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Boise

Country: United States
State or province: Idaho

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Lucy Stamm
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The Real Good News - 2024-12-01

December 8, 2024

The Gospel message is still fresh today. So, thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

"Our business park" was very busy last weekend. The main convention center was featuring its annual display of decorated trees. Opposite the plaza from us, a pseudo-Christian religion was holding a rally, complete with choir. Plus, the free skating rink was finally open in center of business park. This year, we were able to set up just across the walkway from our usual spot.

Three different groups from the pseudo-Christian religion stopped to ask what we're doing.

    • The first group consisted of 3-4 young adult men. Their leading question, "What ward are you with?" clued the evangelist in that they were not Catholic. The young man who acted as spokesman for the group, perhaps to show how open-minded he was about other religions, mentioned that he had attended events at e. Chuck's parish and at the university’s Newman center. He might have accepted a Rosary from us. The group as a whole thanked us for being out there and having a positive effect on society.
    • Out of the second group of 3, an older man stopped. He told the story of how he and his mom suffered an economic crisis when he was in third grade (about 9 years old). They’d had to move to "the projects", and the mom worried about the bad influence of neighborhood children on her son. Then a priest that she had met made arrangements for him to attend a Catholic school in a better neighborhood. On the first day of school, the teacher had asked them to memorize a short poem. He did as he was asked. The next day it turned out that he was the only one to have done so. After he recited the poem for his class, his teacher took him down to the 4th grade class to recite it for them, too. To thank him, the religious sister who taught 4th grade opened her desk drawer and gave him a Cadbury egg. He felt very encouraged. I don't know if he ever became Catholic. He declined taking a Rosary, but did accept a Divine Mercy prayer card.
    • The third group was of young-adult women. They, too, did not want a Rosary, but did want to encourage us in what we did.

The odd thing about all three groups is the sudden discomfort they each displayed when the evangelist exclaimed about how grateful we are for what Our Savior did for us and explained how meditating on the Mysteries of the Rosary is a good way to grow closer to Jesus Christ. Only later did she remember that, though that religion acknowledges the Divinity of Christ, they understand neither the oneness of God, nor our need for Redemption. Lord, may their discomfort at the thought of our need for a Savior lead them to You and salvation!

A group of three young-adult Catholic women stopped. They didn't want a Rosary because they felt "Rosaried-out". They told the evangelist that they're part of a group of local young adult Catholics that get together on Mondays and prays the Rosary together. They asked what group we were with and I referred them to the SPSE website (see below). Lord, bless them and keep them faithful!

A woman from e. Lucy's parish stopped to say hi on her way in to the decorated tree festival. “Marty” said hi as he passed by, but didn’t wait until the evangelist had time to chat.

A nervous-looking woman, who may also have been housing challenged, was hurrying around giving away candy canes. The candy was attached to a card that, if read carefully, contained an invitation to a non-Catholic Christian church. She was not interested in learning about the Rosary.

A woman stopped for a Rosary, speaking with a heavy accent. The evangelist asked if she would like the Rosary pamphlet in Spanish and she gratefully said yes.

A man stopped to ask for Rosaries for his two children (not with him). A small family group stopped so the son could chose a Rosary for his grandmother. May the Lord bless these families!

A man almost chose a Rosary. Instead of accepting the pamphlet on how to pray it, he chose a Divine Mercy prayer card. However, when he saw the instruction on the back referring to "Our Father beads", he said “It freaked him out.” The evangelist tried to explain the reference, but he just hurried away.

Just as I was packing things away, several more groups stopped and we gave away another 10-12 Rosaries and a Divine Mercy prayer card.

Altogether, during our first session in Advent, we gave away 25-30 Rosaries and the pamphlet on how to pray it, as well as 2-3 Divine Mercy prayer cards.

Please pray for us again today? Ask God to send people to us with 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.

 

Truth can hit a nerve! 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!

"They are happy, whose strength is in you, in whose hearts are the roads to Zion" (Ps 84:6).