Boise

Country: United States
State or province: Idaho

Team Leader
Lucy Stamm
Contact

Admin
Login

Team Badges

Today is the Day - 2024-08-25

September 1, 2024

“Now is a very acceptable time” to turn to God and salvation (cf. 2 Cor 6:2). So, thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A comic convention was going on in the convention center. The group had signs set up where we usually put our table, so I chose a spot on the other side of the fountain. I had barely parked the wagon carrying our table and supplies when a family in full costume came over. Fellow Catholics, they recognized e. Lucy from Mass at her parish. They identified their characters from an early, family-friendly video game. They took only one Rosary and its pamphlet for the little girl. May God bless the family!

Two priests stopped. For an uncomfortable moment, the evangelist wondered if they were in costume to mock the Catholic Church. With relief, she recognized Fr. Tim from the nearby parish. He introduced Fr. James, his guest from out of town. They thanked us for being out there, acknowledged how much good it does, and gave the evangelist a blessing. May God bless them and keep them Faithful!

Two other men stopped, the 40-something one encouraging the younger man to get a Rosary. The first man named the parish where he’d attended Mass earlier that day. The evangelist quickly described the devotion for the other man, and encouraged him to use the prayer to grow closer to Christ. The first man then wanted to show the evangelist something he carries in his wallet. It was the funeral card for his mother, “Dolores”. On the back was his mother’s name; on the front was a lovely picture of Our Blessed Mother in a garden . Our visitor said it was a Polish image. May God grant eternal rest to Dolores, and may He grant faithfulness and salvation to her son.

A group of three young-adult men stopped when one of them wanted a Rosary. “Dave”, evidently not a Catholic, told the evangelist that he’d received a Rosary in high school from a Catholic friend, and that he’d kept it with him for several years. Now he wanted to have one again. E. Lucy quickly explained the devotion and encouraged him to use his new Rosary for prayer. His two companions then each chose one as well. Their names were “Bonham” (pronounced “BAH num”) and, perhaps, “Ben”. May God use the Rosary to draw them into full communion with Jesus Christ.

Two pre-teen boys came to the table, wanting a “free Rosary”. “Are you parents here?” asked the evangelist. They pointed to nearby restaurant seating. “If they say it’s okay, you can have one.” The boys ran toward the group they had pointing to, returning a few minutes later to choose a Rosary apiece. A few minutes after that, the oldest boy came back, this time carrying another boy almost as big as he was, who also received a Rosary. May God grant many blessings to that family!

A group of 3 teens stopped at the word, “free”. They weren’t Christian, so the evangelist encouraged them to use the Rosary to get to know who Jesus is. She let them know that people who use the Rosary reverently, even if all they had were questions, often find peace and protection.

“Isaiah”, carrying a camera with a large lens, told the evangelist that he is making a video about downtown Boise. He asked permission to film the evangelist in action, which she granted. May God grant good fruit for His Kingdom from the cameraman’s efforts.

A man, in a group of 4 down-and-out-looking adults, asked the evangelist to bless the Rosary he had just chosen from the table. She replied that she was not authorized to bless them, but let him know that they were already blessed. (It was not “a Catholic question” this time.)

A 40ish woman came to the table in response to our offer of a free Rosary. She gravitated toward the green chain Rosary that matched her dress. When asked if she were familiar with the devotion, she admitted that she had been raised Catholic, but implied that she’d been away for a long time. “Have you thought about returning?” asked the evangelist. “Yes, I have. But I don’t know where the churches are here,” said the woman. I handed her a map. “Maybe today is the day you get reconnected. There are several Masses tonight.” The woman accepted the map with a smile and took her leave. Lord, open her heart and draw her back to You!

A woman in her early 30s stopped for a Rosary. She, too, was thinking about returning to the Faith. She hesitated when offered the map of area parishes, then decided that her mom would like to have it. Lord, I surrender her (and her mom) into Your gentle and saving hands!

A stocky, familiar-looking man, late in the session, made a snarky anti-religion comment. “What gives me hope?” he asked, indicating our table sign, “Taxing churches.” “That makes no sense,” the evangelist replied. Lord, grant the man a complete change of heart and lead him to salvation in Your Church!

A 30-something couple stopped at the table. He was Catholic; she was Christian and not anti-Catholic. He chose a Rosary while I explained the devotion to the woman, who also chose a Rosary. When asked if she were planning to become Catholic, she explained how she was comfortable attending both churches with her husband. I offered her a Catechism, showing her the index where she could look up what the Catholic Church actually teaches on any given topic. I also explained how reading it straight through would help her catch the “Catholic worldview”, which is both different and beautiful. Lord, guide them to journey together to You and unity in their marriage.

To some non-Catholic Christian teens, the evangelist showed how the Rosary helps people “deepen their walk with Christ.”

“Blake” stopped to say hi. He chose another Rosary, and asked after e. Chuck, who was away again on family activities. I assured Blake that e. Chuck should be back next week (today).

Altogether, we gave away 15-20 Rosaries and its pamphlet, 2-3 Good News/kerygma pamphlets, 2-3 maps, a Divine Mercy prayer card, and a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Please pray for us again today? Ask God to send people to us with their hearts prepared to perceive their need for Our Savior Jesus Christ and His Holy Catholic Church, and that much good fruit for His Kingdom comes of today’s efforts.

Sometimes God uses human encouragement to draw others to Him. So, thank you again for your prayers and other support for this apostolate. In turn, may God protect and greatly bless you and all those you love!

“Go with the strength you have” (Judg 6:14).