Boise

Country: United States
State or province: Idaho

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Lucy Stamm
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Kick-Starting Holy Week - 2026-Mar-29

April 5, 2026

God brought lots of people to us last week. So, thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A garden show was going on in the main convention center. Plus, the city’s annual music festival was offering free concerts in venues all around downtown Boise. So, foot traffic was crazy heavy, and we had a lot of people stop.

“Liam” stopped with actual questions about the Catholic faith. He’d been raised in a non-Catholic Christian denomination and had heard the usual misinformation about the Church. He went out of his way, though, to be respectful. He asked, “So, do you guys worship Mary?” When we answered, “No, we’re forbidden to. We worship God alone”, he seemed genuinely surprised. He went on to ask about praying to Saints. E. Lucy first clarified that, although many non-Catholic Christians equate the words “pray” and “worship”, Catholics use “pray” in the sense of “ask”. She then spent some time explaining the importance of praying together as a community. Liam then respectfully asked about Mary: “Was she more than just the womb that Jesus was conceived in?” The evangelist again startled our visitor with the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception, the lifelong sinlessness of Mary, and that she is our role model as the first and most faithful Christian. He was willing to accept our pamphlets on “Marian Doctrines” and “Praying to the Saints”. He also accepted a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, following a brief explanation of how to use its many features. Lord, help Liam continue to pursue the Truth and bring him to the fullness of the Faith in Your Catholic Church.

“Robert” stopped to look at the Rosaries, declined to take one, but then stayed to chat with e. Chuck for the next half hour. Although he thought it reasonable to believe there is a god, was convinced the universe and life needed a creator-mind, and believed this god was good and loved his creation, Robert did not believe that any one religion had any claim to truth about God. This loose idea about God gave him good feelings about life and so confirmed, in his own mind, that he was on the right track. When offered the information that the Christian God is personal, seeks a relationship with us, proved that by becoming a man and sharing our trials, showing us the way through them, and dying and rising for us, Robert drew the line. He thought sin was just a result of traumas in life and therefore excusable or else simply something we can overcome on our own. And though he believed a man named Jesus existed, he rejected the idea that He was the Son of God. E. Chuck suggested he read C. S. Lewis’ Mere Christianity if he wanted a philosophically grounded apologetic for Christianity. Pray that Robert’s mere deism will grow into the fullness of faith in the one true God.

Two young-adult, non-Catholic Christian women stopped at the table, full of smiles and excitement about the Rosaries. But then they admitted that they didn’t really know anything about the Rosary. Both knew that Jesus Christ loved them, and were alternately curious, surprised, and enthusiastic as we explained the Rosary prayer. They then asked about the Divine Mercy and Mary Untier of Knots prayer cards on display. So, we shared our experiences with those devotions, and they took one of each card. Pray that their natural joy and gratitude may blossom into the joy of salvation that will lead them into an increasingly committed, mature relationship with Our Lord and Savior.

During the session, several small families, each with 2 or 3 children, stopped for Rosaries for the young ones. Most of the parents also accepted a Rosary and the encouragement to pray it as a family. Lord, please bless and protect each of these families and help them grow in holiness unto Sainthood.

A non-Catholic Christian man, wearing a safety vest and name tag, came up to us to thank us for being there. He spoke of his own attempts to speak out against abortion, especially to the people who collected signatures to have abortion made legal in Idaho again. And so, he felt relieved and happy to run into fellow Christians who also value life. Lord, bless this man for his courage in defending the life that You have granted and for his willingness to encourage us.

Two other young-adult women came to the table, these sporting colorful makeup and glitter. One of them was Catholic and familiar with the Rosary. She chose one, and the other woman did, too. We encouraged the Catholic to teach her companion to pray it by praying it together with her. May the Lord draw these women to lives of virtue so that they always remain pleasing to You.

An elderly woman on her way to the flower and garden show made a face at seeing the Rosaries. As she passed by, she said, “I spent twelve years in the hands of nuns at school. Never again! I’m done with all that.” Pray for healing of her memories, and that her heart be softened to Christ and His Church.

Two teenaged boys on electric dirt bikes stopped when they heard that the Rosaries were free. They were students at the local Catholic high school, expressed gratitude to us for being there, and wished us a “Happy Palm Sunday”. One said where he was going to Mass, and that he thought the pastor was great. They seemed really engaged with their Catholic life. Lord, keep them faithful and help them grow in holiness.

A middle-aged lady heard the Rosaries being offered to another group and rushed over. She said she really needed a Rosary because, on the following day, she was going to meet with her mother and sister who had not talked with one another for a long time. She also took an “Our Lady Undoer of Knots” novena card. We promised to keep her family in our prayers.

Two young adults, dressed very colorfully and eccentrically, stopped and were pleasant to talk to. They each wanted a Rosary and its booklet. You can never guess by appearance who will stop and want a Rosary. Lord, thank you for drawing them to Yourself. Please grant them a living relationship with You.

It was so busy, so many people coming from every direction. Many of them were so intent on where they were going, and on one another, that it was difficult to get their attention. Still, the three evangelists gave away more than 50 Rosaries and its pamphlet on how to pray it, a “What About Mary?” pamphlet, a “Praying to the Saints” pamphlet, a Catechism, at least two Our Lady Untier of Knots prayer cards, and 1-2 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.

Every encounter is important and we pray it bears good fruit for Jesus and His Kingdom. 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).