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Crystal - St. Raphael

Country: United States
State or province: Minnesota

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Sharon Hedman
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Recent Blog Posts

• Christmas Village 12/7/24

• Chrstkindlmarkt 11/30/24

• Drive Thru Prayer 11-2-24

• St Raphael Parish Festival 8/2 & 8/3/2024

• Crystal Frolic 2024(7/27/24)

Crystal Frolic 2024(7/27/24)

July 30, 2024

Our parish St Paul Street Evangelization team again shared a booth with St Raphael School at the annual city celebration "Crystal Frolics".  This time, the booth also promoted our parish festival which will be held next week.  Phil and Sharon shared booth space with Tanya (promoting the entire parish), Rachel (promoting the school), and shortly before they left, Ann came (promoting the parish festival, not shown).  Our pope cutout was resurrected and made a special appearance also.

SPSE Team PhotoSPSE Team Photo

Since each booth was required to have a child friendly activity, Phil again brought along his Kids Bible Trivia cards.  We offered candy (and bonus candy for a correct answer), Miraculous Medals, and rosaries.  Tanya, Rachel, and Ann also offered candy and kids sunglasses in addition to information about our school, parish, and upcoming festival.

Setup across from us and kitty corner was a gentleman representing the local school bus company.  As much as possible, he listened in on the quiz questions and if the children couldn't answer, he took a stab at it.  We hope he gained some Bible knowledge during the afternoon.

We spoke to a gentleman who is a pastor at a local Protestant church.  He had some knowledge of the Catholic Church and he came over to our booth to talk to us.  Upon inquiring and learning his church either didn't offer communion or did so infrequently, Phil started a conversation based upon the Road to Emmaus and the Eucharist.  The pastor brought up papa infallibility and had basic understanding that it covers only faith and morals when speaking for the church. He began speaking about Paul rebuking Peter. Unfortunately we were unable to continue the conversation as a group of children approached.

We also spoke to woman from England who is Catholic, but enrolled her daughter in local Protestant K-12 school.  She has spoken to someone from St Raphael school and has toyed with switching her daughter, but she likes the idea that her daughter is able to attend one school and not transfer for high school.  Phil inquired where she attends church.  She stated they attend the church connected with the Protestant school to receive a discount, but she is thinking of sending her daughter to the faith formation at our parish.   Phil and Sharon again brought Holy Eucharist which they are NOT receiving even if the other church has communion services. Please pray that her eyes will be open and she and daughter will return to the Catholic Faith.

Later we spoke to a couple from the Protestant church where the English family attends.  He said the church tries hard to follow the early church and they are actively "planting" churches in both South America and Africa.  He did state that the church does have communion every Sunday (and  Sharon knows the church interestingly offers an Saturday evening vigil service). Phil asked what he believes about Mary and gave him and his wife Miraculous Medals which they accepted.

We had some children who knew the Bible trivia questions and some that did not.  Toward the end of our time, a group of three children came up who knew the answers.  They received candy and Miraculous medals.  They ran off and short time later came back with more siblings and cousins who also knew the answers.  After they ran off to play, Phil walked over to their mother/aunt who was sitting a hill a short distance away and presented her with a medal also.

As we were packing up, Ann asked if she could have a medal for her adult daughter who lost hers. Of course, we gave her one to pass along.

As a postscript to the Frolics event, after Sunday Mass Ann reported that a little boy came up heartbroken that his special blessed medal had fallen off the chain and couldn't be found. He wanted to play the trivia game so he could receive a replacement medal.  Ann said we had left but gave him the medal she had intended for her daughter.

Approximately thirty medals and thirty rosaries were given out and Sharon left a supply of rosaries with Tanya and Ann.