the beauty of our faith.

We also met Mrs. K., a former Catholic who is now celebrating 15 years of sobriety from drugs and alcohol. She was uncertain about returning to the Church, but the Holy Spirit led her to our table. Mrs. K. shared her story of youthful rebellion and a strained relationship with her mother, who passed away unexpectedly just as they were reconciling. This loss left her angry with God and distant from the Church for years. We listened compassionately, discussed God’s path for her, and prayed for her, asking the Holy Spirit to guide her. We provided information about local Mass times and warmly invited her to return at any time.

The River Market proved to be a fruitful place for outreach. Many visitors approached our booth with questions, and we distributed rosaries and miraculous medals to those in need, including the homeless. We received numerous prayer requests—not only from the public but also from several nearby vendors. Some asked prayers for family members, students hoping to enter high school or college, and others facing medical challenges. We prayed especially for one vendor selling jewelry, whose husband serves as a pastor at a nearby church.

Austin’s experience captured the spirit of the day. In a text message to me after the River Market event, he exclaimed, “It was like we were back 2026 years ago!” He went on to say, “Just talking to people and discovering who they are and where they're coming from allows us to love them and be invited in.” He added, “It doesn't get any more real than that. I know that Christ was jumping and pumping His fist for all of us that day!”