Boise

Country: United States
State or province: Idaho

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Lucy Stamm
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Ultimate Importance - 2025-03-09

March 16, 2025

With spring weather comes end-of-school-year sports playoffs. We remind people about what’s finally important. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

Back-to-back college ball games were going on in the sports arena, determining who would play in a major championship game. Lots of people were wearing team-supporting shirts, quite a few boasting the letters of a Catholic university. Very few of these people stopped for a Rosary because they “already had plenty”.

A man in a group heading south greeted us as he passed by. He let us know that, not only is he Catholic, but he also prays at least a decade of the Rosary every day. Toward the end of the session, he and his group passed by again, this time heading north. He reminded us that he had already talked to us, but then added that he had become Catholic “only” in 2001. Although he was edging away, it also seemed that he really wanted to tell us his conversion story: He had been a virulently anti-Catholic Christian. But his brother, who was studying to be a pastor, converted to Catholicism after his research into the ancient Church. Then a close friend of his soon joined the Church. They kept in touch with our visitor, arguing the Catholic point of view. That’s all of his story that we got before he dashed away to catch up with the rest of his group. May God continue to bless him and keep him faithful! And may all respond to the Truth, no matter how uncomfortable it makes them.

One of the security guards for the sports arena stopped to talk when he was on break. He did not take a Rosary because he had one he prayed with already, and affirmed the importance of the prayer. Pray for blessings for him and all the faithful who seek to fall deeper in love with Christ through the arms of His Blessed Mother. May God continue to grant our city peace!

“Allen” and “Emma”, two college students on spring break from a Catholic university, stopped to ask what we were doing. Allen also wondered what we were doing for Lent, sharing his own commitment. He chose a chain Rosary, but Emma declined (perhaps because she already has one). Please pray that these young Catholics will persevere in faith and grow in holiness.

A couple of the young adults who stopped at the table “used to be Catholic”. At least one of them was still attending church, albeit a non-Catholic Christian one. We encouraged them to return to the Sacraments and to use the Rosary reverently as a way to get to know Jesus more deeply.

Two teenage girls approached the table in response to our offer of a free Rosary. Two teenage boys, who had been keeping an eye on them from nearby, took that as an excuse to come to the table at the same time. The two boys attended a local Catholic school. We introduced the Rosary devotion to the girls, and encouraged all four young people to pray it together.

A man stopped for a Rosary. He described himself as being on a spiritual journey returning him from out-and-out atheism. His was a world of confusion, trying to mix deism with pantheism. But he took a Rosary. Blessed Mother, draw him to your Son!

A young man on rollerblades, who had been hanging out with a nearby keyboard busker, rolled to the table. He told us he had been an atheist but had changed his mind. When asked what made him change, he admitted he had been into drugs but now realized he was responsible for all the wrongs he did to others. His theism was a mixed bag but centered around the idea that God gave us free will and so we are responsible for our actions and must choose to do good. When we told him of the saving power of Jesus Christ, he kind of assented to that idea but said the important thing is to strive to do good and to admit our mistakes. A good start on the road to Christianity! He chose a Rosary and listened as we encouraged him to get to know Jesus through the prayer. Pray that he will continue to move closer to God and he will learn to love Jesus Christ.

Two people, at different times, muttered a comment as they passed by without making eye contact nor slowing down. A woman said, “I’m a recovering Catholic” and a man said, “I don’t believe in God.” Please keep them in your prayers, that they will allow the Holy Spirit to break through the barriers that keep them separated from their Savior.

A couple stopped briefly so the man could dig out his wallet. We let him know that we couldn’t accept donations and suggested he give it to the poor. His wife piped up, “We’ll put it in the collection basket at church tonight!” May God bless them and keep them faithful!

The weather was sunny and warm, so foot traffic was heavy. Even so, the percentage of “no thank you” responses seemed considerably higher than typical. The one period of exception occurred when a group of people stopped, followed closely by other groups of people who had seen the groups ahead of them stop. So, in all, we were still able to give away 15-20 Rosaries and its pamphlet on how to pray it.

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.

Being in right relationship with Jesus Christ is the “one thing necessary” (cf. Luke 10:42). 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).