Boise

Country: United States
State or province: Idaho

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Lucy Stamm
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Souls for Jesus! - 2024-12-15

December 22, 2024

As typical, we received a variety of visitors last week. So, thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

As we were setting up the table, “Louia” approached and let us know he had talked to us some months before. A Catholic, who had previously admitted he had been struggling with his faith and angry at God, he let us know he was once again attending Mass although still sometimes feeling frustrated with God. Currently, he is praying for a woman he had seen on the news, who had died unjustly, and for the police to find her assailant. He selected a Rosary and stayed to chat for a while. Pray that Louis grows in confidence and trust in God’s timing and good will.

A grinning man stopped and asked, “What’s your pitch?” We explained the mission and purpose of the apostolate and the Rosary. Still grinning, he replied that he was an active Catholic and had plenty of Rosaries, but appreciated what we were doing. He asked about e. Chuck’s conversion and shared his own stories of arguing with non-Catholic friends. Pray that our visitor is filled with the Holy Spirit so he may evangelize his friends.

Two men and a woman were noisily working their way across the business park, carrying leftovers from lunch. The short man kept clowning around as he talked to e. Lucy. He wasn’t Christian, so she encouraged him to get to know Jesus Christ through spending time thinking about the Mysteries of the Rosary. He also good-naturedly accepted a copy of the Good News/kerygma pamphlet. The woman listened to all that was being said, encouraged us for being out there, but didn’t accept a Rosary herself. The tall man, meanwhile, was more serious and seemed uncomfortable taking a Rosary. He said what denomination he grew up in and e. Chuck shared that he had converted to Catholicism from that denomination. He wanted to know why and e. Chuck began to share the short version of his story, but the other man and woman were urging him to leave and he began edging away. We let him know we were there every Sunday, if he wanted to talk some more. Pray that the seeds of curiosity take root and he seeks to know more about the Catholic Church.

A mom with a young girl wearing a blue sparkly tutu stopped so the girl could choose a Rosary. We explained the devotion to the mom, but she didn’t choose one for herself.

Soon after, another mom stopped, also accompanied by a dressed-up girl, perhaps a year or two older than our previous visitor. They each accepted a Rosary, the pamphlet on how to pray it, and the encouragement to pray it together as a family. Then one of the evangelists asked what the event was, since another fancily dressed girl had just stopped for a Rosary. They explained that the traditional holiday ballet performance had just occurred a few blocks away. May God bless them and show them that He is “the one thing necessary” (cf. Luke 10:42).

A Catholic couple paused briefly so the man could ask us to pray for “Tom”, his recently deceased nephew. Eternal rest grant unto Tom, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. Through Your Mercy, may his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace.

A soft-spoken man in iridescent sunglasses came to the table and said he had grown up Catholic but didn’t remember how to pray the Rosary. We helped him out then asked him why he was no longer an active Catholic. He shrugged and said a big non-Catholic church was next door to his house and it was more convenient to attend there. We offered that he was missing out on the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist. He shrugged again and said he had no problem going to a Catholic Church, but the other one was just next door so it was easier. E. Lucy gave him a map to area parishes and we urged him to seek God’s guidance in where to go to church by praying the Rosary. Pray that his eyes are opened to the truth, beauty, and authority of the Catholic Church and his need for it.

A man who rides by on his bike every week stopped and let us know he worked nearby, which was why we saw him so often. He said he appreciated our positive presence every week, but declined a Rosary because he didn’t really believe in anything except loving people. E. Chuck said that was a good start, but that loving God was a better basis for life. The man hedged, implying that he could maybe think God was okay, but that religion had too many unloving ideas like hell, etc. As the evangelist began to reply, our visitor said he didn’t really want to get into a discussion, and he just wanted to stop and say hi. He left with a cordial handshake. Please pray the evangelist can remember his name and that the man will be willing to stop again and risk a deeper conversation.

Altogether, we gave away 15-25 Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as a Good News/kerygma pamphlet and a map to area parishes.

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 effort.

We try to nudge everyone closer to Jesus. 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).