April 14, 2024

Jesus Christ remains true and clear. So, thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization team.

“Catherine” and “Tom”, refugees from a more populous state that has become unsafe for people with traditional values, stopped for a visit. Both are staunchly Catholic and both have studied apologetics a great deal. We invited them both to join us. He might.

“Are you from the Legion of Mary?” a young-adult man stopped to ask. We explained that we were a St Paul Street Evangelization team. Based on his question, it was easy to guess the man was Catholic. However, he had quit attending Mass. So, e. Lucy gave him a list of area parishes with Mass times, encouraging him to reconnect with the Church. As she was doing this, “Stephen” strolled by. Stephen came to the table and nudged the man talking to e. Lucy. The two men looked at each other, laughed, and hugged. Then, still grinning, Stephen leaned in to e. Chuck and said something about “imaginary friends”. The evangelist took the opportunity to ask him why he trusts someone of evil intent like satan. Stephen replied, “it’s your god who is untrustworthy”. But the evangelist persisted in pointing out that satan just wants to use him, whereas God wants what’s best for him. Stephen laughed this off, patted e. Chuck on the shoulder, and said, “You know what I think of God”. He went on his way, showing the back of his sweatshirt with its anti-God message. The man Stephen had greeted was just leaving the table, so e. Chuck stopped him to ask where he knew Stephen from. He shrugged sheepishly, and said they hung out at the same bar. Then he asked how we knew Stephen, and we told him. Then e. Chuck asked which bar Stephen hung out in, thinking maybe it’s our turn to surprise Stephen. Please pray that our Catholic visitor returns to a relationship with Christ through His Mystical Body, the Catholic Church. Please also continue to pray for Stephen, that he meet the trustworthy Person who willingly died to save him.

A girl in her early teens passed by within a large multi-family group. She dropped back out of the pack and turned out to be the only one who came for a Rosary. On the way back, though, 4 or 5 other people from the group each chose a Rosary and accepted the pamphlet on how to pray it. Just as we were leaving, the first girl came back once again, wanting to trade her Rosary for a shorter one. May God bless the young evangelist!

A man passing quickly by on a bicycle shouted, “Ephesians 2:8-9! For it is by faith you have been saved.” He became less intelligible as he rode across the business park, but turned his head to shout, “Not by works!” Pray that this protesting non-Catholic will stop to talk next time, so we can share that we Catholics, too, rely on God’s Grace for salvation. And that we also keep reading to the next verse, verse 10, which says, “For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them.”

A tall, thin man responded to our offer of a Rosary with an enthusiastic “[expletive] yes!” He is Catholic, though not active. E. Lucy tried to give him a guide to area parishes and encourage him to get reconnected, but he declined and moved on. E. Chuck was about to remark that he had never heard that particular response before, when a man on a bicycle also replied “[expletive] yeah!” to the offer of a Rosary. This man was neither Catholic nor Christian, so we shared the Good News with him and pointed him toward the Mysteries of the Rosary as a wonderful way to get to know the God who died to save him. When you pray your Rosary, please think of these men, especially when you say, “Save us from the fires of hell and lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of Your mercy.”

During this Divine Mercy Sunday session, several more inactive Catholics saw the Rosaries and wanted one. E. Lucy gave another map to at least one of them, encouraging them all to get reconnected.

Altogether, we gave away 25-30 Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as 2-3 maps to area parishes, with Mass and Reconciliation times listed.

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.

Even when people confuse evil for good, God still wants to save them. 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).

April 7, 2024

The fact of the Resurrection is still astonishing. So, thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

In “our business park”, two large group meetings were being held. Behind us, was an anti-Catholic “apostolic Christian” group, composed mostly of people from a culture that traditionally had been Catholic. In front of us, were the non-Christian sect members who use the sports arena several times a year. Of all the people attending one or the other of these venues, only one woman stopped for a Rosary for her grade-school aged son. May God protect her from peer pressure!

Of one family coming from the “Christian” venue, the mom and children looked interested in receiving a Rosary, but the dad said no. They recognized his authority, and walked on. May God lead him and his whole family back into the truth and the Catholic Church!

“Marty” stopped to say “Happy Easter”.  We didn’t have much of a conversation.

There was no “Stephen” sighting this week.

Lots of people wished us “Happy Easter”. Sometimes, we found the source of the greeting surprising. May God heal our culture!

Two heavily tattooed teenage girls stopped for a Rosary, somewhat irreverently. E. Lucy encouraged them to use the devotion to get to know Jesus Christ. She also quickly explained how, if one goes through the meditations respectfully, even if all they had were questions, one often finds peace and protection. That second “p word” hit home, as it often does with those who experiment with alien spiritualities. May God bless them, free them, and lead them to/back to Himself!

A pair of homeless-looking men stopped when one of them wanted a Rosary. The other man had gotten one from us sometime in the past. The new visitor was happy to receive one.

Okay. So, there are two different people I describe as “a toothless homeless woman with crippled hands”. The one who stopped today is “Heidi” (the other was “Annabelle”). (Perhaps that would already have been obvious to anyone who isn’t face-blind. <sheepish grin>)  May God bless both women, heal them, and restore them to society!

A family group of about six people passed by. One of the men called out, “He is risen!” We replied, “He is risen indeed” and “Alleluia”. How wonderful that even separated Christian brothers acknowledge each other on this, the greatest of feast days!

God granted us sunshine for the Easter Sunday session, although there was also a bit of a cold breeze. Not too many people were out, other than attendees of the two anti-Catholic gatherings. Still, the two evangelists gave away about 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!

Our culture may depict Easter as being about candy and egg-laying rodents, but we serve as a reminder that infinitely greater matters are at stake. 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).

March 31, 2024

We encounter a gamut of reactions to our public display of Faith. So, thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A man walked by, saying, “No, thanks. I’m [an adherent to an early heresy].” God, help him!

A couple in their late 30s stopped because she wanted a Rosary. She’s Catholic. When we asked the man if he’d like a Rosary, he said with a note of finality that he wasn’t Catholic. “Oh, that can change!” quipped the evangelist with a smile. He laughed and took a Rosary and its pamphlet. May Our Lady draw him home to her Son’s Church!

An unkempt-looking man carrying an open bottle was wandering around the business park, calling out to people. But his words were so indistinct that many couldn’t understand him. And he responded to that with anger. May God bless and heal the man!

A woman from the parish of one of the evangelists stopped to complain about recent changes. The evangelist finally remembered to gently point out things to be grateful for. May God grant hope and peace, even in the midst of change.

One man dropped back from his group to choose a brightly colored Rosary. He said he belonged to “St Joseph Parish” in a state far from here. But he was gone before the evangelist could offer him directions to a local parish for Mass that evening. May God confirm him in Faith and lead him all the way to Catholic Sainthood!

A man with two large dogs wanted a Rosary but knew nothing about it, admitting that he was not Christian. He listened politely, but without reaction, as e. Chuck shared the Good News with him and showed him how he could meet Christ in the Rosary. He went on his way with a joke about how his dogs needed a Rosary. This was not an isolated incident in the session. We had several people who, when asked if they were Christian, hemmed and hawed before finally admitting that they were not, and who then heard our profession of faith with confused or amused or impatient silence. Please pray that their desire for a Rosary, despite their seeming indifference to God otherwise displayed in their life, is the tiny seed that will grow into the tree of Faith leading them to salvation in Christ.

An older, nicely dressed woman stopped, accompanied by a teen. She wanted a Rosary, since she hadn’t brought one with her and was missing it. She encouraged the boy to choose a Rosary. We encouraged them to pray it together.

A young-adult couple almost passed us by, but the woman suddenly changed her mind and came to the table. The man stayed back. When asked if she was Christian, she seemed to feel torn about what to say. Finally, she said she wasn’t but she was “trying to figure it out”, to which the man chuckled. Her reaction to our sharing of the Gospel seemed to be embarrassment and of feeling unsure. Her only response was a quiet word of thanks. Please pray for her and for all seekers that they may hear Christ knocking at the door of their heart and let Him in.

In hindsight, we think a better response when someone says they’re “trying to figure it out” might have been to ASK what is holding them back.

Some college-aged men stopped for Rosaries. Most of them seemed to be Catholic and eager to select a Rosary. The young-adult man that e. Chuck spoke with said he had gotten out of the habit of praying the Rosary, and that his family didn’t attend Mass anymore, instead preferring to watch it on TV. E. Chuck emphasized that this wasn’t the same thing as attending Mass, and that they were missing out on receiving Christ in the Eucharist. But our visitor just shrugged and said they liked watching it on TV from home. Please pray for all Catholics who have cut themselves off from the Bread of Life, may they hear the Holy Spirit’s call to repentance.

Our offer of a Rosary was rejected in a variety of ways, from a cheerful “no, thank you” to a growling “never!”, from professions of faith in secular causes to claims of being a follower of [the enemy of any possibility of their good]. To the latter category belongs “Stephen”, who is back on his skateboard and lobbing toward us his drive-by crudity and snark. Please pray for everyone trapped in falsehood and courting everlasting disaster, that their eyes may be opened to the glory of our incarnate God.

A young couple picked out a pair of Rosaries and said they knew a little about them and were Christian. So, e. Chuck extolled the benefits of praying the Mysteries. The evangelist also pointed out that it was important to learn to love Jesus with the same love His mother has for her Child, and that the Rosary helps us see Christ through our loving mother’s eyes. When asked where they went to church, they said they were members of an ancient sect of Christians not in full union with Rome. The couple told the evangelist that there is a small community of them who worship together locally. Please pray for all our separated brethren, that Christianity may be united in spirit, truth, and obedience.

There was a music festival going on near the downtown core, as well as a flower and garden show/sale being held in the convention center beside us. Plus, the weather was mostly sunny. Put all of those factors together, and it’s not surprising that we saw nearly non-stop foot traffic. However, only a few people paused for more than a second or ten. Still, we were able to give away 40, 50, or more Rosaries and the 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.

God knows the human heart (cf. Jer 17:9-10), and seems to bless our efforts to bring people 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).

March 24, 2024

Things don’t remain bleak for long, it seems. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A clean-cut man in his 30s or early 40s stopped to thank us for being there. “Eric” is from a neighboring state. Although Catholicism is the second most-followed religion there, Eric said that Catholics feel persecuted. He is sending his four children to Catholic school to protect them from these outside religious influences. However, he asked for prayers for his third child, an 11-year-old daughter named “Simone”. She is a challenging child and pushing back against any kind of faith. We set him up with a Green Scapular, and encouraged him to pray its prayer with faith for his daughter [“Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us now and at the hour of our death”]. He also shared with us a response he once heard from a priest when asked, “What is the difference between Catholicism and [the dominant religion in his hometown]?” The priest replied, “One of us is right and the other is not.” We promised to pray for his daughter. Please join us in praying for salvation for Simone and for all Catholic children who are doubters.

“Christopher”, a pre-teen boy, came for a Rosary, waiting off to one side until some other people who were choosing a Rosary had left. When the evangelist offered him a Rosary “if it’s okay with your folks”, he hurried to the table and picked up a Rosary. Asked if he were familiar with the devotion, he made a slow and reverent Sign of the Cross. When asked what school he attended, he named a nearby Catholic school. He then proceeded to stand there and silently work through the opening prayers of the Rosary. Once he finished them, e. Lucy asked if he planned to become a priest. “I hope so,” he solemnly replied. E. Chuck then gave him a copy of the prayer card for Our Lady, Undoer of Knots, for those times he had problems in his life. He didn’t know that prayer yet, and gratefully received it. As he left to return to his family at the nearby restaurant, one evangelist got a rash of the God-bumps and wondered aloud if we had just been visited by a future Saint. Thank you, Lord, for all the faithful Catholic children out there. Please keep them faithful, O God, and may their example inspire the doubters.

Two teenage boys on skateboards, decidedly local, interrupted our offer of a free Rosary with a snarky, “I don’t speak English” in a badly accented foreign language. Barely in time, the evangelist remembered how to say “God bless you” in the same language. He called it to their retreating forms, but to no visible effect. Pray for all the mistakenly self-assured out there who are trying to keep religion at arms length, that they may be surprised by the love God has for them.

“Stephen” (FKA Justin) rolled by on his skateboard. This was the first time we have seen him since his long conversation with us a month ago. He said, “No time to stop and talk but I (still don’t like God)” Please continue to pray for Stephen’s conversion.

A family stopped so a couple of the children could get a Rosary. Then the boy, maybe 7 or 8 years old, came back and asked for another Rosary for his father. We let him have one. Then he came back again and asked for another one for his sister. “Is she here?” we asked. “Yes,” he said, pointing to his family group at the other end of the business park. “Then have her come over and pick one out,” we suggested. He left and never came back. 🙁

A visitor stopped to chat awhile, telling us how crowded it had been in the square the night before. Perhaps that’s why we didn’t have many takers for our selection of green Rosaries.

A homeless man on a bike named “Al” stopped for a Rosary. He had grown up Catholic, but now held many of his own theories about faith and church. The evangelist corrected his historical errors, which he accepted without argument, but it did not change his belief that the Bible is incomplete. As the evangelist presented our need for an authority outside of ourselves to guide us, and that we find this through the Church rooted in Christ its Head, he interrupted to talk about various Eastern philosophies. He had to leave but asked if we would be back next week and we assured him we would be there. Pray that Al will put his whole trust in our crucified and risen Lord.

The angry, heavyset, young adult man went by again. Again, at our offer of a free Rosary, he responded through gritted teeth, not quite as politely as last time. “I find it hard to be civil to you,” he said. May God grant him salvation and self-control, a Gift of the Holy Spirit.

A woman stopped to thank us for being out there. She had talked to e. Lucy years ago about joining our team, but things in life didn’t let her do so. Still, she was very happy that we were still coming to the street week after week, year after year. May God bless her for her encouragement!

A young-adult couple were riding their bikes to the river to go fishing, but stopped to pick out a Rosary apiece. The man, sporting a long black beard, was Christian but said he had little familiarity with the Rosary. So, the evangelist presented the how’s and why’s of the prayer and encouraged them to pray it together when they got to the river. Pray that they are united in Christ.

Another young-adult couple (we think she was pregnant) stopped for a Rosary. She said, “Oh yes, I’m very familiar with the Rosary.” (But evidently the man wasn’t, because e. Lucy told him about Jesus.) Pray that she can guide him to put his trust in Christ our Lord.

A gymnastics meet was finishing up and, this time, at least a half dozen of the families stopped for a Rosary.

Altogether, the two evangelists gave away 15-20 Rosaries and its pamphlet, 1 Green Scapular, and 1 Our Lady Undoer of Knots prayer card.

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.

Thanks to God’s answer to your prayers, we remain encouraged. 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).

March 17, 2024

Jesus Christ makes Himself present. So, thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

The sports arena entrance was geared up for a big basketball tournament. Security was present and checking everyone who entered. But they let us be. In fact, two men with official-looking nametags walked past our table, but studiously pretended not to see us. May God bless them and whoever told them to allow us to stay.

Most of those heading into the sports arena were not interested in a Rosary. However, a couple of groups of very tall, young-adult men passed by, wearing sweatshirts featuring a team mascot. One of the men peeled away from his group to get a Rosary, and another man followed. The first didn't take a pamphlet because he was “already very familiar" with the devotion. In fact, he asked for directions to the nearest Catholic church, and gratefully accepted a map with Mass times and contact information. May God bless him and keep him faithful!

“Marty”, the slow-moving, economically challenged man, stopped by to say hi.

"Annabelle", a (the?) toothless homeless woman, wearing a backpack with a purple-and-white children's type of design, stopped for another Rosary. She can't seem to hang onto them, she said. She belongs to a non-Catholic Christian megachurch several miles away, but isn't always able to get to services. She told me she is “a prophet” and that God told her “exactly what's going to happen in the world and how”, though she admitted that she “read it in the Bible”. When I mentioned the danger of interpreting Scriptures for oneself, she bristled and quickly changed the subject. Lord, you know how much suffering Annabelle is enduring. Please bless her and lead her ever closer to You.

A group of four young-adult women stopped. One was a non-Catholic Christian. When e. Lucy explained the Rosary devotion, she and two of the other women each chose one for herself. The fourth woman, wearing an eastern-Mediterranean style headscarf, accepted the pamphlet but  not a Rosary. May God bless them, and draw them closer to Him and the fullness of Truth.

A middle-aged couple passed by, the woman dropping back to get a Rosary. I had to insist that no, we don't accept donations. But then, she didn't want to take a Rosary. I suggested, though, that she might give it to someone else. At that, she brightened up and eagerly took one, asking if they were blessed. (Yes, and that's why we don't exchange them for anything of value.) She also said she was going to Mass that evening and accepted a copy of the map, with parish addresses and Mass times. She asked what group I was with. When I said, “St Paul Street Evangelization”, she smiled and said, "Oh, I've heard of them!" Then she hurried off to catch up with her husband. May God bless her and all faithful Catholics!

A woman came by, pushing a cart promoting a website. Its name had been hand-printed in large block letters. She stopped but didn't want a Rosary. Instead, she offered me an uncreased, letter-sized piece of paper that was full of single-spaced computer printing. When no word or phrase immediately caught my attention, I asked, “What does it say?”, hoping for a one-phrase summary. But she insisted that I read the whole thing. I demurred, saying she should “save it for someone else”. It must not have been the first time she'd heard that excuse, because she quickly put the paper away and took her leave. Only when she had moved in close to the table did I notice that she was missing the front half of her nose, exposing the air spaces inside. May God heal her and open her heart to His love!

The sky remained gray and heavily overcast, but the weather stayed dry (thank God!). Foot traffic was correspondingly light, but we gave away 12-15 Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as 2 maps 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 efforts.

Seeing a Rosary in an unexpected place can encourage an out-of-town Catholic to make the effort to look for a nearby Mass. 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).

March 10, 2024

God is love, and He wants us to come to Him and be saved (cf. John 5:40). So, thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

“Uwe” (pronounced, “OO-vay”) stopped to talk as we were setting up the table. As usual, he began with pleasantries about the weather. But then he asked if we ever had people actually stop to take a Rosary? Did we give them only to Catholics? What did we say to them? We told him we gave Rosaries to all kinds of people who want one: Catholics and non-Catholics,  Christians and non-Christians, the hostile, and the indifferent. We encourage them to pray. At this, he interjected, “And to be good. That’s the thing, to be good.” We replied that the most important thing is to be in a faithful relationship with Jesus Christ, Who died for us. With a smile he said, “And to be good. We better leave it there while we are still friendly.”  And he continued on his walk. Please pray for Uwe, that his heart becomes open to conversion.

A man declined a Rosary, saying he identified with a sinful lifestyle. May God show him that his identity is deeper than what he’s currently doing. Lord, heal him and bring him to salvation!

A Catholic man stopped. It turns out that he attends e. Chuck’s parish.

A man, accompanied by 2 boys (ages maybe 8 and 4 years old) declined a Rosary. The older boy, though, wanted one. “If it’s okay with your dad,” we said. The father gave permission, so we helped both boys choose a Rosary and gave them the pamphlet.

A heavy-set young-adult man was passing by, as far away from us as the walkway allowed. He declined our offer of a Rosary. Then he paused, swallowed hard, arranged his face into a smile, and said, “I respect you and what you are doing, but I do not respect what the Catholic Church is doing. So, no thank you. Have a nice day.” As he walked on, we saw that his backpack sported a gender dysphoria flag, and wondered if his objection was more personal than theological. May God grant him the grace to hear and heed the Holy Spirit’s call to embrace the Savior of the world in faith and trust, and to be healed.

Another man said, as he passed by, that he had plenty of Rosaries. He had a quiet place at home where he spent much time in prayer because he lived with a lot of pain. Please pray for this man’s healing and for all who live with chronic illness.

We saw neither “Stephen” (FKA Justin) or “Marty” this time.

As we had headed downtown to begin the session, it had suddenly started snowing and accumulated about an inch in a very short time. But, the precipitation stopped as we arrived at the business park. By the time our session was over, the sun had been out and the pavement was dry. Foot traffic remained fairly sparse, but the two evangelists still gave away 15-20 Rosaries and its pamphlet.

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 is borne from today’s efforts.

God is willing to forgive those who ask Him, but the difficult thing is to convince them to stop running away from 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).

March 3, 2024

God continues to show His mercy. People continue to receive the Rosary. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A couple stopped as I was struggling to get the table set up. The man offered to help and then happily undid the latches for me as his “good deed of the day”. May God bless him!

We have recently gotten in some “Green Scapulars” to have one hand. Although no visitor has yet to ask for one, we have two “Green Scapular” stories from this session to offer you.

A homeless-looking man, who seemed to be “not from around here”, was shouting angrily as he walked through the business park. The first time he passed by, I was busy explaining the Rosary devotion to a group of other people. He continued to shout at the other end of the square. When he turned around and started heading back my way, I quickly sent up some Green Scapular prayers for peace and for his conversion , (“Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us now and at the hour of our death.”) By the time he reached the table, he was calm and quiet. I offered him a Rosary, which he gratefully accepted. I heard no further disturbance from him afterwards. May God continue to bless and heal him.

A young adult man on a skateboard kept zooming back and forth close to our table, showing off his athletic balance skills. He ignored my offer of a Rosary, so I quit offering one after a few times. His expression, though, seemed to grow more and more mocking with each pass. People coming to our table had to be careful to not get run over by him. After what seemed to be 20 minutes of this increasingly disruptive behavior, I finally turned him over to Our Lady with the Green Scapular prayer, asking for peace for us and conversion for him. I didn’t see him again for the rest of the session. Thank you, Blessed Mother!

A couple stopped, perhaps out of pity after observing a large number of groups of people all tell me no thank you to my offer of a free Rosary. “Cory” and “Samaria” were non-Catholic Christians, in town for a marriage seminar that urged them to keep God in the center of their marriage. We talked for a bit about yes, it takes three to make a marriage: the man, the woman, and God. I described the Rosary devotion for them and encouraged them to use the prayer to deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ. They each accepted one.

A young-adult Catholic man, from out of state, stopped to tell me he’d been assigned the Confirmation name of “Joan”(after St. Joan of Arc). You could tell it bothered him. But he seemed much relieved when the evangelist let him know that there are many priest Saints who have “Mary” as part of their name, e.g.,  St. Anthony Mary Claret. My visitor was going to be in town for another couple of days, so I gave him a map to area parishes, showing him the thumbnail picture of the nearest parish, which would be having a 5 pm Mass that very evening,

The “slow-moving economically challenged man” stopped again. He told us his name is “Marty”. Offered a Rosary, he demurred by saying that he already had at least 4 of them from us. We encouraged him to learn how to pray it.

A family on bicycles stopped when one of the two grade-school-aged girls wanted a Rosary. E. Lucy helped the two of them choose one apiece. Meanwhile, she explained the devotion to the mom, who also ended up choosing one. The dad, and the toddler in the bicycle trailer, did not take one. May God bless that family, draw them to regular prayer together, and to Faith.

The toothless woman stopped for yet another Rosary. She chose the prettiest chain-style one on the table. May God use its beauty to draw her heart to Him, to healing, and to salvation in Christ.

“Uwe” stopped briefly when the evangelist ran to talk to him. She asked about his current understanding of God. He said, essentially, that God is Mother Nature. He sees God as all-good, omnipresent, and exclusively feminine, and repeated that he worships nature. Questions for next time: how does he reconcile his “nature is always kind” belief during the times when “nature” turns violent? when animals devour one another? May God bless Uwe and draw him to Himself, the one true God.

Altogether, we gave away 20-25 Rosaries  and the pamphlet on how to pray it, 1 map to area parishes, and 1 Divine Mercy bookmark.

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 comes of today’s efforts.

God keeps his promises and provides for us when we trust 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).

February 25, 2024

The Rosary reminds people both that God exists and that prayer is important. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort. Two evangelists were available.

Another gymnastics meet was going on in the sports arena, although this time it didn’t end before our session did. One family stopped for a Rosary and asked for prayer for the little girl who would be competing. We prayed that she would do her best and that God would get the glory!

A family of three stopped so the mom could get a Rosary. When asked if she were familiar with the devotion, she said, “Yes! I’m a Catholic middle-school principal [from out of state].” May God guide her and bless her efforts! She chose a Rosary for herself, and also accepted a copy of our “Rosary promises” bookmark to share with her staff.

The economically challenged older man, who usually waves at us as he slowly makes his way past, actually came close to the table this time to visit with both of us. He commented that we were “always smiling, every week”. He also almost chose a Rosary this time, but backed away at the last minute. So close! May God continue to draw him to Himself.

No sign of “Stephen” (FKA “Justin”) again this week. Please continue to pray for him that he accepts the salvation Christ offers him. He can’t hide from God.

“Uwe” [former “angry atheist” now turned “deist”] paused to comment on the weather, as usual, though we hadn’t seen him for a couple of months. May God continue to draw him closer to Himself.

A man named “Spencer”, who sometimes attends a nationalized non-Catholic Christian church and who picked up a Rosary from us some weeks ago, passed by with a woman on his arm. He smiled and reminded us that he already had a Rosary. As they came back by later, we asked the woman if she wanted a Rosary, too. She said she didn’t because she was a Christian. We replied that the Rosary was all about Christ, but they walked on without stopping. Pray for open ears and hearts for all who have mistaken ideas about the Catholic Church.

One of the evangelists had the impression that most of those who did stop for a Rosary this time said they were already Catholic. Lord, grant them perseverance in the Faith!

Altogether, we gave away 15-20 Rosaries and its pamphlet on how to pray it, plus a Rosary Promises bookmark

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.

God blesses everyone who accepts a Rosary and the exhortation to pray it. 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).

February 18, 2024

People find the Rosary attractive, even when they have strayed far from God. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

No “Stephen” encounter this time, but long-time visitor “Walt” walked a block out of his way to visit us. Walt, formerly homeless but now in city housing, talked mostly about his cat. He seems nearly blind now for, when his cat stepped on a button that locked his stove, he had to call a neighbor to unlock it. Walt is also battling cancer, and has a court trial at the end of this month, for all of which he asked our prayers. We offered him a Rosary, but he still is not interested as he has his “own ways to talk to God.” Pray for Walt’s physical and spiritual health and for all those who still live on the street.

A heavily tattooed and bearded man in his 30s, accompanied by a woman, stopped their bicycles when he wanted a Rosary. She stood at a distance, but he told us they “need a financial miracle” and “she’s not too happy” getting around by bicycle. He chose a Rosary and accepted its pamphlet on how to pray it. Lord, grant them salvation!

Two young adult women came for a Rosary and accepted its pamphlet. When asked if they were familiar with the devotion, one of them responded, “No, I’m from San Diego”.

A woman, 25-ish and accompanied by a very young daughter, told us that yes, she was familiar with the Rosary “but not in same way you Catholics are”. They each took a Rosary and its pamphlet. Lord, draw them close to You and the True Church that You founded!

A girl in her late teens, sporting braces and a big smile, said yes, she’s familiar with the Rosary. She chose a Rosary and took a copy of its pamphlet.

Two women in their 20s stopped. One wore a small gold cross on a necklace. She pointed to the other woman and said, “She’s not Christian”. They chose a Rosary apiece and, as e. James gave the nonbeliever the Rosary pamphlet, he smiled and said, “not yet.” They both laughed and the Christian girl responded “yeah, right” in hopeful agreement.

A man and woman in their late 20s chose a Rosary apiece. The man said he was not familiar with the Rosary but he “likes pretty things”. May God, the source of all Beauty, draw him to Himself.

A young-adult Catholic couple, wearing formal attire, told us they were “on a date after Mass”. The man accepted a Rosary with a smile and said he prays the Rosary every day.

A family with 2 girls (perhaps 5- and 7-years old) stopped so the children could each get a Rosary. The girls picked bright multicolored Rosaries and their father thanked us profusely as he accepted the Rosary pamphlets.

A young-adult man came to the table saying, as he selected a Rosary, that he was telling all his friends about us. He is Catholic but he had not been to Mass in some time “due to busyness”. The evangelist let him know that Ash Wednesday was coming, and that Lent was an ideal time to restart his faith life. Though he agreed, he became evasive and said goodbye. Please pray that all inactive Catholics hear the call back to the Sacraments.

Altogether, we gave away 10-12 Rosaries and its pamphlet.

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.

Lord, draw them all to You! And 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).

February 11, 2024

Building trust can take time. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

We had nicknamed the man who heckles us every week “Justin”. This time he finally stopped long enough for us to ask his name. It is “Stephen”. He walked right up to the table and asked if we had an answer for why God allows children to die of cancer and priests to molest children. E. Chuck warned that to wish for such a meddling God is dangerous because if God got rid of everything wrong with the world none of us would be left to enjoy it. The evangelist also told him that free will is a greater gift than mere safety. He disagreed, saying it would be better to be like robots that God controls, because then “life would be easy.” E. James added that to compare what we know and want God to be is like comparing ants to humans: we can’t know anywhere near what God knows, or it’s like a child blaming parents for the bad things that happen. The evangelist also extolled the goodness of the Catholic Church, and how its 2,000-year history of Saints inspires us, while acknowledging the need to be on guard against evildoers in the church and everywhere in society. He spoke about Christ coming to heal sinners, not the righteous. Stephen was unmoved. His view is that if God exists and lets bad things happen then God is bad. Though impassioned, this was a longer and more respectful exchange of viewpoints than usual. It even ended with handshakes and exchange of names. From a closer look at his tattoos, clothing, and past statements, it looks like Stephen is involved in dangerous and forbidden spiritual practices. Please keep praying for Stephen, that his heart be softened and healed, and that he yoke himself to Christ’s easy yoke and light burden.

We had several Catholics stop for Rosaries, from singles to families, from those fresh from Mass to those who talked of their faith in the past tense, from the old to a couple of Catholic high school students. Pray for their perseverance in the faith.

A man on a bike stopped to say he had married into a Catholic family, but his wife left the Church soon after they married. Her family blamed him for that, but he said he had nothing to do with it. It sounded like she has gone to some non-Catholic Christian churches that he doesn’t like. It was not clear where things stand now. Please pray for all those who have fallen away from Catholicism.

Two young-adult women and a 17-year-old boy stopped at the table. The teen listened to our Rosary info. One of the women said her “mom prayed the Rosary”. Each of the three took a Rosary and the pamphlet on how to pray it.

The familiar military veteran was greeted warmly by e. James from across the breezeway. The man seemed to grimace and his limp was more pronounced. Pray the Divine Physician grants him merciful relief, body and soul.

A 50ish bearded man on a bicycle chatted with the evangelists from across the breezeway. He had married into a Catholic family. He had been wrongly blamed for a family member converting leaving the Church for a non-Catholic denomination, but said he retained cordial relations with his wife’s family. He was looking forward to upcoming trip to a largely Catholic country.

A frequent passerby, the toothless woman with the worn face, exchanged friendly greetings and smiles with the evangelists. She still had her Rosary from us, and noted that she had been raised Jewish. E. James said, “Great! Jesus was Jewish.” She smiled and nodded. There was a little more friendly chat, and then she was on her way.

Foot traffic was lighter than usual, but it sounds like the evangelists gave away at least 10 Rosaries and its pamphlet.

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.

God hears our prayers! 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).

February 4, 2024

It seems that more parents are wanting their children to have Christian Faith. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

“Justin” neither removed his headphones nor offered a remark as he passed us, only flashing us the peace sign when we greeted him. He seemed to pointedly turn so we could read his block-lettered anti-God slogan on the back of his sweatshirt. Little does he know that so many faithful Catholics are praying for his conversion. Jesus, we trust in You.

A man with a foreign accent came to the table, pointed to a Rosary and asked, “How much?” When we said, “Free!”, he shook his head and walked away. Much later, a different man declined our offer, saying, “I was taught not to accept things that are free.” May these men come to value the great price paid for their salvation by Jesus Christ, the salvation that is freely offered to them through the obedience of faith.

A 30-something father with 2 grade-school-aged sons were on a “guys outing” when they saw us and came for a Rosary. The man wore a jersey supporting the local Catholic high school, and told us that he is actively trying to raise his children in the Faith. After they each chose a Rosary, the older boy came back and asked for another one for his 4-year-old sister who wasn’t with them. By the time he’d finished making that choice, the rest of the family had returned to the table because they remembered they needed one for their mom, too. We encouraged them to pray it together as a family. Lord, grant that whole family the grace to remain Faithful through life.

A bearded man in his late 30s and his wife passed by. He responded to our offer of a Rosary with, “No thank you. We prefer to pray directly to the Father through Jesus and don’t need anything else.” May all of us who know our great need for the intercession of friends and Church, priests and Saints, our Mother and her Son, pray that Christendom be humbly united in faith, hope, and love.

Two men approached the table, one leading the other. The man in a bright yellow work jacket, and who lagged reluctantly behind, said he didn’t know anything about the Rosary. He grew silent as e. Chuck told him about the prayer. When his eager friend stepped aside, he acted like he was going to move on without choosing a Rosary. Then he stopped to look them over. Despite our encouragement, he silently waffled before joining his friend without taking a Rosary. Please pray that God’s will is done in his life.

The military veteran from last week visited with us again. He accepted a Rosary and the pamphlet on how to pray it. May God grant him salvation and healing.

A couple in their early 20s stepped to the table in response to our offer of a free Rosary. The woman immediately chose one and put it over her head. The man deliberated awhile before choosing one. The woman remarked that that Rosary was “calling to him”. May they learn to pray it and meet the One Who is indeed calling them.

One person dismissed the multicolored “Mother Teresa” Rosaries as “too prideful” and selected a black one instead.

A group of young people in their late teens, three guys and a gal, approached. One of the young men joked to his friend about being “a heathen and don’t let it burn you”. Two members of the group accepted a Rosary and its pamphlet. May they receive abundant graces through the Rosary.

A man in his late 20s, accompanied by his son, stopped so the boy could get a Rosary and the pamphlet on how to pray it. The father had gotten one from us for himself last week. May the Lord unite this family in Faith.

A 20-ish girl said she had “heard of the Rosary”. After receiving a brief explanation of the devotion, she chose one and accepted its pamphlet. May she receive many blessings when she tries to pray the Rosary.

A young lad with freckles, about 10 years old, eagerly came to the table to get a Rosary. He also accepted its pamphlet before hurrying to catch up with his dad, who had preceded him into the sports arena. May God reward his courage.

It had been raining as we arrived, but it stopped and the sun came. So did some foot traffic, although it remained light. Still, we gave away 15-20 Rosaries and the 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 effort.

Praying the Rosary can bring many blessings to a family. 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).

January 28, 2024

More people are recognizing that Catholics are Christian. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A children’s gymnastic tournament was beginning, just as we set up, and ended before we did. However, of the 200 or so family members and competitors who passed our table, only one dad and son stopped for a Rosary. Could it perhaps be that glamour truly does blind the spirit?

A woman in her late 20s passed us by, declining our offer of a free Rosary in her search for the parking garage. But then she returned to the table to choose a Rosary, acknowledging that “we Christians are on the same team” in a lot of ways. She attends a trendy new non-Catholic Christian church and considered talk of denominational differences “a distraction from Christ”. Besides the Rosary, she also accepted the pamphlet on how to pray it, and a copy of the Catholic version of the kerygma/Good News. Pray that she perseveres in her devotion to Jesus Christ and that she meets her spiritual mother in the Rosary.

“Louis”, a thin man in his 30s and wearing yellow-tinted glasses, stopped to tell us he couldn’t wait for the Second Coming. He identifies as a non-Catholic liturgical Christian, but also attends Catholic Mass at an area parish. He told us that he has done so ever since he heard a documentary on the Catholic Church when he lived in a neighboring state. When asked if he were Catholic, he replied, “That stuff isn’t important. Only Jesus is important.” He worried about his sinfulness, but was deaf to the evangelist’s words about the benefits of the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist. But he accepted a Rosary, its pamphlet, and the encouragement to use the meditations to grow closer to Jesus. Then, when he heard that the evangelists and other Catholics [including you, gentle reader] would be praying for him, he asked that we pray he finds a resolution to his financial problems, too. Please lift up Louis in prayer.

We noted that both Louis and the woman who came back to the table both discounted “denominational differences” as unimportant. However, nothing can help a Christian more than the actual graces received in the Sacraments that Jesus Himself instituted.

Two groups of non-Christians stopped to receive a Rosary from e. James. To the second group, he gave a copy of the “Good News/kerygma” pamphlet.

“Justin” tossed out his quip about our “imaginary friends”, to which we replied, “Invisible does not mean imaginary.” So, he shot back, “You’re part of a cult”, and went on his way. May the Holy Spirit find a way to cultivate the hard-packed soil of his heart, so he can see the invisible, living God who made him.

Four teenagers, 3 girls and a guy, approached. One of the girls replied, “I want one”, to our offer of a free Rosary. She and one other girl took a Rosary and its pamphlet.

A young adult couple, all smiles, accepted a Rosary apiece, its pamphlet, and the encouragement to pray it.

A woman in her mid-30s smiled as she declined our offer, telling e. James, “That’s ok. I have my mood ring”. (The evangelist recalled St. Peter’s admonition to use “gentleness and reverence” [cf. 1 Peter 3:16] and so held back from asking her to check the ring and see if she was in the mood for a Rosary. May God draw her away from pseudo-spirituality and to Himself and life.

A homeless military veteran in his 50s, wearing a leg brace and pushing a laden cartful of belonging, said, “And, yes, I believe in Jesus”. He passed by without stopping for a Rosary.

Two boys in their late teens said they were “not Christian but believe in God”. E. James briefly encouraged them to use the Rosary to get to know Jesus, telling them it was “the Gospel on a string”. He also offered them the Rosary pamphlet and a copy of the “Good News/kerygma” pamphlet. They smiled and one  of them responded that he “likes reading about it”.

A man, “Aaron”, accompanied by his wife and child, acknowledged our Christianity and our shared love of Christ. They each happily accepted a Rosary and its pamphlet.

Altogether, we gave away 15-20 Rosaries and the pamphlet on how to pray it, as well as several copies of the “Good News”/kerygma pamphlet.

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.

Yes, being Catholic is a spiritual advantage. 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).

January 21, 2024

God is real, and He takes care of us! So, thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

The temperature last week was just below freezing (instead of clear down in the low single digits as predicted). Although an unusual amount of snow had fallen that morning, foot traffic was okay during our session, aided perhaps by the remodeling show going on in the convention center.

A vendor came out of the conference center, where a remodeling show was being held. (He might have been part of a group that had refused Rosaries from us a short time earlier.) The man said he didn’t want a Rosary, but he “had a question” (usually code for “I have an objection to Catholicism”). He asked, “Why do Catholics say you need a priest?” “You don’t,” e. Lucy began her answer, provocatively. Then she quoted Jesus’ command to “be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect” (Matt 5:48). But, we can’t do that without a whole lot of grace. Jesus instituted the Sacraments as means for us to receive that grace, and He appointed men to stand in His place to administer them to us. There was short discussion of “faith vs works” until e. Lucy pointed out that “making an act of faith is itself a ‘work’”. The man didn’t have any other questions, and politely withdrew. May God bless him for his polite manner and draw him home to the Church that He founded.

“Justin” went by, earlier than usual and in an irritable mood again this week. When e. Chuck greeted him warmly, he snarled , “It’s too cold for your [unpleasantness] today”. E. Chuck replied, “But, you’re the one giving us [unpleasantness].” He didn’t respond further. Lord, we again ask You to heal “Justin” and grant him the grace to quit trampling Your “pearl of great price” underfoot.

A 20-something male runner/jogger, wearing a stars-and-stripes mask, paused barely long enough to grab a Rosary from e. James’ hand.

A middle-aged woman from a nearby city told us that she had several Rosaries already.

A young adult man, wearing a parking attendant uniform, thoughtfully accepted a Rosary and the pamphlet on how to pray it.

A 20-something couple willingly accepted a Rosary apiece and its pamphlet.

Another man in his 20s, wearing a green ball cap and shorts, said he was “not familiar with the Rosary” when he stopped. After listening to a brief explanation of the devotion, he accepted Rosary and pamphlet.

A couple in their early 30s said, “Sure, we’d like one”, when offered a free Rosary. They each chose a Rosary and accepted the pamphlet.

A woman in her late 40s, and wearing a heavy brown coat, hobbled past with her foot in a heavy brace. She told us that she “knew how to pray it” as she accepted a Rosary and its pamphlet. She then asked for a Divine Mercy prayer card as well.

A cigarette-smoking man in his late 40s was a vender at the trade show. He took a Rosary and its pamphlet.

Another vendor from the event, named “Spencer”, stepped outside for a break and came to the table for a Rosary. He attends a fairly ancient, non-Catholic, nationalist, liturgical church and says they don’t have Rosaries available there. He mentioned his eastern European ancestry, and said he “liked that Catholics partied” (that is, weren’t forbidden to drink alcohol). Then he mused that if his and the Catholic churches were reunited it would be wonderful, and the world would have to “watch out.” We agreed that Christian unity is our desire, too. Please pray for Christian unity!

A thin, dark haired woman, in her 50s, happily accepted a Rosary and its pamphlet. A visitor to the area, she mentioned that her parish was “St. Rose” (of Lima?).

Altogether, we gave away 15-20 Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as a Divine Mercy prayer card.

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.

Our non-threatening presence encourages people to approach us with questions. 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).

P.S. A couple of additional prayer requests.

The three of us met afterwards to discuss a visiting priest’s suggestion that we set up a booth at a farmer’s market. We looked up the two locally available venues and saw that our “product” fits neither. Besides, we don’t have the numbers of evangelists needed to cover 4-6 hour sessions. Please join us in prayer for discernment.

Please also join us in praying that the missionary priests of our diocese (about 1/3 of all of our priests), aren’t deported when they try to renew their work visas.

January 14, 2024

We stand for Truth and encourage people to pray. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

Three men approached the table intent on challenging the Catholic Church. While the older man engaged e. Lucy and e. James in argument (see below), the other two stood off to the side offering their tracts to people while e. Chuck offered the same passersby a Rosary. Finally, e. Chuck introduced himself to the two men and asked what they were up to. Only one spoke to the evangelist, his name is “Nick” and he’s the pastor of a start-up church planted by a big, out-of-state megachurch. His church had come downtown to carry signs and hand out tracts (two of which the evangelist later found under the windshield wipers of his truck). It was a polite, sensible discussion and though Nick was surprised that the Catholic Church actually put its faith in Jesus Christ, he also seemed skeptical of what the evangelist told him. His wife, children, and some other members of his church arrived to say they were cold and ready to leave. So, the discussion ended. Pray for pastor Nick, that his professed devotion to truth will lead him to find it and accept it.

“Richard”, from the same non-Catholic Christian church, engaged e. Lucy in very one-sided rant, starting with the role of “tradition” in faith, then quickly accusing us of “speaking with the dead”, and continuing in a non-stop “doctrinal dance”, switching from objection to objection without waiting to hear our answers. “Richard”, it turns out, had turned his back on the Catholic faith he’d been baptized in. His mentor had been a piest, steeping him in suspicion about the Novus Ordo Mass. After his mentor’s death, Richard received a sudden freedom from alcohol addiction during a non-Catholic Christian service. Judging that Christ makes Himself present only within that denomination, he turned his back on Catholicism and began looking for supposed flaws in Catholic teaching in order to justify his leaving the Sacraments. Of course, he considers himself his own authority on what is true, and trusts completely in his own interpretations of Scripture (despite the fact that his misinterpretation of Psalm 31:14 had justified his slide into addiction in the first place). He did accept a copy of our “Praying to the Saints” pamphlet, with the encouragement to sit down and pray over every passage of Scripture listed in it. He said he would. He ended by trying to find a passage in our copy of the Bible to “prove there is no Sacramental priesthood”, but couldn’t spot it. E. Lucy invited him to return next Sunday. Lord, open “Richard’s” mind to actually understand Catholic teaching and bring him back to the Church that You founded.

A 20-something man named “Joshua” pointed out that his name is from the Hebrew version of Jesus’ name, and indicated that, because of that name link, he is obsessed with Jesus. He showed us a series of pictures of Jesus he had collected on his phone, many of which were meant to be humorous (such as: “weightlifter Jesus”). So, the evangelist recommended he pray the Rosary and meet the real Jesus, the God Who became man to save us. As the evangelist talked to him, Josh studied the pictures of Jesus in the pamphlet and on the Rosary’s Crucifix, still seemingly obsessed with images of Jesus. Pray that Josh meets Jesus the Savior in faith and truth.

The woman of a couple, in their 20s or early 30s, paused to show e. Chuck her homemade prayer beads. There was a Crucifix on it, but otherwise it seemed to be just a random number of beads on a string. (This may be the same couple that we sometimes see selling strings of beads near us in the business park.) The boyfriend had crosses dangling from pierced ears. The evangelist gave the woman a copy of the Rosary pamphlet, showing her how the prayer puts its focus on Christ and would help her prayer life. Pray this couple’s faith remains grounded in Christ.

Three high school girls, led by one with a wide smile, came to the table wanting Rosaries. The leader asked e. Chuck for prayers for protection for her and her friends and, as we began to pray, she crossed herself and admitted she was Catholic. After the prayer, she encouraged her friends to pick out Rosaries. All of them accepted the pamphlet as well, and listened to e. Lucy’s explanation of the prayer. Please pray for this young evangelist and her friends, that the family of God will continue to grow.

Just as we finished praying with the girls in the above story, “Justin” passed by with a scowl on his face and a snarky comment about “imaginary friends”. Please continue to pray for this man, may he hear Christ knocking at the door to his heart.

Two teen Christian fellows accepted Rosaries and pamphlets. One teen said he was attending Bible class at a non-Catholic Christian church in a neighboring city. E. James pointed out the Scriptural references to each Mystery in the Rosary pamphlet.

Another Christian couple in their early 20s didn’t know about Rosary, but listened to e. Lucy’s brief explanation of the devotion. They then each accepted a Rosary and its pamphlet.

A man in his 30s, carrying hockey gear and wearing dark glasses, took a Rosary and its pamphlet. He told us that he wanted to grow closer to his wife in Christian faith. May God grant them that growth.

A big-boned man in his 20s, wearing a tan “Santa Cruz” sweatshirt, said he learned how to pray the Rosary in high school. He took a Rosary from the table and accepted the pamphlet on how to pray it.

A foreign woman, wearing a black coat and headscarf, made the Sign of the Cross as she approached table, letting us know she is Catholic. She gratefully accepted a Rosary and its pamphlet.
A tall, thin runner paused just long enough to grab a Rosary, saying he’d pray on the run. When we remarked that we were glad to have a jogger stop by, he gruffly replied, “I’m not a jogger; I’m a runner!” May God grant him the grace to forgive our mistake.

Altogether, we gave away 20-25 Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as a “Praying to the Saints” pamphlet.

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.

The Lord kept us busy with visitors, hot and cold toward the Faith. 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).

January 7, 2024

As the calendar turns to a new year, we continue to encourage people to connect with Jesus Christ. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

Today, we had short visits from two earlier team members. E. (now-Deacon) Bill and his wife stopped to offer encouragement. Later, e. Todd stopped by, pulling out his heavy-duty silver-beaded Rosary. We introduced him to e. James. They talked for a few minutes about the men’s groups at their respective parishes, in which they are each active.

A group of adult women and one little girl (perhaps 8-10 years old) stopped so the child could get a Rosary. The adults seemed to be in a hurry so, when the child said she wasn’t Christian, e. Lucy showed her the stories in the Rosary pamphlet and encouraged her to use them as a way to get to know Jesus.

A man paused to ask how many beads were in a Rosary. When the evangelist named a number, he immediately lost interest. So, we suspect he was looking for a non-Christian set of meditation beads.

A woman, walking amid several groups of people, veered toward our table she heard our offer of a free Rosary. She had been away from the church for years. But her husband of 44 years had passed away last Fall, and she was struggling to adapt. She felt it was time to get reconnect with the Catholic Church. E. Lucy set her up with a map to area parishes, so she could return to the Sacraments and the Catholic community.

A homeless-looking couple on bicycles stopped for a Rosary. The man said they could use “all the help [they] could get”. We encouraged them to pray the Rosary together.

A Catholic extended family stopped so the youngest (a 6- or 7-year-old girl) could get a Rosary. The mom commented to the girl that the brightly colored Rosaries with different colors for each decade were “Mother Teresa” Rosaries (with each decade representing a different continent). It was heart-warming to hear such a devoutly Catholic comment. We encouraged them to pray it as a family.

A young couple with a foreign accent each chose a Rosary, perhaps out of cultural interest. They asked us, “How do you call it?” and then repeated “Rosary” after hearing its name.

An older man wearing sunglasses waved off our offer of a free Rosary by saying he had a couple Rosaries of his own at home, in his nightstand and elsewhere. We encouraged him to pray it.

A man wearing western attire and the woman with him said they were “Christian” and humbly accepted Rosaries and the pamphlet on how to use it for prayer.

A Catholic mom, accompanied by a young adult daughter, stopped to tell us that they were on their way to a resort city north of here. But she wanted to show us her “miracle Rosary”. It had been burgundy, but on the same day that her prayer for healing was answered, it turned white (with only a tiny spot of burgundy left to show what color it used to be). She interpreted the color change as symbolizing spiritual cleansing. It’s always encouraging to meet a fellow Rosary enthusiast.

A couple from an historically Catholic culture accepted Rosaries and pamphlets.

A dark-haired young-adult man on a mountain bike stopped to get a Rosary, its pamphlet, and prayer cards.

A woman refused to accept a Rosary, but allowed her 2 daughters to each pick out a pink Rosary and take the pamphlet on how to pray it.

A mom with 2 teen daughters told us that “of course” she’s familiar with the Rosary. She then selected 2 Rosaries and took pamphlets for them.

Two tall young-adult men stopped. One was wearing a military field jacket and a cowboy hat with military patches. They gladly accepted a Rosary and its pamphlet.

Two dark-haired teens said they “were familiar with the Rosary”, and took a Rosary apiece and its pamphlet.

A 30-something Catholic couple stopped so their daughter, wearing a “cat ears” headband, could get a Rosary. We encouraged them to pray it together as a family.

Most, but not all, people seemed happy to return our “Happy New Year” greeting. A few even preceded us with the comment. Altogether, we gave away 20-25 Rosaries and its pamphlet, a Madonna-and-child prayer card, and a Divine Mercy prayer card.

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.

As “the holidays” wrap up, we continue to present the Rosary as a way to grow closer to Jesus Christ, for Whom all time exists. 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).

December 31, 2023

The need for Our Savior Jesus Christ and His Holy Catholic Church continues. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A father and two children went by, the children looking longingly at the Rosaries. But the father said no, and we affirmed his authority. Lord, plant Your seed of Faith in those children and bring them to You!

A middle-aged woman from a large city on the other side of the continent, came with money in hand. But we told her that we don’t accept donations. She accepted a Rosary anyway, and spoke glowingly of the goodness of her recently deceased, 90-year-old husband, a former seminarian. We worried about her flashing a large bundle of cash. May God have kept her safe and blessed her for her generous intent.

A group of Catholics passed us. At first, they declined our offer of a Rosary, but then one accepted. He told us he prayed the Liturgy of the Hours daily. May God bless him and keep him faithful. The younger woman with him, though looking at us in a friendly manner, didn’t choose a Rosary.

A family with two children stopped so they could pick a Rosary. They came back some minutes later because the children wanted different colors than they had originally chosen. We let them choose another, sanitizing their original choices and putting them back out on the table.

Nobody mentioned the Pope’s latest pastoral decision.

Occasional visitor “Michele”, with stroller and dog, stopped to chat a bit. She still had the Rosary she had gotten from us earlier, but asked prayers for her friend “Michelle” who lives in the same building and is ill with covid.

The homeless woman with the crippled hands said she didn’t need a Rosary today.

A Catholic woman, who moved here from the east coast and now belongs to a local parish, came up and gave a friendly shout, “Yeah, Catholic Church!”

A thin, young adult woman with a small daughter, accepted a Rosary and its pamphlet. She told us she “had Catholics in the family.”

A woman dressed in a festive red outfit, and her daughter, each took a Rosary and its pamphlet.

When e. Lucy showed a 20-something woman the Rosary pamphlet that explains the devotion, our visitor agreed that pictures help her in spiritual contemplation.

An older couple with a young girl (their granddaughter?) accepted Rosaries.

A man, accompanied by his wife and young son, accepted a Rosary and its pamphlet. He said he just wanted to give his son “religious options”, presumably letting his boy make up his own mind. Blessed Mother, please lead that child and his family to Your Son, the only true God.

The weather was heavily overcast, but temperatures were relatively warm. We were spared any breeze until “closing time”. Foot traffic was light, but fairly steady. Altogether, the two evangelists gave away 15-20 Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as a Divine Mercy prayer card.

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.

Our work continues. 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).

December 24, 2023

God calls all to Himself. So, thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A grinning man, on a black, fat-tired, electric bike, zoomed to the table to select a Rosary. He didn’t say anything at first, but kept smiling as the evangelist explained the Rosary prayer. The man finally explained  that he was a member of a non-Christian world religion, but that he loved Jesus and his holy book told him that he should love Jesus more than his own parents. So, the evangelist encouraged him to love Jesus by actually praying the Rosary. Still smiling, the man rode away. Please pray that his love will turn to faith and trust in Christ.

A man clad in the colors of a national sports team accepted a Rosary and its pamphlet.

A familiar, slow-moving, older man stopped. He smiled and said, “Life is all about doing what you can.” E. Chuck gently responded, “It’s all about Jesus.” The man replied, “Sometimes,” and moved on. Lord, grant him healing and salvation!

“Justin” walked by at his usual time, dropping a sarcastic statement as he moved on. It is clear that he just wants to be provocative and insulting. Maybe he is hoping we become enraged, insulted, shocked, or discouraged. Pray that the evangelists don’t give in to such temptations, since that would only cement the separation he sees between us. Our hope is that he becomes a man of faith, hope, and charity. Please pray that his heart is softened so he can make that journey to unity with God and His Church.

”Paul”, wearing a festive red bow tie, stopped and introduced himself as belonging to the Knights of Columbus at e. James’ parish. He accepted a Rosary and its pamphlet as he awaited his family’s arrival for an outing at the business park’s free ice-skating rink.

A 20-something couple said they were Catholic and took Rosaries and pamphlets. She tried unsuccessfully to put it over her head. May God grant that she reads the Rosary pamphlet, embraces the devotion, and grows in holiness.

Three middle-aged ladies responded, “We have Rosaries!”, as they passed by.

A woman accompanying her family proudly waved her wood, large-beaded Rosary in friendly solidarity with our efforts

A teenage couple with dyed hair and many piercings stopped to select a Rosary. Only the boy spoke. He said he didn’t know anything about the Rosary and was no longer Christian, though not anti-Christian. When asked why he was no longer Christian, he talked vaguely about past family/church issues from his “youth.” The evangelist begged them not to let some past hurt or misunderstanding keep them from the most important thing in anyone’s life: a relationship with God. He encouraged them to pray the Rosary and ask Jesus all the hard questions on their minds. They listened patiently and thanked us before moving on. Pray that their hearts are open to meeting their Lord and Savior in prayer.

Despite the chill resulting from the temperature inversion, there were a fair number of folks out and about. So, we gave away from 15 to 20 Rosaries. We even gave out 5 or 6 chain Rosaries. There seemed to be a greater percentage of Catholics out this time.

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.

No living human being is too far away for God’s grace, and we keep going out to seek them. 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!

“No sacrifice is more acceptable to God than zeal for souls.” –Pope Gregory the Great

December 17, 2023

God loves people! So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

The free skate rink was open, but we set up in our usual spot.

A large, half-lit Menorah had been set up on the side of the skating rink nearest us. Several people posed for pictures in front of it. Not surprisingly, perhaps, none of them accepted a Rosary.

“Barry” was a vendor at the conference next door and stopped to pick up a couple of Rosaries for his daughters. (He had a Rosary of his own that was blessed by the Pope.) He knew what the Rosary was because he had attended a Catholic school when he was a kid, but had spent many years away from any kind of church. His wife had also been raised Catholic, but had quit over feminist issues. They now attend a lookalike non-Catholic Christian church in their home state. He likes it because it is large, successful, and his girls also like it. When e. Chuck began to bring up the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist, Barry interrupted by partially quoting the Nicene Creed about apostolic succession and the holy catholic church. It was apparent, though, that he believed those things applied to all churches. Please pray for Barry, his wife, and fallen-away Catholics everywhere.

A man on a bicycle wanted a Rosary. He said he had been baptized Catholic but “hadn’t been Catholic” for a long time. We assured him that as a baptized Catholic he was still a Catholic, and encouraged him to get to know Jesus again by praying the Rosary. We gave him a “Come Home” pamphlet. Then he told us he had recently become homeless but he was working to get his life back together. Pray that he works as hard to repair his spiritual life as his economic life.

A large extended family, with 6-8 children under the age of 10, walked by and declined our offer. But the last couple of kids in the line ran to the table and selected a Rosary before running to catch up with the rest of the family. Soon, the other children came running back to get a “necklace” but gave us blank looks when we talked about the prayer. Before the last group had finished choosing, the first 2 groups came back and returned the Rosary pamphlet (plus a Rosary or two), saying, evidently at the prompting of their father, that they “didn’t want to waste them.” We watched one of the boys looking quizzically at the figure of Christ on the Cross. Pray that those blessed Rosaries may be the seed of the Good News planted in their hearts.

We had the three other big families swarm in and select Rosaries but don’t remember getting any story out of them in all the hubbub.

“Justin” walked by at his usual time and made a couple of his standard snide remarks before putting his headphones back over his ears and heading on his way. One thing he doesn’t seem to discern is the distinction between imaginary and invisible. Please continue to keep praying for him.

While “Justin’ was bantering with e. Chuck, a teenage girl came for a Rosary, although she didn’t seem either familiar with it or with Christianity. E. Lucy showed her the Mysteries as a way to get to know Jesus and told her a story of the power of the Rosary prayer. A few minutes later, 2 or 3 other teenage girls came for a Rosary apiece.

A perhaps gender-confused teen stopped for a Rosary, listened politely to the explanation of the devotion, and thanked us warmly. Later, two teenage girls holding hands came to the table and chose a Rosary apiece, but we don’t remember them actually saying anything. Lord, You are the Truth. Please speak to their hearts and let them know You knew what You were doing when You made them. Grant them trust in You!

A woman with a well-covered baby in a stroller stopped for a Rosary. She’s Catholic from a country well south of here, and had been to Mass that very afternoon.

A Catholic man from the cathedral parish, who has stopped before, paused to again encourage us. May God bless him!

Altogether, the two evangelists gave away easily 30 Rosaries and its pamphlet.

Please pray for us again today? Please 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.

People were in a festive mood, and more of them than usual were open to receiving a Rosary. 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).

P.S. A few more stories from our previous session, on 2023-12-03:

There were 49er football fans aplenty today, proudly wearing team logos. Our Boise “Team SPSE” proudly (but gently 😌) competed for their attention.

A thin man looked over the Rosaries and took one “for his son”.

E. Chuck engaged a familiar heckler, (wearing a “Crawford” sports shirt) who exhorted us to explain, “Why does God allow child-hood cancer?” It was a somewhat more encouraging encounter compared to his usual flyby shout of criticism.

A young teen boy and 2 girls said they were Christian and accepted Rosaries and pamphlets.

An orange-coated, older, toothless woman with a weathered face and wistful expression quietly accepted a Rosary and pamphlet.

When the mother accompanied by 6 active youths approached the table, e. James spoke with an older girl who said her grandparents were Catholic. The evangelist acknowledged the wonderful formative influence of the “Faith of Our Fathers”. He went through the Rosary pamphlet with her, highlighting the links to Christ and the Gospel. She seemed receptive. May God draw her and her family all the way into His Church!

December 10, 2023

We had some good surprises this time. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

Although it was pouring rain as we each headed downtown, the rain stopped and stayed stopped during our session. Therefore, some people were out where they could encounter us.

A woman stopped for a Rosary. I don’t think she was Catholic, but she was familiar with an area parish because of a program she had attended there. E. Lucy gave her a map of local parishes with Mass and Reconciliation times listed and encouraged her to get connected.

A family group stopped, consisting of a mom and 5 teens. They each accepted a Rosary while e. Lucy gave a brief description of the devotion. Then e. James helped them to see the Rosary as “the Gospel on a string”. We encouraged them to pray it, even if all they had were questions.

E. James gave another Rosary to the homeless woman with crippled hands.

“Justin” came walking toward the table from the opposite direction he usually travels. So, e. Chuck commented on his lack of a skateboard. He responded by gesturing toward the rain. He passed the table, then stopped, turned, and asked, “What about childhood cancer?” E. Chuck approached him because he was having trouble hearing the question and, once he understood, responded that things like that were tragic. “Justin” retorted that it was and yet our God does nothing about it. The evangelist tried to talk about the nature of our fallen world, but “Justin” interrupted to say that God doesn’t care about children’s lives. The evangelist replied that death is not the end of our lives. “Justin” laughed and said, “You’re fooling yourself”, and continued walking.

Amazed that “Justin” had finally paused and engaged in conversation with us, the evangelists received yet another surprise when he walked by again at his usual time. This time, he asked e. Chuck why he was Catholic when all priests are [a danger to children]. The evangelist walked with him and denied his gross exaggeration, explaining the Church’s reforms. But “Justin” laughed and repeated, “You’re fooling yourself.” E. Chuck persisted in defending the majority of good priests, but also noted that he thought that any priest caught should be arrested and jailed. “Justin” continued to laugh this off, then, whether in sarcasm or sincerely we don’t know, he said, “I appreciate you” before continuing on his way to work. Praise God for a slightly more open dialogue, and please continue to pray for “Justin” that his heart be softened and his eyes opened to the reality and goodness of God.

The outdoor skating rink was closed, due to inclement weather. However, the rain stopped just as we arrived and didn’t start up again until we were all packed up. Therefore, we were able to set up in our usual spot. Foot traffic was light, but we did receive some interest.

Altogether, we gave away 15-20 Rosaries and the pamphlet on how to pray it, as well as a copy of the 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 efforts.

We try to be a trustworthy reminder of God’s love for us, and to provide a safe place for questions. 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).

December 3, 2023

God answers prayer, and sometimes we notice. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

Not only was that annual decorated tree exhibition going on in the main convention center, but the new city-sponsored “ice” skating rink had opened in the middle of the business park. We were asked to move out of the center circle. So, we set up on the busy north corridor. By the end of our session, two buskers had also set up shop, 1 on either side.

Thirty-somethings “Nolan” and “Dakota” wondered what we were doing, and Dakota asked if e. Chuck would pray for them. After the prayer, the evangelist noticed their smirky smiles, so he asked what was up. It turns out that Nolan had gone from being a highly active, well read Christian to being a non-believer, and that Dakota, a Christian, was hoping to make his friend uncomfortable. Despite the prank, they stayed to talk and argue, and even expressed interest in returning to continue the conversation. Despite his tenacious, pride-filled conviction that there is no God, Nolan very much wants God to be real and is dedicated to seeking the truth. May The Way, The Truth and The Life help him to realize his desire. Please pray that Nolan and Dakota return to speak with the evangelists again. Please also pray that God continues to draw Nolan back to Faith.

If you are a long-time follower of this apostolate, you may recall “Martin”, from about a decade ago. At that time, he asked prayer to be freed from “demon rum”, and e. Lucy and a non-Catholic Christian visitor prayed for him. This week, immediately after the following encounter (too late!), e. Lucy thought she recognized Martin in the man with long black hair who stopped for a Rosary. He asked e. Lucy if she were Christian. Yes! He asked what church she attended, then grimaced when she named her Catholic parish. Then he kept repeating that he identified as a member of a particular, often anti-Catholic, denomination of non-Catholic Christians. E. Lucy affirmed that this is a good time for Christians to be standing shoulder to shoulder, in perhaps an  unconscious echo of that previous encounter. Our visitor shook hands with both us as he took his leave. Please pray that he remains free of addiction and grows in his love for Jesus Christ.

Two girls in their early teens stopped. They weren’t Christian, so e. Lucy encouraged them to take their questions respectfully into their meditation on the Mysteries of the Rosary.

Three employees from the juice bar directly across from where we set up came to us separately for a Rosary. The first declared his non-belief in God but was glad we were out there encouraging others to faith. May God grant him a return to the one true Faith, and may He bless the others!

The man with the changeable accent (encountered a few weeks ago), and whom e. Lucy pegged as “the merchant” from a few years back, came and wanted another Rosary, pointing to the fanciest one on the table. She said no. We cannot be a party to the selling of blessed items. May God heal him and grant him the courage to be truthful.

There were lots of people passing by, but very few conversations. People seemed to be in a hurry, either to get to the activities in the center of the business park or to get back home. Still, the two evangelists gave away at least 20 Rosaries and the pamphlet on how to pray it.

Please pray for us again today? Ask that God 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.

Jesus came to save us, and that’s still His desire. 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).

November 26, 2023

Praying the Rosary is a way to grow closer to Jesus Christ, the King of Creation. Some accept. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A family of four stopped, the mother interested in receiving a Rosary. After they heard an explanation of the devotion, all four of them chose a Rosary and accepted the booklet. When we encouraged the parents to pray it daily as a family, the father said they’d try it that very afternoon! May God reward them and encourage them.

A down-and-out couple accepted a Rosary apiece. They huddled in the corner of the exhibition building to get a break from the cold wind. Later in the session, the woman came back and requested another copy of the Rosary pamphlet because hers had blown away. May God bless them, comfort them, and heal them of all that separates them from society.

A pair of teenage girls came eagerly over for a free Rosary. They were only vaguely familiar with Christianity, so e. Lucy encouraged them to use the Mysteries to explore Jesus’ life and to reverently take their questions to the prayer. May God grant them Faith!

A man who had been raised Catholic wanted a Rosary, but wasn’t happy with the colorful ones we had out on the table. E. Lucy then remembered our remaining bag of 10 black Rosaries. He happily chose one of those. And so did 7 other people during the session.

A tall man on an electric scooter sped past. He startled at our offer, but continued on his way.  Moments later, though, he circled back to select a Rosary and listened as we shared with him the how’s and why’s of the prayer. He then smiled and said it would soon be hanging from the mirror in his car. E. Lucy suggested he take it down and pray with it, too. Pray that he remain steadfast in faith and that he hears Our Lady calling him to a deeper relationship with her Son through the Rosary.

To our offer of a Rosary, a homeless-looking man with bushy blond hair stopped to say, slurring his words somewhat, “We’ve talked before; you know what I think.” Not remembering the earlier conversation, e. Chuck approached the man. Our visitor talked about his belief that all religions are right and how he wants to get along with everybody, but that he did hate one person: himself. Our visitor seemed inclined to talk non-stop but, edging away, e. Chuck did manage to offer to pray that he could come to love the child of God that He had created him to be. Please keep the man in your prayers as well.

“John” (the retired parking lot service tech)  arrived with his dog to talk about his progress with his electric car invention. He did say he was not looking forward to Thanksgiving on the other side of the state with family who, he thought, complained too much. Pray for safe travels for everyone for this holiday season and for peace in family gatherings.

Here is a conversation with a man who passed without stopping:

“Would you like a free Rosary?”

“No thank you.”

“May God bless you.”

“Thank you. I’m an atheist but still, thank you.”

May the Holy Spirit use his quiet, polite demeanor as a road into his heart that he may come to know the living God Who made him.

Although the pouring rain had stopped hours earlier, there was still a cold, steady breeze. Most of the square was also still blocked off for construction. Therefore, the number of people making their way through the business park was limited. God also mercifully moderated the strength of the breeze until closing time (when it picked up again). None of the Rosaries blew off the table, although we did chase a pamphlet and plastic bag or two. God is good!

Altogether we gave away 15 or so Rosaries and the 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.

God’s work in “His Vineyard” still goes on. 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).

November 19, 2023

Sometimes we get serious questions. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

“Jay” and two other young adult men (“JJ” and “Veda”) stopped, curious about the Rosary. Jay started to grill e. Lucy about Mary, referring to her as a “dead human”, asking if we consider her “a mediator”, and asking, “where does it say in the Bible…” He landed on “praying to Saints” and showed the evangelist a definition on his phone, which said that “to pray” meant “to address a request to a deity”. He couldn’t understand that there was an older definition that meant simply “to ask”, and that that is the sense of “to pray” that Catholics use when we talk to the Saints. The conversation went round and round in that same circle until e. Chuck stepped in and finally broke the deadlock by clarifying that, if we were to use Jay’s definition, then no, we do not “pray to Saints” since we worship only God. While e. Lucy had been trying the answer Jay’s objection, e. Chuck had been talking with “Veda”, who was from a troubled country on another continent. Veda is a Christian, but mostly reads from the Old Testament and likes to read devotional books, two of which he talked about with e. Chuck. He wished that Christians were more united. He and the third boy were antsy to get going, but their friend “Jay” was still talking with e. Lucy and so e. Chuck joined that conversation. Among other things, Jay wanted to know  was what the difference was between Catholic Christians and “regular” Christians like him. E. Chuck said it was all about authority. For Jay it was “Bible alone”, for Catholics it was Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and the Apostolic succession. Jay also wanted the evangelists to share times that prayers to Mary had been answered for us, and he shared his own experiences. He talked about coming to see us again next week. They accepted the how to pray the Rosary pamphlets but did not take a Rosary. Pray that their faith is rooted in Christ and that they can see that His Church is His continued presence in the world.

“Deborah” and “Peter” from e. Lucy’s parish came and took pictures in preparation for promoting our apostolate in the parish bulletin. May God bless them!

1. 1. James talked with a homeless woman, who has gotten a Rosary from us before. Building relationships is very important component of evangelization.

A man and woman from the middle of the state were there because a grandson (or nephew?) was competing in the high school hockey tournament going on in the sports arena. They had approached the table saying they “needed a prayer”. After they received a description of the Rosary devotion, and had each chosen a Rosary in their student’s school colors, it became clear that the prayer they wanted was for the success of their boy’s sports team in the playoffs. May God open their eyes to perceive the bigger needs around them.

A nicely dressed, elderly woman with a cane, who was from out of town, approached the table with a smile saying that she belonged to a non-Catholic Christian denomination, which has groups that are very vocally anti-Catholic. We assured her of the Rosary’s focus on Christ and showed her how to pray it. A jolly person, she said she was dedicated to prayer and appreciated what we were doing in the public square. May her faith be a strong influence on her family.

A teenage couple, dressed in a way meant to confuse their sex, came to the table to select Rosaries. (E. Lucy talked with them and briefly shared the Gospel message.) Pray that they turn their backs on the world’s lies and seek out Him Who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

A man, who has stopped a few times before to argue that Catholicism is all wrong and who tends to frustrate the evangelists with his tendency to neither listen nor respond to our arguments, was passing by. So, e. Chuck engaged him in a conversation about his family, co-workers, and travels, seeking common ground in a love for Mariachi music. Pray that his heart will be softened toward the Catholic Church.

“Justin” showed up again, rolling by on his skateboard as we were talking to the three young men in the story above. As usual, he made a snarky comment about us “talking about your imaginary friends” before speeding away to display the anti-God saying on the back of his t-shirt. E. Chuck hollered that it was good to see him again but he gave no reply. The evangelist then explained to the puzzled young men about “Justin’s” drive-by atheism. Please keep praying that his eyes are opened to the reality of the living God.

A pink-and-black clad teenage “couple” accepted Rosaries and pamphlets on how to pray it.

“Jason”, a Catholic new to Boise from a state south of here, happily accepted a map to area churches from e. Lucy.

An older, smiling woman, carrying a backpack and vest, stopped to chat. E. James recognized her from a few weeks ago when she had accepted Rosary from him. Recognizing that evangelization is about building trusting relationships, he was able to offer her an enjoyable short friendly exchange.

Two teenage boys with baseball caps approached. One said, “My mom is a Christian”, but he was not familiar with the Rosary.

A non-Catholic Christian, woman was wearing a sweater with the logo of the airline for which her son is a pilot. She told the evangelists that she is visiting from another state. She was very friendly to us and offered her ecumenical support for our “being out here, doing this”.  She also accepted a Rosary and its pamphlet.

A bearded man, with smudged face and backpack, walked quickly by. But then he hesitated momentarily to grab a Rosary and its pamphlet May God also call him to use the Rosary prayers to grow closer to Him.

A 20-something, bearded, toothless man, and his pal who was wearing round rose-colored glasses, were genuinely curious about the Rosary. E. James described the devotion’s relation to the Gospel and a bit about its history. The bearded fellow asked, “So, it’s a physical way to enhance your prayer?” The evangelist agreed, calling the Rosary a “Gospel-on-a-string” and showing them the Rosary pamphlet’s Gospel excerpts. They each accepted a Rosary and a copy of the  pamphlet.

Altogether, the three evangelists gave away 10-15 Rosaries and the 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.

Sometimes, finding common ground is a challenge. 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).

November 12, 2023

God again let us know that He sees. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

In the area where we set up, the music system was blaring so loudly that people passing by couldn’t understand what we were saying. We caught on to that fact when a woman, declining our offer as she passed by, paused to read our sign. Then, she called to us, “Oh, are you offering Rosaries?” When we said yes, she immediately came back to the table and claimed one for herself. After that, we thought to pray, “Jesus, would You please take care of that (the noise)?” Instantly, the song ended and, when the music resumed, it was at a much lower volume! Thank you, God! Yes, He knows what we need before we ask, but sometimes it takes awhile for us to think of asking. *sheepish grin*

A man and woman stopped, sort of familiar with the Rosary, but not really. Were they Christian? Not really. So, since they seemed anxious to be moving along, e. Lucy briefly promoted the Rosary as a way to think about scenes from the life of Jesus and find out what people have found important about Him. She also recounted that many people, if they did that reverently, even if all they had were questions, found an unexplained sense of peace and protection. They each chose a Rosary before continuing on their way.

Several families with children passed by, the children looking longingly at the colorful Rosaries. However, their parents said no, and we respected their parental authority.

Another father, with two girls both under the age of 10, passed by. The girls were drawn to the Rosaries, but we said they could have them only if their dad said it was okay. This dad did give his permission. So, we set the two girls up with a Rosary apiece and its pamphlet. The father, although familiar with the devotion from his childhood, declined receiving one.

Unusually for her, e. Lucy gave two Rosaries away as snatch-and-grabs; that is, people took a Rosary from her hand without pausing for any interaction with us.

A man leaving the hockey arena declined a Rosary by saying that it was “the work of [the enemy of mankind].” The evangelist replied that it was “all about Jesus.” The man shook his head and kept going. Pray that his heart is softened and his eyes opened to the ways Our Mother Mary can touch our lives and draw us to her Son.

“John”, the retired parking lot attendant, came to visit with e. Chuck. May God grant John safety as he works on his electrical inventions. And please pray for John’s wife, “Linda”, whose gallbladder was removed earlier that week.

Although it’s November, God granted us sunny 60+ degrees (F). So, people were in pleasant spirits. Most of the business park is still fenced off for construction, but we  gave away 15 or so Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as a Divine Mercy prayer card.

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.

God continues to bless our efforts. 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).

November 5, 2023

God knows what we need! So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

E. Lucy saw a man approaching. About the same time that she offered a Rosary, she noticed the Roman collar he was wearing. She asked if he was a priest. Yes, a Catholic priest, he said. Then, having been fooled before, she asked his parish, relaxing when he readily named the nearest one. Just then, e. James arrived. So we asked “Fr. Tim” for his blessing. He extended his arms and prayed over us, asking the Holy Spirit’s empowerment and protection. In the middle of his prayer, a man went by and used a loud profanity to voice his contempt for the sacred moment. Lord, save that man! And please bless Fr. Tim and keep him faithful.

“Tom” was walking two beautifully groomed standard poodles and a small dog, all off leash. E. Lucy complimented the dogs’ grooming and the man approached our table. She offered him a Rosary and he opened up. He had been raised in a pseudo-Christian sect, but had left a couple of years ago because he got tired of their cult-like control and burdensome tithing requirements. But he now feels the need to reconnect with a church, he said. However, he finds himself easily triggered. He had begun attending a non-Catholic Christian church but, after only a few weeks, was approached and told he needed to start tithing. He didn’t go back. He was intrigued by the Rosary and open to learning about the Catholic Church, expressing a genuine interest in the Mass. We set him up with a map to area parishes and helped him identify his parish. He also accepted a Rosary, a “Why Be Catholic?” pamphlet, and we referred him to Catholic media sources. May God lead him all the way home!

“Jacoby”, a young adult woman, stopped to tell us she has recently become Catholic, and chose a Rosary. E. James then suggested she take a Divine Mercy prayer card, the short prayer that uses the same beads. She enthusiastically accepted, telling us she would send a picture of it to her friend, on the other side of the country, who had led her into the Catholic Church. Lord, grant her an ever-growing awareness of the treasure trove of graces she’s stepped into!

A large Catholic family from e. Chuck’s parish stopped. After they learned the Rosaries were free, two of the children and the mother accepted one. We encouraged them to pray it together as a family. They joyfully shook hands with us before leaving.

Two women in costume stopped to receive a Rosary apiece. They were dressed as a cowgirl and a mermaid, but e. Lucy was greatly edified to see how modest their clothing was. A woman who was standing nearby, waiting to meet someone, also gladly commented on the dignity that lent to their womanhood.

A group of adults stopped early in the session and accepted a Rosary apiece. They were Christian, but were unfamiliar with the Rosary. E. Lucy explained how meditating on the scenes from the life of Christ helps one grow closer to Him, and how He often responds to those who use the Rosary reverently by blessing them with protection and peace.

A middle-aged couple, pulling a brightly costumed child in a wagon, paused at our offer of a free Rosary. They hesitantly approached, and listened to e. Lucy’s explanation of the devotion. They cordially accepted Rosaries and pamphlets.

A young man, from a group of similar-aged youth, had “no time to talk” but grabbed a Rosary and its pamphlet in passing. Blessed Mother, lead him to pray it and get to know your Son!

A middle-aged guy gruffly refused receiving a Rosary, declaring his belief that there is no God to believe in.

On his second pass, an antagonistic man asked, “Are these [Rosaries] for prayer?” E. James responded, “Yes.” The man immediately challenged, “What about, ‘You shall have no other gods before me?’” The evangelist replied, “We believe that Jesus is God, and that the Rosary is all about His life, death and resurrection.“ Our visitor quickly turned and exited. May the Holy Spirit prompt him to investigate further.

A young adult couple, carrying a handwritten “Conspiracies? Ask me” sign, stopped as we were packing up to leave. He talked disapprovingly about world politics, a secret ruling group, and various socioeconomic concerns. He did mention the Bible and God as truth, and so e. James responded that Christ, the Incarnate Word, is our guiding light amid the formidable troubles of this world. The evangelist then suggested we focus on what we as individuals can do. The couple stayed respectful, but didn’t seem to take in his comments. They declined our Rosary offer.

An outdoor ice skating rink is being constructed in the middle of “our” business park, so the entire center area is fenced off. The weather had also suddenly turned cold overnight, so foot traffic was light. However, we were still able to give away the same number of Rosaries during the session that we typically do. God is good!

Altogether, we gave away 15-20 Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as 2 Divine Mercy prayer cards, 2 maps to area parishes, 1 “Come Home” pamphlet, and 1 “Why Be Catholic?” pamphlet.

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.

God continues to bless our efforts. 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).

October 29, 2023

Nothing is more important than Jesus Christ and His offer of salvation. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

“Owen” grew up in an indifferent, non-Catholic, nominally Christian family that never prayed or went to church. And so, at a young age, he decided he did not have really any faith. Although he is not an anti-God, angry atheist, he doesn’t believe in any particular religion or god. Yet, he wanted a Rosary, thanks be to God! E. Chuck laid out the Gospel message, hoping to break through his indifference. Owen then asked if nuns were really married to Christ, so e. Lucy explained the spiritual union with Christ we should all seek. Then he wanted to know if salvation could be lost, and we assured him it could be because we remain free. E. James then talked to him about Pascal’s wager (with which he was familiar), and encouraged him to dig into the lives of the Saints, where he could find examples of what the life of a true believer should look like. He also offered to go to Mass with him. We gave him several pamphlets: Good News, Who Am I?, Do I Need a Savior?, Why Be Catholic? and Existence of God and said he should come back to talk to us again. (Owen remained polite through it all. But to our invitation to return this week, after he’d had a chance to look at the pamphlets, he said, “not likely,” as he hurriedly walked away.) Pray, though, that Owen will continue to respond to the urgings of the Holy Spirit and seek a life-changing friendship with God through Christ Jesus.

One member of a passing trio, a tall man in an odd costume with furry legwarmers, angrily said, “If you offer that to me one more time I’m going to [be ill].” As outlandish as the costume was, and we pray it was only a costume, the evangelists could not remember making the offer to him before. Be that as it may, after they had passed, one of the trio, a woman dressed normally, came running back to the table wanting a Rosary. She chose one, and accepted a brief explanation of the devotion and the encouragement to try it. Pray for strength for all those who need to defy peers in order to seek the Lord.

A group of four teenage boys came to the table after one of them decided he wanted a Rosary. They were not Christian, so e. Lucy encouraged them to get to know Jesus, and e. Chuck gave them a brief overview of the Christian message. Three of them each chose a white Rosary, and the other teen changed his mind and didn’t take one.

A dad stopped when his pre-teen daughter wanted a Rosary. He approvingly allowed her to take one and encouraged her to ask e. Lucy about it. When the evangelist asked if she were Christian, the girl turned to her dad for the answer. He told her that we were talking about God. So, the evangelists told her what God has done for us and how the Rosary is a great way to get to know Him, so that we can live with Him forever.

“Matt”, a repeat Catholic visitor from a nearby parish, stopped to say hi and to introduce his life-long friend, “James”, who was in town to visit. They have been friends since grade school, 14 years ago. May God bless them and keep them faithful in their Catholic Faith!

About a dozen people in costumes went by during the session. Possibly the most creative were the man and woman dressed as thunder(she) and lightning(he).

A man came to select a Rosary. He spoke with what seemed to be a Middle-Eastern accent, and babbled the names of many so-called gods. He said he was a fan of the Blessed Virgin Mary, whom he called “Miriam”, but was smilingly resistant to discussion of Jesus Christ as Lord. E. Lucy wasn’t convinced of his veracity/sincerity/trustworthiness, but let him select a Rosary. He said he was appreciative of our evangelization efforts.

Several folks passing by pleasantly responded that they “already had a Rosary”.

Three young adult men, carrying restaurant leftover cartons, passed us by then returned to the table to select a Rosary. They were unfamiliar with the Rosary and were pretty sure they weren’t Christian so e. Chuck told them the Good News, challenging them to respond to Christ’s amazing sacrifice so they could experience the life-changing relationship with God. They listened politely and offered us their leftovers before moving on. Pray that their cool, indifferent hearts will begin to burn with love for their risen Lord.

Altogether, the three evangelists gave away 25-30 Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as copies of our “Good News/kerygma” pamphlet, and pamphlets on “Come Home”, “Existence of God”, “Why Be Catholic?”, “Who Am I?”, and “Do I Need a Savior?”

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.

Our goal is, as in St. Patrick’s prayer, “Jesus Christ in the eye of everyone who sees us.” 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).

October 22, 2023

The reality of Jesus cannot be ignored. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A man, wearing a blanket over women’s clothing, stopped for a Rosary. He seemed slightly inebriated. He struggled to work a Rosary over his dreadlocks in order to wear it around his neck. After he managed it, he offered the evangelist his vapor device. When she declined, he pulled the Rosary back off. She assured him that the Rosaries were free, if he wanted one. So, he picked it back up and pulled it over his hair and past his ears again. Then he picked up the Cross, that was now lying on his chest, and examined it. He then abruptly pulled it back off again and said no thank you, leaving the Rosary and pamphlet on the table. May Our Lord have mercy on this deeply wounded soul and heal him.

“Steven”, a Cowboy-hat wearing Christian-Bible enthusiast, passed the table on his way into the sports arena. But then he came back and engaged e. Chuck and e. James in conversation. He started by saying he appreciated what we were doing. He was not associated with any denomination, but loved Jesus. He went on to share his conversion story, stories of his friends and family, his love of sports, etc. But when he gave us his theories about Jesus being married and having children, the evangelists had to interrupt to correct this error, as well as point out that this is precisely why we need a Church: to care for the deposit of faith and to correct errors. Steven, evidently having also been erroneously taught that the Bible is the sole authority, then claimed that the Bible had been altered to hide his notions. Then, seeing we were going to dispute the point, he reiterated that he appreciated what we were doing and turned to go on into the arena. Pray that his heart is softened, and he perceives his need for a Church to guide his faith.

Two women stopped, who were in town for the relationship course being held in the convention center. Coming from a part of the country where Catholics are numerous, they didn't seem surprised to see our Catholic presence in public. They came right up, and one of them asked if the evangelist was familiar with the Seven Sorrows devotion, something our visitor had just learned about a few days earlier at her home parish. Yes, and the evangelist demonstrated how she counts the prayers (7 groups of 7) using a standard Rosary. That was too complicated for our visitor, but they each accepted a Rosary and were glad we were there.

A group of boys in their early- to mid-teens stopped when one of them wanted a Rosary. He claimed to have “no religion”, so e. Chuck started recounting the basic story of salvation history. But our visitor was actually familiar with it enough to finish the evangelist’s sentences as he proclaimed Jesus’ Death and Resurrection and His great love for us. It seemed, though, to still be just an idea to the youth rather than reality. We encouraged him to use the Rosary to get to know Who Jesus is. The other boys declined Rosaries until just before they walked away, when one more asked for one. Pray that their eyes are opened to their desperate need for the living God, Who is their Savior.

A man declined our offer of a Rosary by saying he had gone to Catholic high school. If he has left the Faith, Lord, have mercy and draw him back!

A boy wanted a Rosary, but we said he could have one only if his dad said it was okay. The dad said no, so we affirmed his parental authority.

Another group of children went by. Their dad said yes, so they each chose a Rosary for themselves, received a brief introduction to it, and were encouraged to use the Rosary pamphlet to learn how to pray it.

A Catholic family, visiting from a town to the west of us, stopped by for a Rosary. Then they offered the evangelists each an enthusiastic handshake and wished our efforts well.

Two interested teenaged guys took a Rosary apiece and its pamphlet. Then one of them almost put his Rosary back on the table, saying he had “not been confirmed yet”. E. James assured him he could pray it even before that momentous occasion.

A man, with quadruple limb amputation and seated on rolling skateboard-like conveyance, stopped with a smile and thanks for the Rosary and pamphlet. We were humbled by his positive attitude and courageous adaptability. Lord, have mercy on him.

Our new evangelist, e. James, encouraged a young man who approached with his girlfriend, to wear their newly received Rosaries on their belt and pray it while walking.

Three grade-school-aged girls with their mother had been sitting outside the hockey arena and approached the table on their way in. Their mother said it was okay, so the girls came to the table to select Rosaries. Later, they brought a friend from inside the arena and, later still, they came with more girls and a father. The father declined a Rosary but was not anti-Catholic about it. He agreed that our country and the world needs more prayer. Pray that families of faith are united in prayer.

An adult couple stopped. They were non-Catholic Christians who knew nothing about the Rosary. The woman with whom e. Chuck chatted seemed open to the prayer. (The man seemed to be, too. But, e. Lucy, who talked with him, doesn’t now recall the conversation.) Pray that they put Christ first in their lives.

Altogether, the three evangelists gave away 15-20 Rosaries and its pamphlet,

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.

The reality of Jesus Christ breaks through and speaks to people wherever they are, emotionally or philosophically. 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).

October 15, 2023

People seemed to understand that Catholics are on the side of Good. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A man stopped and asked for a pamphlet to tell him about the Catholic Church. He had to wait a moment or two while e. Lucy unearthed a copy of our “Why Be Catholic?” pamphlet, since it’s rare we receive such a request. He also accepted a Rosary and its pamphlet. May God grant that his interest in the Church grows until it brings him into full communion with her.

“Ian” and “Kim”, a non-Catholic liturgical Christian couple, stopped for a Rosary. She “used to be Catholic”. E. Lucy described the devotion, told her about a minister of her currently claimed denomination who prays it, and encouraged them to pray it together. Lord, draw her back home to You!

A mom stopped, wanting a Rosary for her son, “Leo”, 13 years old,  who had  just “lost a friend”, also 13. She hoped the prayer would bring her son comfort. Please pray for both Leo and his deceased friend. They could both be in peril.

Another mom stopped, asking if I could hear the orchestra over the business park’s sound system. Her high school daughter’s chamber music ensemble was performing a “flash mob” classical concert across the business park from our table. They finished before we did.

A group of 5 young adults stopped. They were fashion models, they said, coming to Boise from various places. One girl was local, one of the young men was from across the country, another was from across the ocean (though he had no accent since, he said, his mother was from here). They each took a Rosary, while e. Lucy encouraged them to use it reverently to get to know Jesus Christ.

A homeless-looking man claimed a Rosary and, later, so did a homeless-looking woman. May God bless them, heal them, and restore them to society.

A mother and adult son stopped to encourage our apostolate. They were Catholic and belonged to a nearby parish. They asked prayers for peace, especially in the Middle East. Lord, have mercy!

A couple from “across the pond” stopped. We experienced a bit of a language barrier, though our countries are both English-speaking. He finally understood, though, that the Rosaries are free. He and the woman then each chose one, and accepted its pamphlet and the encouragement to pray it daily.

A man claimed the blue and black Rosary, saying he was “Judas”. E. Lucy said “There’s still hope.” Please pray for him?

Although he didn’t make an appearance during our session, e. Lucy spotted “Justin” on foot about 1/2 mile from downtown as she drove home. He gazed at her, but she froze up again. Lord, we continue to implore you to save him!

Lots of people were out in the sunny, warm weather of last week. We gave away a good 20-25 Rosaries and the pamphlet on how to pray it, as well as one copy of our “Why Be Catholic?” pamphlet.

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.

People seemed to perceive the Catholic Church in a more positive light last week. 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).

October 8, 2023

Jesus Christ remains unchanged. So, thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A non-Catholic Christian man, who had just picked up a food order, was passing by as we set up. Offered a free Rosary, he paused to loudly proclaim that he “loved Jesus.” “So do we!” we said. Then e. Chuck added, “God is good!” At that, the man burst into song as continued on his way, singing “God is so good!” in his beautifully rich baritone voice, the words reverberating between buildings. Thank God for the man’s faith, and pray that we all boldly proclaim God’s goodness to the world.

An educators gathering was going on in the convention center. Although about 95% of attendees declined our offer of a Rosary, some did accept and a few others gladly proclaimed their Catholicity. May God bless them and grant them the courage to know and teach only truth!

E. James talked with a boy in his early teens, who ended up accepting a Rosary. A little later, the boy came back and asked for another one for his mom. We encouraged them to pray it together.

A different teenage boy came to the table, accompanied by yet another. Yes, he would like a Rosary, he said. As we set him up with one, e. Lucy asked if he were Christian. “No, Jewish”, he replied. So, e. Lucy encouraged him to use the Mysteries of the Rosaries to get to know who Jesus is. His companion declined receiving a Rosary. May God grant our visitor a fascination with Jesus and come to realize that He is his long-awaited Messiah!

In response to our offer of a free Rosary, two economically and/or housing-challenged men stopped at the table. They said they were familiar with the devotion. After choosing one apiece, the one who smelled strongly of hard liquor declined receiving the pamphlet on how to pray it. May God free them from harmful habits, heal them, and grant them salvation!

No sign of “Justin” this week. But, perhaps there was too much standing water for his skateboard wheels. Lord, we continue to implore you for his conversion, healing, and salvation.

A tall, slim man went by, whom e. Lucy thought she recognized from about a month back, who had sported magenta hair and had been opposed to Christianity. This time, his hair was not visible under his hoodie, perhaps due to the rain. And this time, he just politely said, “no, thank you”. May God bless him and save him.

Another passing man pulled his headphones off his ears and, from a distance, assured us that, although he believed in God, he didn’t think any particular religion more right than any other. It seems his distrust of religions stems from his upbringing in a large non-Christian sect. E. Lucy encouraged him to take a Rosary and pray it to get to know Jesus better. But he declined, wanting to leave on a positive note. Pray that he becomes open to an encounter with the one true God in Jesus Christ.

A previous visitor, the young-adult Catholic man “Jesús”, accompanied this time by a Catholic girlfriend, stopped to quickly say hi. We mention him in reminder to pray for his perseverance in the Faith.

Unusually, we had steady rain throughout the session. Someone said it had been predicted to stop about the time we set up. However, It continued. Thus, foot traffic was light, and the few people who were out were not in the mood to linger and chat with us.

Despite the inclement weather, the three evangelists gave away 10-12 Rosaries and the 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.

Jesus still needs to be proclaimed. 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).

October 1, 2023

God knows what we need, even when we don’t. So, thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A 40-something couple stopped, mentioning what parish they attended. They were from out of state, but said they were happily surprised to see the Catholic Church represented on the street. “Matthew” and “Chelsea” (or, was her name “Jessica”?) promised to pray for us. Lord, please bless them and grant them safe travel.

A non-English speaking couple stopped, the woman using her phone to translate and ask directions to a banking machine. They ended up accepting a Rosary apiece as well.

Our formerly frequent visitor “John-the-retired-parking-lot-attendant” stopped, fairly early in the session, and then stayed. For some reason, the percentage of people accepting Rosaries then suddenly increased multi-fold.

“Justin”, whom we didn’t see the previous week, made an appearance much earlier in the hour. This time, he commented that he’d “outgrown believing in imaginary friends”. Good, so have we. But, of course, he zoomed away without waiting for a response. In answer to our prayers, though, no one else was in earshot who could have been frightened, misled, or scandalized by his taunting attitude.  “John” was there, but seemed undisturbed by the remark, and simply used it as a prompt to tell stories about atheists he’d known, and how their lack of faith wasn’t working for them, but they couldn’t see it. Lord, continue to draw “Justin” to Yourself!

A man in his early 20s stopped for a Rosary. When asked if he were familiar with the devotion, he said he had no religion. So, e. Lucy explained how the Rosary was a great way to get to know Jesus Christ and, if used reverently, often brings peace and protection. He thanked her and, as he left, he said, “God bless you.” But, what did he mean by that?

Some teens stopped, curious about the Rosary. They were not Christian, so e. Lucy encouraged them to actually go through the Rosary prayers and meditations as a way to meet Jesus Christ and take their questions to Him. We set them up with Rosaries and pamphlets.

“Uwe” went by, smiling but still limiting his remarks to pleasantries about the weather. Lord, call him closer to You!

A group of 5 teens stopped when 2 of the boys wanted a free Rosary. The other 3 continued walking. The boys listened politely but impatiently to e. Lucy’s hurried explanation of the devotion before they dashed off in search of their companions. May the Lord bless them for their politeness and grant them the grace to pray the Rosary!

Altogether, we gave 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 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 effort.

We were confirmed again in this apostolate when God supplied another friendly face to attract visitors (cf. Phil 4:19). 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).

September 24, 2023

We encourage Catholics and others to pray and grow closer to Jesus Christ. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A Catholic man stopped for a Rosary. He asked if this was a Diocese-sponsored event. “No, we’re a grass-roots lay apostolate”, e. Lucy replied. He almost seemed interested in joining us, but at my mention of our diocesan requirement that he become Safe Environment certified, he lost interest. Happens often. He did accept a copy of our map to area parishes, I think.

A group of three teens stopped. The young woman who talked to e. Lucy was sporting lots of bold black-ink skin art. Still, she seemed genuinely interested in the Rosary as a way to get to know Jesus Christ. Lord, draw her to you and all the way into the light!

A young couple from the other side of the country stopped. He, too, asked if this was a Diocese-sponsored event. When he learned it was a lay apostolate, he volunteered that he belonged to a nationwide Catholic men’s group. He is 19 and has a friend who is a Grand Knight. I told him about our parish’s Grand Knight, who is the youngest one in the world. He started to talk about the insurance they sell, but the evangelist turned to the young woman and made sure she understood the Rosary devotion. She encouraged them to pray it daily.

Another gathering of the pseudo-Christian cult was being held in the sports arena, although not blocking “our spot” this time. E. Lucy asked one of the numerous security/usher men patrolling the outside of the arena if it was the same group that met there two weeks ago. After a moment of hesitation, he said it was. But I think, “not exactly”: the previous gathering was of a multi-state region and included mostly people whose ancestors had been Catholic. Today’s gathering seemed to be the usual local group. The evangelist did set out some “Divinity of Christ” and “The Trinity” pamphlets, in case any of them (or a concerned family member) stopped by. But none did. Lord, lead them to You!

E. Lucy had a pretty painful backache that hit suddenly as she was setting up. But it went away just as suddenly after she remembered to ask Jesus for help. Thank you, Jesus!

Two middle-aged couples stopped. They were all Catholic, I think. The women accepted Rosaries, though the men declined. When e. Lucy commented that men make good prayer warriors, they both straightened up and smiled.

“Steven” came to the table just at closing time. He was wearing a baseball-style cap, proclaiming “Saved”. He is probably close to 65 years old, if we go by his high-school graduation year, but he looks less than 50. He has been Christian for a long time and experiences many dreams that he considers spiritually symbolic. He lives downtown here, perhaps in the same building as “Walt”, and so is probably mentally disabled. I was glad to see him, though, so I wouldn’t be alone if “Justin” put in an appearance. While I was chatting with Steven, another sometime-visitor, the older man who looks very small and frail came all the way over to the table to say hi. I think he was checking to make sure that I was safe. Thank you, God! If “Justin” went by, I neither saw nor heard him. But please continue to pray for his salvation!

Altogether, we gave away a good 10 Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as 2 maps 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 efforts.

Seeing the Rosary, Catholics gain the courage to speak up. Others feel encouraged to deepen their prayer life. 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).

September 17, 2023

Opposition to the Church can result from confusion, society’s or a person’s own. We continue to stand as witness to Truth. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

As we were setting up, a mother-daughter-granddaughter trio stopped. The grandmother was raised Catholic but “is now Christian”. She did not choose a Rosary because she had her mother’s and she also associated it with “punishment” (Hail Mary’s given as penance) after confession. While her daughter and granddaughter chose Rosaries, she talked to e. Chuck and did acknowledge the Catholic Church and her own perception of it as a young person is different than it really is. However, she still wanted nothing to do with it. Then she switched to doubting the reality of God because of human suffering and the prevalence of violent sin in the world. Though she refused to trust God on this matter, she accepted the SPSE pamphlet on “The Problem of Evil and Suffering” as well as a copy of our “Come Home” pamphlet for Catholics outside of the Church. Pray that the Holy Spirit turns her from anger at the Church and God and into humble trust in the Author of life.

Another parade that encourages confusion and a sinful lifestyle had just finished up nearby. Up to 100 people in small groups all passed by, pretending they could neither see nor hear us. May God have mercy on their souls and lead them back to Truth!

“Teresa” stopped to ask for prayers. She’s one of those unfortunates who feels victimized by everyone: ex-husband, children, judges, and even her own attorney. She asked for prayer and then insisted on writing down the names of her children, “Donovan” and “Payette”. She accepted a Rosary, a map to area parishes, and a Divine Mercy prayer card. May God heal her and everyone associated with her.

A man went by any number of times, performing tricks on his longboard. He acted as if he didn’t hear our offer of a Rosary, though he readily accepted compliments on his acrobatics.

Several families with three or more children stopped for a Rosary apiece. Some of the parents also accepted one and the exhortation to pray it daily as a family.

“Anthony” is a young adult who has recently returned to active faith and attends a big non-Catholic Christian church. Raised in his pastor-grandfather’s church, he drifted away from faith after his grandfather died. His grandmother is Catholic and never stopped sending him daily devotionals which, even as he drifted, tugged at his heart. Between the influence of this grandmother and his current church, he sees that faith and works are joined and he seemed eager to pray the Rosary. Pray for our brother Anthony’s perseverance and growth in faith in our Savior.

Two women, accompanying two pre-teen children, who had been playing in the fountain, stopped to warn us about a man in a green bicycle helmet who had been photographing the children until the moms made their presence known. They each accepted a Rosary and the exhortation to pray it daily.

Two young men approached e. Chuck aggressively, asking him to repeat his offer of a Rosary. When he did so, they asked if this was “gay pride stuff”. “Not at all”, the evangelist replied, walking them through the prayer, and emphasizing how the mysteries point to Christ’s great love for us and our call to love one another in the same way. They claimed to be “religious” and picked out a Rosary each while e Chuck, sensing they were looking for trouble, kept talking about love of neighbor. Later, they passed again wearing balaclavas to hide their faces. Pray that their hate and anger does not lead them into sin and that they will put their trust in Jesus.

One of our last visitors was a man with very effeminate mannerisms. He, however, showed interest in learning what the Rosary was and how to use it to get to know Jesus Christ. So we set him up with one and encouraged him to begin praying it.

As “Justin” rolled by on his skateboard, he said he missed us the week before and was surprised we didn’t consider God important enough to show up in the rain.(As you may recall, last week we had to set up in a different place because of an event happening in our usual spot.) We told him we had been there and pointed to where we were, but he just waved us off and said “liars”, as he put his headphones back on and zoomed away. Please continue praying for this man that he may be saved.

Altogether, the two evangelists gave away at least 20 Rosaries and its pamphlet on how to pray it, 1-2 maps to area parishes, 3-4 Divine Mercy and Jesus Knocking prayer cards, and a “The Problem of Evil and Suffering” pamphlet, and a “Come Home” pamphlet.

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.

The Gospel message still challenges people to turn from sin, which can be difficult and painful. 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).

September 10, 2023

We set up in a slightly different spot, but had no lack of visitors. So, thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

It was raining slightly when we arrived, and a heavy cloud cover remained throughout the session. However, the rain itself stopped as we began setting up, and the ground soon dried. And so, the pedestrians came out.

A semi-annual regional gathering of a pseudo-Biblical sect was meeting in the sports arena. They had set up pamphlet racks in “our spot”, so we moved up the north spoke of the business park to a sheltered area near the parking garage elevator. One passerby asked if we were part of the sports-arena group. “No!” we let him know. A great number of the attendees seemed to be descendants from a people who had traditionally been Catholic. May God lead them out of error and back to the Church that He founded!

An apparently economically challenged family went by, including several young children. The dad made a rude-sounding remark as they passed, but one young girl, maybe 6 or 8 years old, looked longingly at the Rosaries. A few moments later, she came running back to get one “for a friend”. May God grant healing and salvation to her and her whole family!

At least four groups of Catholics went by, proclaiming they had attended Mass earlier and had lots of Rosaries at home. We asked them to pray it “once for us out here”. Most of them happily agreed. May God keep them all faithful!

A group of three teenage boys stopped for Rosaries. The one e. Lucy spoke with said he was already familiar with the devotion. We encouraged them to actually pray it.

“Thelma” and “Oswald”, a Catholic couple from a far-eastern country seemed startled by e. Lucy’s offer of a Rosary, and asked if we were Catholic. They were much relieved to find out we were, and stayed to chat. They were in town for their daughter’s reception, and had attended Mass the previous night. They were happy, though, to receive a copy of our map to area parishes because they were daily Mass attendees. They told of intense persecution in their home country, where only 2% of the people are Christian (though over half of those are Catholic). Still, at little more than 1% of the population, Catholics are rare. Though Thelma and Oswald feel safe in their hometown, they said the persecution of Christians and churches in the more rural provinces is “very bad”, and they asked for our prayers. Please pray for Christians in all countries where our brothers and sisters in Christ are persecuted, often with deadly violence.

Some non-Catholic Christians stopped. We explained the Rosary devotion as a good way to grow closer to Jesus Christ, using the beads to time their meditations on scenes from His life. They each chose one.

A non-Catholic Christian young adult stopped. He was sporting a silver cross over his black t-shirt. He declined receiving a Rosary, but thanked us for being there.

“Michele”, the lady who usually is pushing a dog in a stroller, and a friend stopped to chat. She has picked up Rosaries on several occasions to give to friends. The friend with her said she had been given a purple one. They then talked about the friends to whom she had passed Rosaries, especially one in ill health. They wondered, out loud, what else they could give her to encourage her, mentioning as an aside that they had given her a bracelet of “healing crystals”. Pray that they stick with reliance on the one true God. Lord, have mercy on Michele and her friends.

No sign of “Justin”. However, we were also not set up in our usual spot, which is located along his typical trajectory.

Altogether, on this Labor Day weekend, we  gave away 15-20 Rosaries, and 2 maps 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 efforts.

We have permission to set up when we don’t interfere with groups who have rented the business park circle, so, we graciously relinquished “our spot” for the session. God, though, still sent plenty of people past our new location, including many attendees of the non-Christian sect. 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).

September 3, 2023

The very idea of Jesus Christ prompts wildly different reactions. So, thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

“Uwe” went by (whom we’ve referred to over the years as “the angry atheist”, then “the amiable agnostic”, and most recently, as “the dabbling deist”). Seemingly now having stalled in his journey of faith, this time he again only talked about the weather. He had thought we were closing up extra early, but actually we had just arrived and were beginning to set up. Lord, we continue to beg You for Uwe’s full conversion and salvation.

A man  stopped who was looking for a business convention. He was Catholic and accepted a map to local parishes, so he could attend an evening Mass that day.

A teen dropped back from his group to get a free Rosary. He identified as a member of a pseudo-Christian religion, but seemed irreverent in general. Blessed M6ther, please call him to pray that Rosary he received and discover your Son.

A man stopped to talk with e. Chuck. He, too, had been raised in the pseudo-Christian religion by his mother, although his father’s side of the family was Catholic. He had since turned away from his mother’s faith. Lord, may he turn toward You!

A young-adult man stopped who was unsure if he was still a Christian, since he was too busy to go to church or even to think about God. Yet, he didn’t consider himself an unbeliever. The more he thought it through, as he talked, the more he acknowledged his need to be more intentional about where the truth lay. E. Chuck agreed that it was the most important thing in life, and presented the Rosary as a means to explore who God is, and how He did not just speak words of love, but showed us His love in action, and that our only appropriate response also goes beyond mere words to life-changing actions on our part. He nodded his assent, seemed thoughtful, and promised to “look into it” as he left. Open his mind and heart, Lord, that the Holy Spirit may work conviction and faith in his soul.

The boy, from a strolling teenage couple, wanted a free Rosary but gave little heed to our explanations and seemed mostly intent in showing off for his girlfriend. Protect him, Lord, from his careless blasphemy.

A man walking a dog came to the table saying, apologetically, that he was not a Christian, but that his friend was Catholic and he wanted to give her a Rosary as a gift. As e. Chuck handed him the Rosary pamphlet, he encouraged the man to ask his friend to show him what the Rosary was all about. May the Holy Spirit fill his friend with the words and actions to help lead him to Christ.

A father let his young daughters choose a Rosary apiece. The family were all talking to each other so much so that the evangelist couldn’t get a word in. But when the eldest daughter, who lingered at the table as everyone else left, asked her father if she could get two so she could give one to her grandma. The father replied, “No, that one is just for you.” May this father guide his girls in faith and prayer.

A young man slowed at the offer of a free Rosary and, looking them over, decided to decline and move on. But he suddenly came back to say that he was getting baptized that very afternoon. E. Chuck congratulated him on soon becoming a member of God’s family and having his sins washed away, while silently praying that the baptism is done in the name of our Triune God. The evangelist then showed him how the Rosary was grounded in the Bible and could be a great support and strengthener of a newfound faith. However, though he took the pamphlet, he declined a Rosary. Pray for his perseverance in faith.

Right on schedule, “Justin” came riding up on his skateboard, saying, “You have inspired me. Look at my new tattoo,” and pointed to his forearm as he passed, showing e. Chuck an anti-God symbol on his skin. As he sped away, grinning, he looked over his shoulder and asked, “Do you like it?” to which E. Chuck shook his head and said no. Please continue to pray for this man, that he be released from slavery to the devil, and that his heart be turned from stone to flesh.

Altogether, we probably gave away only about 10 Rosaries, as well as 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 efforts.

Our presence continues to proclaim the unchanging reality of Jesus Christ (cf. Heb 13:8) to people whose reactions range from hot, cold, to indifferent. So thank you again so much 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).

August 27, 2023

A wide variety of attitudes were encountered last session. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

When I arrived, a group of 3-5 smokers, all dressed in black, were standing almost in “our spot”. I started to set up anyway, and most of them wandered off. A man approached from another direction, saying he “had a question”. But then he ranted that the presence of evil disproves God’s goodness. Before the evangelist could open her mouth in reply, he was out of earshot. At that, the remaining two from the smoking crowd, a man and woman, stepped forward. They thanked me for being there and affirmed that, although the passerby had said he “had a question”, all he really had was a close-minded opinion. It turns out the two were Christian skin artists (tattoos), rare  in their profession. (A "skin art" show was being held in the sports arena.) The hints of the couple's artwork, peeking out from their modest clothing, were indeed of a more uplifting style than what seems currently popular. The evangelist encouraged them by telling a story of how, in a different art field, the Christian witness—though at the time met with stony silence—actually produced positive changes in her fellow artists’ works. May God bless the Christian couple and keep them faithful!

Successive groups of young adults, all dressed in black, made a huge dent in our small hoard of black Rosaries, just as we were setting up. I don’t remember any specific conversation.

A bit later the man with the opinion passed by again. E. Lucy offered him a copy of our “The Problem of Suffering and Evil” pamphlet. He haughtily replied that he would read it only if the evangelist read his manifesto promoting death for the most vulnerable (my words, not his). She declined, but couldn’t help but wonder how the man could hold this latter attitude in harmony with his earlier-expressed “evil is bad” belief. May God reach him and draw him to Himself, the source of true Good.

A group of five or six girls, maybe 6-8 years old, passed by. They were followed by two younger girls, accompanied by a dad. One of them wanted a Rosary and the father said they could choose one. He, though, seemed content with his own “former Catholic” status. Soon afterward, the other girls all made their way back for a Rosary apiece. May God bless them and lead their families back to Him!

A group of three teens, dressed in black with thick makeup, stopped for Rosaries. The evangelist encouraged them to use the Mysteries to get to know Jesus Christ and experience the peace that only He can bring. They stopped again another couple of times with questions about the devotion. Although they seemed a bit flippant, perhaps it was merely a defense mechanism to deal with their peer group. When the evangelist asked straight out if they were mocking her, they denied it. May they actually be drawn deep into the Heart of Jesus and salvation, even if persecuted by their peers!

A group of three middle-aged adults stopped when one wanted a Rosary. They explained that they were Catholic, and had just come from Mass at the parish where the evangelist had grown up. They felt encouraged to see the Catholic Faith attested to in public.

A tall man with effeminate gait, dressed in black, and sporting bright fuchsia hair, stopped when e. Lucy offered him a Rosary. He fiddled with his phone for a moment and then held it up to play something. Thank God, though, the business park’s sound system was extra loud that day, so all she could hear was tinny static, that is, just enough to know he was playing something. Then he said something in an angry tone and flounced off. Again, I thank God for sparing us the details of his anger. Sometime later, he passed by again and the evangelist called, “May God bless you!”. After a moment’s pause, he again responded with apparent anger, but again couldn’t be heard over the sound system. He passed by yet a third time, after I had packed up and was on my way out. This time, there was no exchange. May God reach his heart, heal him, and bring him to salvation!

A man stopped, initially wanting a Rosary. When offered the pamphlet, he declined. Then he admitted that his brother is a recently retired Catholic priest of this diocese.  E. Lucy recognized the name as someone who had attended the same Newman Center as the evangelist. We then talked about the growing fascination of young people with Catholicism. May God grant them a vibrant, lasting Faith!

Very few of the people heading into the “skin art” show were interested in receiving a Rosary.

No sign of “Justin” this session.

Foot traffic was often fairly light, perhaps because of the gloomy weather overhead and the flash flood warning in effect. Still, the evangelist gave away a good 20 Rosaries and its pamphlet.

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.

God can reach them, hot or cold (cf. Rev 3:15-16). So thank you again for your prayers and other support for this apostolate. In turn, may God protect and bless you and all those you love!

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

https://streetevangelization.com/team-page/?team-chapter=boise&view-blog=true

August 20, 2023

The Rosary still powerfully leads people to love Jesus. So thank you again for your prayers and other support for this apostolate.

As we were setting up and not yet paying attention to people passing by, a man stopped to say he had picked up a Rosary from us last week (nope, I didn’t recognize him <g>). He thanked us for being out there and giving away more Rosaries, and wished blessings on the apostolate. Pray for all those who receive a Rosary from SPSE teams across the nation that their lives will grow closer to Christ.

”Zach” (or was it “Shawn”?) and his father “Scott” (from a state in the deep South) stopped, glad to see us out there. Zach is heading to seminary in a state east of here. He’s one of eight classmen from Idaho, I think he said. Once he’s ordained, he’s hoping to become a chaplain in the military. May God grant perseverance for seminarians and plenty of vocations to the priesthood across our country and around the world.

A man and woman stopped, perhaps son and mother. They were Christian but unfamiliar with the Rosary. We explained how the devotion helps you grow closer to Jesus Christ and they each chose one. They said their names, something like “Andre” and “Andrea”.

A 20-something woman in pink stopped for a Rosary. She struck us as almost homeless. She wasn’t very articulate, but listened as we explained the Rosary and its prayers. She asked how much they cost. “Free!” we happily told her. So she chose one, and spent the rest of the hour at a nearby picnic table.

A young adult man with a skateboard also sat at a picnic table across from us, no doubt hearing us offer Rosaries over and over. Finally, he made the decision to come to the table. But, just at that moment, a flurry of passersby appeared, including three college football players on electric scooters. One of the scooters braked hard in order to miss our incipient visitor. The man directly behind him made an amazing maneuver and actually avoided hitting him. Noting his athletic reflexes, e. Chuck asked him what position he played on the football team. “Tight end,” he replied. Three out of the four athletes accepted Rosaries. Meanwhile, the original young adult had hung back until the students moved away from the table. Then he came forward and requested a color. He struggled to get the Rosary over his head (but managed to) while politely listening as e. Chuck talked about the Rosary prayer. Though of few words, our visitor insisted on shaking our hands to thank us. Pray for all these young people as they seek a connection with Our Lord and Savior.

Then there were the two teenage skateboarders who had been arguing earlier around the fountain. They did not seem terribly serious about the Rosary or faith, but e. Lucy persisted in encouraging them to use it reverently to ask God questions. Even as they skated away, the evangelist continued to exhort them to faith. Please pray they perceive the reality of God and the importance of turning to Him.

A family, consisting of father and 3 children (perhaps 10-13 years old), stopped when the children wanted a Rosary. It was okay with their dad, so we set them up with Rosary and the pamphlet on how to pray it. The father declined. Lord, may the children come to You!

“Justin”, this time, unsmilingly yet in a conversational tone, offered what may have sounded like an offer to “help” us, but was really a statement of just how little he valued the Rosaries. E. Chuck replied, “No man, we want you to repent.” As usual, he sped away without another word. Please continue to pray for “Justin”, that his angry/violent actions will de-escalate and that the Holy Spirit will find a way into his heart.

An toothless, homeless-looking man stopped to chat about speed limits(?). After a lengthy, almost nonsensical conversation with e. Chuck, our visitor gladly accepted a Rosary. May God bless, heal, and guide him.

A Catholic couple in town for a conference asked where they could attend Mass for the Feast of the Assumption on the following Tuesday. We gave them a map to area parishes that included contact information. Pray for all traveling Catholics that they find a Mass to take part in.

A young man broke from a group to choose a Rosary. As he was looking them over, a woman stopped who turned out to be his mother (it seems she had fallen behind the young folks). Though he did not seem to know what he believed, she said, as much to him as to us, that he had been baptized Catholic. Pray for this family, and for all baptized Catholics outside the Church, that they realize faith and salvation are ongoing needs.

I seem to remember a guy skidding to a stop on his bike to choose a Rosary. Christian, he was very positive about the possibilities of the Rosary.

 Altogether, we gave away 15 or so Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as 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 efforts.

We still encounter people who don’t know of the Rosary and how God blesses those who use it to grow closer 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).

August 13, 2023

God doesn’t want sinners to die, but to turn from evil and be saved (cf. Ezek 33:11). So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

”Justin” demonstrated another new behavior. This time, he zoomed by wordlessly but put his hand out for a Rosary, which e. Chuck handed him. Without slowing down, he then went straight to the nearest garbage can and forcefully threw it away. E. Chuck was just tall enough to retrieve it, and so we sanitized it and put it back into service. Lord, please hear our prayers for “Justin” and grant him healing, lasting conversion, and de-escalation of his rage.  “Men’s anger will serve to praise you” (cf. Psalm 76:10-11).

A family stopped for Rosaries. The oldest, a grandparent, seemed less familiar with English, so we offered the Rosary pamphlet in Spanish, which was gratefully accepted.

A broad-shouldered businessman cheerfully proclaimed that he had “lots of Rosaries” at home. May God bless him, hear his prayers, and keep him faithful!

A man in a light-gray suit went by, showing us the large black-beaded Rosary he was wearing around his neck. We found that surprising, since we had each mentally pegged him as a non-Catholic Christian minister. If so, may God bring him all the way home to the Catholic Church. If he’s already Catholic, may God keep him faithful! If he was mocking us, may God save him!

A family from a nearby state stopped and visited with e. Chuck. They ended up each choosing a Rosary.

A woman, “Danielle”, stopped and introduced herself as the marketing director for a non-Catholic Christian organization that travels the world gathering stories from Christians about why they love Jesus. She said she was familiar with the Rosary, but had to hurry off because she was already late for a meeting.

A man with his arm in a sling stopped for a Rosary. He said he’d hurt his elbow in a motorized scooter accident, but has since considered it blessing (and a warning) because, while he was laid up, two other people got killed in similar accidents. May God heal him and grant him wisdom.

Two 20-something women stopped for a Rosary. One said that she’d gotten one from us years ago. We encouraged them to pray it, but something seemed off in their manner. Lord, You can reach them; please save them!

Altogether, the evangelists (Chuck and Lucy, with a cameo appearance by James) gave away 25-30 Rosaries and its pamphlet.

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.

Our mere presence encourages believers, and challenges others. 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).

August 5, 2023

We encourage everyone to grow closer to Jesus Christ, Catholic or not-yet. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A homeless man, wearing a bright-red faith-based Jesus shirt, stopped for another Rosary, saying he gives them all away. This time, though, he spied his favorite color and said he wouldn’t be giving this one away. He had been raised Catholic, but seemed very content with his current non-Catholic Christian church. He’d heard “for the first time today” that Jesus is the mediator between man and God the Father. May God open his heart and draw him back home to the Catholic Church.

A Catholic couple stopped for Rosaries, providing us a moment of relief from a long string of “no thank you” passersby. We set them up and encouraged them to pray it daily. [For some reason, e. Lucy got a rash of “God bumps” from this encounter.] May God bless them and keep them faithful!

Several non-Catholic Christians stopped. One such set was a father-son pair. The boy, perhaps  6years old, chose a Rosary. They were non-Catholic Christians, so e. Lucy gave a brief explanation of the Rosary and how it helps people grow closer to Jesus Christ. Then the father chose a Rosary for himself as well.

E. Chuck saw “Justin” zooming toward us from a distance. He cheerfully greeted him and offered him a Rosary. Again, “Justin” seemed taken aback for a moment by our welcoming attitude before he remembered to make his anti-Catholic insinuation. And again, praise God!, no one else was near enough to hear him. Please keep those prayers going up for his salvation!

“Michele” stopped for a moment, complaining about the extra 5 people who had moved into her apartment. May God grant her peace and the strength of spirit to say no, when necessary.

A young adult man and his mother dropped back from a group of passersby because the mom wanted a Rosary. Picking up that perhaps English was the older woman’s second language, we offered her a copy of the Rosary pamphlet in Spanish. She was very grateful. May her whole family actively partake in the full sacramental life!

An older couple stopped to chat for a moment while they waited for the grandkids to finish playing in the fountain. The man told us of the long drive that awaited them that evening as the couple returns to their home state. Neither wanted a Rosary, but they were glad to see Christianity on the streets. May God grant them safe travel and many blessings!

A man on break from work came to look at the Rosaries and ask about them. Chrisitan, he listened politely as e. Lucy talked about the prayer. Then, without asking questions, he took the Rosary pamphlet but declined the Rosary saying, as he walked away, that he didn’t need it as he had no trouble praying. Pray that his eyes are opened to all the help the Lord wants to give him.

As we were talking to other people, a man who was working in an adjacent building came unasked to the table, wanting a Rosary. He was in a hurry but seemed very familiar with the prayer. Pray that his faith is a witness to Christ at both work and home.

A family hesitated, unsure what we were offering. But when they figured out what it was, they brought their grandmother to the table. They did not know enough English to have much of a conversation but it was evident they were Catholic and much appreciated the Rosary. (I think they asked for a Divine Mercy prayer card, too.) Pray also for those families who do not have such kind support and encouragement for each other in faith.

A Catholic couple each chose a Rosary, kissing it in reverence and love. The man asked for a Divine Mercy card and kissed it before pocketing it. May we all show our love and devotion to our Lord in such words and deeds.

Another Catholic couple paused as we were putting things away. They let us know they had Rosaries and prayed it regularly. May God bless them!

Altogether, the two evangelists gave away 15-20 Rosaries, and 1 or 2 Divine Mercy prayer cards.

Please pray for us again this weekend. 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.

Many of the people who stopped this time seemed to already be Catholic, but they were encouraged to see their Faith out in public. 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).

July 30, 2023

Although foot traffic was lighter than typical, we happily welcomed first-time evangelist “e. James” to stand with us. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A man, whom we have nicknamed “Tony”, has stopped a few times over the years to tell us how worthless he thinks the Rosary and Catholicism are. He had previously told us that, years ago in his native country, he was lured out of the Catholic Church by an anti-Catholic “Christian” group. He stopped again this session. His tendency is to simply rant and neither listen nor reply to reasoned answers. So, naturally, e. Lucy and e. Chuck let the new evangelist, e. James (welcome!), spend some quality time with him. E. James was persistent, cheerful, and polite in his arguments until the man left. Pray that “Tony’s” heart is softened toward the Church he grew up in.

“Michele”, a previous visitor and housing-challenged woman, came by for the Rosary we promised her for her friend “Amber”. She also took a “Meaning of Suffering” pamphlet, because her friend is a non-Catholic Christian but suffering. Michele also wanted a “blessing rock”, but we didn’t know what she meant. She took a Divine Mercy prayer card instead.

 “Douglas”, who has talked to the evangelists a few times over the last six months or so, stopped to talk in a very agitated state. He had moved from the homeless shelter into a rented room, but things turned out very badly. He had been kicked out by his landlady, lost his job, returned to living on the street, and had succumbed back into addiction. Lord, have mercy on Douglas and lead him.

The man we’ve nicknamed “Justin” was back to his usual trick: zooming by on a skateboard and voicing a vicious insinuation against the Catholic Church. Thanks be to God, we were between visitors and so no one else was in earshot. E. James called out after him an invitation to come talk to us about his concern, but he only made a rude hand gesture as he rode away. Please continue praying for his conversion.

A botanist convention was going on. Only two of the many attendees stopped for a Rosary. The last one was a non-Catholic Christian college teacher, who seemed to listen interestedly to our explanation of the Rosary. After she had chosen one, she asked how to get into the parking garage to retrieve her car.

One man said no to our offer of a Rosary by declaring it would burn his chest. “No, God loves you!” was e. Lucy’s inane reply.

A woman responded with a rude hand gesture when offered a Rosary.

A park employee talked with e. Chuck while e. Lucy was busy with someone else. Again, we were given permission to set up in “our spot” on Sundays. Thank you, God!

A fellow Catholic man stopped to thank us for being out there. He was carrying two Rosaries with him “as always”. He was also listening to “The Catechism in a Year” as he walked, had just attended Mass, and promised to pray for our evangelization efforts. E. Lucy picked up on the fact that he was an airline pilot. He told us that he was in town on a forced 23-hour layover/rest before returning to the other side of the continent. May God grant safety in all his travels, and may this man and all faithful Christians be Christ’s salt and light in the world.

Altogether, the three evangelists gave away 10-15 Rosaries and its pamphlet, a Divine Mercy prayer card, and a copy of the “Make Sense out of Suffering” pamphlet.

Please pray for us again today? Ask God to prepare people’s hearts 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!

We continue our efforts to reach visitors, new and old, and encourage them to grow close to Our Lord Jesus Christ. So thank you again for your prayers and other support for this apostolate. In turn, may God protect and bless you and all those you love!

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

July 23, 2023

Some of the young, the wealthy, and the homeless ventured outdoors last week. So thankyou again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A weather advisory (excessive heat) kept most people indoors. Also, people were not as cheerful as typical, except perhaps for those who had just soaked themselves in the walk-through fountain.

A “Justin” update (and thank you again for your prayers). Actually, no sign of either “Justin” or the man who tried to carry on Justin’s unholy outbursts last time. However, an unusually large number of well-dressed people (10-15 of them) pretended to neither see nor hear us as they walked past. Yet, even a pretended response is still a response, right? Could they be connected to “Justin”? Did God somehow discourage “Justin” and his cronies from disrupting and disturbing our visitors? Change is motion, and may that motion be towards Our Savior Jesus Christ!

A mother with four children (perhaps 12 years old, down to 4) stopped when they found out the Rosaries were free. They were not Christian, said the mom. So, as well as encouraging her to use the Mysteries to get to know Jesus, we also gave her a copy of the one-page kerygma. They each chose a Rosary.

A passing family declined a Rosary but later, as they passed going the other way, they let the children select a Rosary. The parents were nice but noncommittal and did not choose Rosaries for themselves. May the beads of the Rosaries be like seeds of God’s love that unexpectedly sprout to become Faith in the hearts of this family.

A homeless man on a bicycle steered toward us to say he had lost his Rosary. We offered him another and, though reluctant to take a Rosary pamphlet, he ended up accepting one of those, too. Another homeless man, carrying some bags, wanted a Rosary because he liked to give them to people he thought needed them.

A third homeless-looking man stopped for a Rosary. He was thin, deeply tanned, and using a wheelchair. He named his “favorite Catholic”  and asked if we knew who he was. When we said no, he abruptly left, without taking a Rosary. (As he went, e. Lucy felt like we had just “dodged a bullet”.) E. Chuck then looked up the name our visitor had mentioned and found it was a late writer who had been critical of the Catholic Church.

[Speaking of bullets, there was more fear again this week on the part of one of the evangelists. When a lone police officer rode by on a bicycle, she felt unexpectedly reassured.]

A couple of girls in their early teens were playing in the fountain and then came over for a Rosary, saying their mother had said it was okay. One girl said she was attending church. A few minutes later, one of them brought two more teens for Rosaries. A few minutes after that, they brought a mother with a toddler, who each also accepted a Rosary. May God bless that young evangelist! And may her family be united in devotion to Christ.

Another homeless-looking man stopped. He was somewhat heavyset, with shoulder-length thinning hair. He had stopped once before, a couple of months back. As he came up, he announced that God had told him to come get a Rosary. E. Lucy tried to encourage him to use the Rosary to grow closer to Jesus Christ, but he would have none of it.  God speaks to him directly, he said, and gives him messages. He mentioned several of these, but they were all self-affirming modern platitudes. E. Lucy carefully didn’t agree with him and wished him well. At that, he left. May God heal all homeless people, those with mental problems, addictions and tragic circumstances, that they may each accept the tender mercies of God.

An economically challenged couple declined our offer of a Rosary on their way to the fountain. Later, though, the now dripping-wet pair stopped when the woman noticed a chain Rosary on the table. She claimed what she called “a metal one”, and listened to our brief exhortation to pray it daily. The man then stepped forward and also claimed a Rosary. She said it was then 106° F (41° C) outside.

God had mercy on us and gave us a steady breeze throughout the session. Altogether, we gave away 15 or so Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as a Good News/kerygma pamphlet.

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.

God still calls all hearts to Himself. 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).

July 16, 2023

More visitors than typical approached us without our having to ask. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

As we were setting up, a man named “Mike” came to the table, unbidden. He wanted to talk about the Bible and Christ and the truths revealed in them. However, he was trying to look at it all from, as he said, “a secular viewpoint”, and so thought that Jesus was “just a man” with ideas that were honorable and could help us make good choices in life. The religion part he had a hard time “wrapping his mind around.” Keying off his various comments, e. Chuck said that Christ’s words, actions and sacrifice were meaningless if he was “just a man” and not God. He also pointed out that sacrifice was not “giving up stuff you don’t need”, but “giving up self for the sake of others”, and that religion was not just ideas but a relationship with God akin to marriage. We encouraged Mike to start his Rosary prayers by asking God to show him what a relationship with Him looks like. Pray that Mike meets his Lord and Savior.

A trade show for gamers was going on in the convention center. Many tattooed people, dressed in black, attended. Some of them stopped at our table. One woman, so dressed, stopped for a Rosary, claiming she “knew all about it.” The thin man with her, though, hung back until specifically invited to choose one for himself. Then he gladly stepped forward. He asked where the Catholic churches are in the area. E. Lucy went to get them each a map, but found we had brought only one with us. The woman, therefore, snapped a picture of it with her phone and gave the paper copy to the man. They both went away happy. Lord, bring them home to Your Church!

A group of 3-4 women stopped when one wanted a Rosary. As she made her selection, e. Lucy invited the woman next to her to choose whichever Rosary she liked. She politely declined because, she said, she was Jewish. “So is Jesus!” exclaimed the evangelist. “I know”, said the woman. But still she declined receiving anything from us.

A 30-something, professional-looking couple stopped when the man wanted a Rosary. As e. Lucy explained the devotion, though, he grew more and more uneasy. Finally, he returned the pamphlets (Good News, Do I Need a Savior?, How to Pray the Rosary) and said he would come back by after they’d had lunch. We didn’t see them again before we closed for the day.

No sign this week of the “Justin” who has so often heckled us. However, another man (e. Chuck was sure it was a different man) rode by and quietly hailed the enemy of his soul. Lord, please save “Justin” and all those whom he influences.

A 20-something woman came to the table, pushing a bicycle. She used to belong to a liturgical non-Catholic Christian church, she said. But she and her whole family had walked away when they rejected her sister, who had grown unsure about whether God had made her female. E. Chuck gently proclaimed that our identity, first and foremost, is that we are a child of God, that all other identities are temporary, and that only our relationship with God is eternal. We encouraged her to reconnect with the God Who died for her so that she might have eternal life, and to make that her priority, seeking Him in the mysteries of the Rosary. Pray that her eyes are opened to what is truly important in life, and that He frees all those caught in webs of deception.

A group of 20-something men stopped to get a Rosary apiece. One of them, a Christian named “Justin”, told e. Chuck about growing up with a mentally challenged, single-parent mom. He had deeply longed to meet his father, if even for 5 minutes. Such was his constant prayer as a child. Then, one day he attended a church and was delighted to find out that God is his true Father. He has clung to that truth ever since. He asked us what the Rosary was all about, and listened as we explained the how’s and why’s of the prayer. He asked follow-up questions but seemed skeptical, and when asked why, he shrugged it off. Give thanks for this Justin’s faith and pray he hears Christ say, “Behold, your mother.”

A man in his early 30s stopped for a Rosary. Shirtless, he sported a black cross hanging about his neck. He told us he wished he’d met us a day earlier because he had just bought  his necklace. We explained that the Rosary is not a necklace, but a powerful means of prayer. After selecting his Rosary, he also asked for a Divine Mercy prayer card. Pray that his faith deepens and grows.

A man who smelled strongly of stale alcohol came up and gave a handful of money our then visitor, who had just finished choosing a Rosary for himself. Our visitor then gave that Rosary to the recently arrived man, who proceeded to switch his Rosary choice at least twice more before deciding on the original Rosary offered by his friend. Eventually, both men went away armed with Rosary and pamphlet, and the encouragement to pray it every day.

A mom accompanied by eight children, ranging in age from about 4 to teens, had been sitting at a nearby picnic table as we gave away Rosaries. Finally, she went by, saying that we could probably guess by the size of their family that they were Catholic. They already each had a Rosary, she said, but she thanked us for being there. Then one of the youngest saw the brightly colored Rosaries and wanted one. The mom relented and the children ended up choosing two new Rosaries to share among themselves. We encouraged them to continue their habit of praying the Rosary together every day. Lord, protect them and help them grow in Faith!

An older couple went by, the woman leading a very old, very tiny dog. E. Chuck recognized them from some time ago when the woman had angrily shouted her hatred of religion at us with her husband pulling her away, embarrassed. Today, she didn’t say anything mean. Lord, draw her into Your healing presence!

Former evangelist e. Nick stopped to visit for a few minutes, introducing his 13-month-old daughter. Nick and his wife were running a booth at the trade show. At the same time, though, person after person approached the table uninvited, and we got busy setting them up with Rosaries, and so didn’t actually get to visit with e. Nick. May God continue to bless and protect his family!

Two men stopped when one of them wanted a Rosary. He had grown up Catholic, he said. (Now though, he seemed to have a lifestyle issue keeping him from full Communion within the Church. But the Rosary still draws people, doesn’t it?) After he had chosen a Rosary and was leaving, he called that he was going to take it to his church to get a blessing. “It’s already blessed,” e. Lucy called back. He was very happy to hear that and hugged the Rosary. E. Lucy mused that the man had retained the very “Catholic” impulse to get important religious items blessed before using them. Lord, bring him home and heal him!

A Catholic woman selected a Rosary and told us her brother had gotten one from us some time ago. Pray for all Catholics that their prayer life grows deep and wide.

The two evangelists gave away 20 or so Rosaries (including all of our remaining green and tan ones and at least 12 black ones) and its pamphlet, as well as a Divine Mercy prayer card, 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 efforts.

By the grace of God, we try to maintain a friendly peaceable presence. 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).

July 9, 2023

Plenty of work remains in the Lord’s vineyard. So thankyou again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A previous visitor from a couple of weeks ago, “Tom”, stopped to chat. You may remember that he recently returned to Boise after his wife passed on, and that he attends a nearby parish. Mostly, he talked about concerts and different women he’s met at them. Evidently, he has moved on from his bus-driver girlfriend. Lord, in his loneliness, draw him closer to You!

An intact family with 4 children were strolling by, and seemed confused at first by our offer of a free Rosary. Once they realized that we really were just giving away the Rosaries, their caution evaporated, the father gave an enthusiastic “Yes!”, and they all came to the table. Young and old, they each chose a Rosary, helping each other pick out a color, and grinning as they showed each other their choices. We encouraged them to pray it together. Please pray for all Catholic families, that their Faith unites them and becomes their identity.

A man with a slight accent stopped for a Rosary. He told e. Lucy that his surname means “Messiah” in his native language, and confirmed that he had come from generations of good Catholic Christians. Lord, keep his family and him faithful to You for all generations to come!

I vaguely remember some teens who stopped. At least one was a non-believer. We used the Rosary as a way for them to get to know Who Jesus really is, encouraging them to reverently take their questions into the meditations.

“Michele” stopped, wanting Rosaries for herself and a friend. We said we could let her have only one. Our impression was that Michele was on the verge of homelessness. She was alone, though, and homeless women usually travel in small groups. Also, she had a small dog in the baby carriage she was pushing, and I don’t think the women’s shelter allows pets. But we didn’t ask. Since she said she already received a Rosary from us, she chose one for her friend “Michelle (with 2 Ls)”. Then, she wanted one for her newest friend, “Amber”. We said she could stop again next week and get another one. Meanwhile, she said she would use the one Rosary and teach her friends how to pray it. Lord, please heal, bless, and protect Michele, Michelle, and Amber!

A man passing by in a small group called out, in response to our offer of a Rosary, “No, thanks, I’m going to hell anyway.” E. Lucy called back, “But it doesn’t have to be that way!” Lord, grant the man hope of repentance and salvation!

After playing in the fountain, a father (“Tony”) and his two young children came to the table, all dripping wet. He did not know anything about the Rosary, although he was Christian. He was intrigued by the challenging, meditative nature of the Mysteries. They were on vacation from a neighboring state, he said, because he was contemplating a move to Idaho. He wanted to raise his children in a place that supports family values more than where they currently live. They each accepted a Rosary and the encouragement to pray it together. Lord, please guide the father into wise decisions as he provides for and protects his children.

Our last visitor was a 20-something woman who said she was agnostic. Rather than being a “seeker”, though, she seemed content to know nothing about religion and admitted she wasn’t putting any time into thinking about God. E. Chuck introduced her to Jesus Christ, as the One God Who cares, and encouraged her to get to know Him through the Mysteries of the Rosary. He also encouraged her to consider how all those stories came down to us through reliable witnesses who gave their lives in telling the world about Christ. She accepted a Rosary and its pamphlet, as well as e. Chuck’s “Do I Need a Savior?” pamphlet. She said that she had always been curious about the Rosary and thanked us for being there. Mother Mary, please show her the Blessed Fruit of thy womb!

As we were finishing the conversation above, “Justin” rode by. This time, he slowed down and moved in close before making his evil insinuation against the Church, but said it more or less sotto voce this time. Our visitor, above, just rolled her eyes. Thank you, Mother Mary, for protecting her. Lord, please change his heart!

Altogether, the two evangelists gave away 12-15 Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as a “Do I Need a Savior?” pamphlet.

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.

A great need still exists to introduce Jesus to people, and to encourage them to grow close 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).

July 2, 2023

God sent many people to us again this session. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A cartoon convention was going on in the hotel connected to “our” business park. So, many young passersby were dressed in identical, brightly colored costumes, many seemed to represent swashbuckling heroes and heroines, equipped with sword or axe.

One group of the convention goers stopped when one of the young women showed interest. Not Christian, she listened politely to the invitation to get to know Jesus through the meditations of the Rosary. E. Chuck handed her a “Do I Need a Savior?” pamphlet to go with the Rosary she selected. Her companions also chose a Rosary apiece.

Another group of identically clad young people stopped. One of them was Catholic, and they all chose Rosaries for themselves as well.

A man who lives at a homeless shelter stopped. ‘Roberto”, who prefers being called “Berto”,  tried and rejected at least 4 Rosaries before he found one to his liking. He identified as simultaneously being a member of 3 different world religions, which teach incompatible understandings about God and salvation. E. Chuck got him to acknowledge that only Christ was pre-announced and was therefore the fulfillment of God’s plan for salvation. But Berto still insisted that his additions to the Gospel were correct. Pray that Christ, God Incarnate, becomes central to Berto’s otherwise confused faith.

A newly minted Catholic, “Jesús”, stopped by after Mass and was wondering if we had any other prayers he could pray, since he felt in a rut. We gave him a Divine Mercy card, a pamphlet of common Catholic prayers, and encouraged him to try praying the Scriptures in Lectio Divina style. Jesús told e. Chuck that he had once spent an hour and a half arguing with the hate-filled apocalyptic cult that sometimes stations itself a few blocks away, He was pleased that one of his arguments against their philosophy actually seemed to hit home with one of them. He also is a member of e. Todd’s men’s group, and talked with e. Lucy about joining us. Pray that Jesús can clearly hear God’s voice in his life.

“Justin” zoomed by more than once this week, each time shouting false insinuations about the Catholic Church. Both times, we were talking with other people. The first time, another passerby sniggered at the inuendo. The second time, four young women in costume were at the table selecting Rosaries. One girl was visibly disturbed by what he shouted, though she seemed to calm down upon seeing e. Chuck’s dismissive reaction. The other three, though, acted amused by the unwelcome outburst. “Justin” is continuing to align himself as an enemy of God and his Church; let us obey our Savior and pray for his salvation, and for the protection of our other visitors.

A husband and wife came to the table, the man saying he wanted a Rosary for his Catholic mother. He said he was “no longer Catholic” and attended a non-Catholic Christian church. He was full of Catholic jokes. E. Chuck shared how he had made the opposite journey, attracted to the Church’s authority, its rootedness in the New Testament, and the reality of the Eucharist, which is missing elsewhere. We challenged our visitor to pray the Rosary himself before giving it to his mother, if for no other reason than that it would please his mother. His wife, too, selected a Rosary for herself. We gave him a “Come Home” pamphlet. Pray for his conversion.

A young man broke away from a large group to talk to us. He is in town for a few weeks on a job. A non-Catholic Chrisitan unfamiliar with the Rosary, he seemed attracted to the challenge of it and its deep meditation on Christ. He also appreciated e. Chuck’s analogy that, like a workout in a gym, it could help him build spiritual muscles. Pray that his love for Christ grows ever deeper and wider.

“Logan” came up just as we were packing everything away. He wanted a Rosary, and asked what we were doing and what made Catholic worship different. He had never heard the word “Eucharist”, and asked us to sit down with him to explain while he rested from his long walk. So, after we finished putting everything away, we went and joined him for a few minutes at one of the picnic tables. He belonged to a non-Catholic Christian megachurch that taught against Catholicism, but said he was willing to learn when the Catholic Church herself taught and why. However, he didn’t really seem interested in talking about Catholicism. He told us of an earlier encounter he had in the park, and seemed poised to slide into a political rant. E. Lucy offered him a card for the local Catholic radio station and he snapped a picture of it, while e. Chuck recommended he tune in to a particular program he might find interesting. In turn, he gave us a card for an anti-Catholic internet personality. Pray that Logan’s heart stays focused on Christ and His work in the world.

Altogether, we gave away 25-ish Rosaries and its pamphlet, 2 Divine Mercy prayer cards, 1 map to area parishes, 1 “Come Home” pamphlet, and 1 “Do I Need a Savior?” pamphlet.

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.

Whether they come across as positive, negative, or indifferent, we try to welcome everyone and encourage them to grow closer to Jesus Christ through the Rosary. 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 about whom you care!

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

June 25, 2023

God has blessed our team. And so I thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

Early in the session, a teen dropped back from his parents to stop at our table. He thanked us for being there, but then warned ominously that we should expect trouble since public expression of religion is under attack, especially right now. E. Lucy set him up with a Rosary, asked his prayers, and tried not to worry whether he were speaking prophetically.

Not long after, a uniformed employee of the business park approached. His name tag read, “Alexander”. He asked if we had permission to be there. “Why, yes!”, e. Lucy replied, remembering our last encounter with park authority, albeit more than a year ago. She went on to explain that we’d been there every week for more than 10 years, and that we didn’t accept donations. Alexander seemed quite surprised at our claim to have permission, and said he had to call his supervisor. E. Lucy continued to offer Rosaries, wondering if time in “our spot” was nearing an end. Foot traffic was so heavy, though, and so many people wanted a Rosary, that e. Lucy found it a challenge to squeeze in even a short prayer or two about our status. She saw Alexander at a distance a few minutes later, holding up his phone. “They wanted a picture of you,” he called. A “Memorare” and one each of the Divine Mercy prayers were offered up, and a few more Rosaries given away. Then Alexander returned. “Well?” e. Lucy asked. “It’s okay, you can stay.” “Oh, thank God!”  But then Alexander walked around to the front of the table, and humbly added, “May I have a Rosary, too?” Of course! May God bless Alexander for his obedience to those in authority over him, and may God continue to bless the business park and guide its decision makers!

A recent Catholic high school graduate stopped for a Rosary. E. Lucy encouraged her to pray it once for us.

A toothless older woman, perhaps homeless, stopped for a free Rosary. She felt very rejected and thrown away by society. E. Lucy let her know she understood and assured her that she wasn’t alone. The woman seemed a bit more encouraged when she left. God, heal her and let her know You have people who do care, even for the poor.

Though about 90% of people still said no thank you, lots of families did stop for Rosaries. E. Lucy encouraged them to pray it together, since it is such a powerful prayer for peace and protection. She wished a “Happy Father’s Day” to men with families . Most seemed pleased.

A non-Catholic Christian family stopped, a dad and two children. E. Lucy explained how using the Rosary to meditate on Jesus’ life can help you deepen your relationship with Him. Every member of the family chose one.

Several people, from different groups, called out that they “love Jesus!” Amen!, the evangelist called back. Maybe they’re just glad to see Christianity in public.

A Catholic woman asked why we don’t accept donations. E. Lucy gave her three reasons. First, so we don’t need a permit. Also, should someone accept a Rosary but then give us money, he may think he has purchased the Rosary. This would be very bad for two reasons: 1) he would lose the blessing attached to the Rosary, and 2) we would be guilty of the sacrilegious sin of simony, selling blessed items. So, we don’t accept donations during our time on the street.

A woman and her husband stopped. They were from a city west of here, where perhaps it’s not okay to be public about being Christian. They were not Catholic, but the wife followed Catholic doings in the news, especially this week. She teared up when given a Rosary. and said she would pray for us.

While e. Lucy was talking with her, ”Justin” (my nickname for the man who repeatedly hailed the enemy of his soul and made himself unpleasant week after week) went by. He again called out a false accusation about the Catholic Church, rushing past without slowing down. Though his language was still somewhat moderated, his tone was not. And the lady with whom e. Lucy was speaking seemed frightened at the intrusive outburst. Please keep praying? God can reach them, hot or cold.

God granted us a pleasant afternoon of sunshine, which was a welcome break from weeks of thunderstorms. Foot traffic was heavy. The evangelist gave away at least 30 Rosaries and its pamphlet, 2 Divine Mercy prayer cards, and a Jesus Knocking  prayer card.

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.

God confirmed us in “our spot” again. And, knowing that God wants the sinner to turn from evil and live (cf. Ezek 33:11), we continue our efforts. 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!

“Have no anxiety at all” (Phil 4:6a).

June 18, 2023

“We have seen incredible things today” (Luke 5:26)! So thank you again for  your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

Early in the session, a few groups of tall, good-looking men and women walked by. None of them accepted a Rosary, but the evangelist couldn’t help but notice that they all walked like fashion models.

A man from the nearby parish stopped, showing his bulletin from Mass. “Tom” is 78, and recently moved back to Boise after being away for 17 years. He said the cost of living is lower here and crime is less. When here before, he had been very active in the Knights of Columbus, and his wife had helped serve meals. But she passed away just over two years ago, following an incapacitating illness. (May she rest in peace!) Tom said he didn’t need a Rosary because someone at the parish makes them and had just given him a very nice chain one, which he planned to give to his bus-driver friend. E. Lucy offered him a copy of the Rosary pamphlet to give to her, too, and he accepted. May God grant him salvation!

A girls’ hockey tryout was just finishing up in the sports arena. One mother stopped to chat as she waited for her daughter to join her. She was not interested in either Rosary or getting to know Jesus Christ. May God draw them to Himself, regardless.

Two young men, perhaps still in their teens, asked where they could find a free meal. Unfortunately, the evangelist didn’t know the current meal schedule. She asked another man, later on, but he was embarrassed to not know, either.

A group of three or four teenage girls stopped for a Rosary. One accepted a copy of the Good News/kerygma pamphlet and they all listened to the evangelist encourage them to get to know Jesus Christ. But they seemed to be merely polite, but not really interested. May God touch their hearts anyway!

Some other teens stopped for Rosaries, some of whom were Catholic.

A man, probably in his 20s, was dressed in pink, fluffy, bunny-like women’s clothes. Surprisingly, he accepted a Rosary, though he declined the pamphlet on how to pray it. May God grant him healing and peace!

At one point, the evangelist turned around to see a group of 8-10 large men, walking shoulder-to-shoulder, and stretching almost all the way across the walkway. Dressed similarly in grey suits, the evangelist wondered if they might be part of a professional football team. They were already nearly upon her when she noticed them and she gave a startled gasp, which drew a smile from some of the men. She quickly scanned the line, picked out the leader (3^rd in from her right) and offered a free Rosary, holding up a couple of the blessed items for them to see. Surprisingly, the man looked suddenly sheepish, declined the offer, and broke off from the group along with 2-3 of the men beside him (his lieutenants?). She turned and continued to offer Rosaries down the line. All of them declined the offer but, again, each displayed a similar sheepish expression as they broke into smaller groups and moved away. The evangelist got distracted at that point and didn’t see where they went. Lord, if they were men, please grant them true repentance from all wrongdoing.

A man called out, after declining a Rosary, that he “was going to hell anyway.” E. Lucy called after him, “but it doesn’t have to be that way!” Lord, have mercy on that man and grant him hope, the grace of repentance, and salvation!

During breaks between passersby, the evangelist became fascinated by what the sky was doing. Thunderclouds were moving in from the east, but some also from the north, a few from the south, and one from the west. (Unusual weather pattern for the area.) However, over the business park, the weather remained sunny and calm. Thank you, God!

The session was nearly over and we hadn’t seen the man who repeatedly (and almost weekly) saluted his enemy or used increasingly foul language to speak against God. But then e. Lucy saw him. This time, she recognized him before she offered a Rosary and instead greeted him with a hearty “Hi!” That literally stopped the man in his tracks a moment. Then he looked around, saw our sign with “Catholic Truth” at the top, accused the Catholic Church of promoting sinful behavior, and strode away. Notably, though, there was no foul language. In fact, he worded the accusation so delicately that if any children had been present, they wouldn’t have understood. Also, notably, the evangelist was not tongued-tied for once, and called in reply, “No, she has always forbidden that kind of behavior.” I think we just witnessed the Holy Spirit blowing a huge chink in the man’s armor and beginning a profound healing within him. God loves him so much and wants him saved! (Until we find out his name, I’m dubbing him “Justin”.) May God keep “Justin” off-balance enough to let him respond to God's grace to bring him all the way home to Catholic Sainthood!

On this Corpus Christi Sunday, we gave away 12-15 Rosaries and its pamphlet, a Divine Mercy prayer card, and a Good News/kerygma pamphlet.

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.

God is truly present in the Blessed Sacrament and He truly wants all to be saved. 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).

June 11, 2023

Always a few say yes. So, thankyou again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort. Two evangelists were available.

One woman went by, saying no thank you to our offer of a free Rosary (and perhaps asserting that she had “plenty of Rosaries”). About 30 feet further on, though, she turned around and came back, accepting a Rosary and its pamphlet and the encouragement to pray it daily.

Several Catholics went by, proclaiming the large number of Rosaries they had at home. We asked them to pray it once for us.

“Uwe” went by, but only talking about the weather. E. Chuck teased him into accepting a Rosary from us next week, to which he laughingly agreed. But e. Chuck isn’t going to be here for the next two weeks.

Some teenagers came to the table, although only two chose Rosaries. The one e. Chuck spoke with knew nothing about the Rosary and identified as belonging to a pseudo-Christian religion. So, the evangelist proclaimed the Good News of the one true God becoming man to die for us and rise again, and how He can be seen in the prayers of the Rosary. Our visitor smiled at all this and politely thanked us for the Rosary before moving on with the others. Pray that they reach out for the mercy and grace offered them by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

A homeless man with an unsteady walk paused to say he had just gotten out of the hospital because he had fallen down. Fortunately, he hadn’t broken anything. The Rosary he chose wouldn’t fit over his head so he gave it back and declined choosing another, saying he needed to find someplace to sit down. Pray for the physical and spiritual well being of homeless people everywhere.

A woman came directly to the table without being asked. She said she picked up a Rosary from us on a regular basis because she liked to give them to her family members. Pray for her efforts to evangelize her family with the prayer of our Mother.

On this Trinity Sunday, we saw lots of foot traffic but seemingly little interest. Still, the two evangelists gave away 12-15 Rosaries and its pamphlet on how to pray it, as well as a Divine Mercy prayer card.

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.

Even when it feels like “nobody is interested”, we still have a few encounters and so we remain encouraged. 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).

June 4, 2023

There’s still plenty of work in God’s vineyard to be done, so thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A multi-generational family of about 10 stopped when one of the women wanted a Rosary. They were Catholic (and nominally Catholic and the unsure). Half of the family was visiting from out of state. The young man e. chuck spoke with was an inactive Catholic and kept saying he meant to pray the Rosary but didn’t, and “now I have no excuse” as he chose a second Rosary for his girlfriend. E. Chuck tried to help him see past the idea that prayer is a chore that he has to get through, and to recognize it as time spent with a best friend. After everyone in the group had selected a Rosary for him- or herself, a teenage girl asked about the pamphlets we had on the table. E. Lucy explained how to use the Good News/kerygma pamphlet to introduce Jesus to someone and give them the basic Christian message. One of the teen boys came up at that point and also took a copy of the kerygma pamphlet. Then he asked about our “Come Home” pamphlet. E. Lucy explained that it was designed to reach Catholics who had fallen away from the Sacraments. He thought of someone in his circle of acquaintances who could use it, and so asked for one. Then he asked about our “Do I Need a Savior?” pamphlet. E. Lucy explained that it started further back than the Good News one, in that it tried to get people to just touch on their need for God. He took one of those, too. Two or three people in the group also took Divine Mercy prayer cards. Pray for unity of faith in all Catholic families.

Repeat visitor “Douglas” stopped to say hi on his way to a job interview. He had started reading the Catechism we gave him last week. E. Lucy encouraged him to keep reading it straight through from the beginning in order to “catch” the Catholic worldview. He seemed encouraged.

A toothless woman, who had received a Rosary from us in the past, brought a little girl to the table so she could get one.

The father of a large-ish non-Catholic Christian family saw the Rosaries and told us they loved Jesus. We were glad to hear that and quickly explained that the Rosary was a series of meditations to encourage people to grow closer to Him. It seemed to calm his suspicion of Catholics down a little, and they promised to pray for us.

Some teenagers came over for a free Rosary. They claimed to be Christian, so we explained the devotion and encouraged them to use it to grow closer to Christ. Later, they came back, bringing a few other teens with them, who also wanted a Rosary. May God bless our natural evangelists!

The man who has so often hailed his enemy as he walked by, this time called out an especially foul and false characterization of God. God, please forgive him and grant him the grace of full conversion!

A couple walking two dogs wanted Rosaries but were unfamiliar with them, and the man said he wasn’t sure where he stood on Christianity. So we started with the Rosary, showing them how the Mysteries could help them get to know who Christ is better, and emphasized the Gospel message of God coming to our rescue in the person of Jesus to suffer, die, and rise in order to offer us salvation from sin and death. They were quiet and guarded as we spoke, but accepted a Good News pamphlet along with their Rosaries. Pray that they hear the call of the Holy Spirit.

Three teenagers stopped. One girl did not choose a Rosary and remained silent while the other girl said she was “sort of a Christian” but wasn’t going to church. E. Chuck encouraged her to not “wait until someday” to take her faith seriously, because Christ was calling her now. He also mentioned that many Saints had devoted themselves in heroic ways even in their teens. St. Therese of Lisieux, pray for them.

The father of a passing family group declined a Rosary and stopped to say he had grown up Catholic “but then discovered the Bible.” He went on to say he had heard St. John Paul the Great at a youth thing (World Youth Day, Denver, 1993) and “it didn’t do anything for me” so began looking elsewhere. E. Chuck said he had made the opposite journey but the man just repeated his comment about discovering the Bible and moved on. St. John Paul the Great, pray for him.

Two teenage boys on skateboards came to the table, they didn’t know anything about the Rosary and were not too sure if they were Chrisitan, so we shared the Good News of Christ with them and encouraged them to read through the Mysteries of the Rosary to get to know Jesus. E. Chuck also gave them a “Do I Need a Savior?” pamphlet. Pray that they respond to God’s call.

Altogether, we gave away 25-30 Rosaries and its pamphlet, and several each of our “Come Home”, Good News/kerygma, and “Do I Need a Savior?” pamphlets, as well as some Divine Mercy prayer cards.

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.

On this Pentecost Sunday, the Holy Spirit invited lots of people to visit with us. 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).

May 28, 2023

God continues to give new evidence of His existence and His love. So thankyou again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

Two teenage girls approached the table, one said she had picked up a Rosary a few weeks ago. When asked if she had tried the prayer, she gave a sarcastic “of course.” So we showed them their need for Christ, encouraging them to seek Him and showed them how prayer could help. The other girl then chose a Rosary and they went on their way. Pray their eyes and hearts are opened to their need for Our Savior.

When offered a Rosary, a passing man pulled part of his shirt aside to show a tattoo and yelled, “I’m [one who pursues power through occult means]!” Before the evangelist could respond, two other men came to the table, both Catholic, who wanted a Rosary. As e. Chuck was talking to the two Catholics, the first man came striding up to the table, shouting, “I’ll take one for someone else.” When the evangelist tried to offer a pamphlet and explain the prayer, he used foul language to declare that he did not pray to Jesus. The evangelist and the two Catholic men all asked at the same time, “Then what are you going to do with a Rosary?” With anger burning in his voice and eyes, he snarled, “It’s for a friend who does believe in all this,” and he stormed away. Pray that his friend will be a witness for this man of the love of Christ.

Two women stopped. One, seeing the Crucifixes on the Rosaries, shook her head and asked if we had any “that weren’t for sinners”. The evangelist began to explain that we are all sinners in need of a Savior and about what Christ did for us by dying on the Cross, but she interrupted with some odd ideas about God. As she spoke, her friend silently chose a Rosary and took the pamphlet before edging away. The evangelist tried to bring the conversation back to our common need for God’s help, but the first woman waved it all off and joined her friend without taking a Rosary. Pray that her mind becomes open to the truth about God and about herself.

“Douglas”, the formerly homeless man who had spoken with us a few months ago, stopped again, looking healthy and well dressed. He could not praise God enough for his continuing recovery. Though still renting a room at the Rescue Mission, he was working full time and trying to help other homeless men who struggle with alcohol abuse. He was still trying to find a church community and had questions about the Catholic Church. E. Chuck answered them by sharing his own journey of conversion to Catholicism. Douglas said he was heading to the park to read his Bible, so the evangelist gave him a copy of the Catechism and some pamphlets, as well as offering to take him to Mass when he was ready. Pray for strength and perseverance for Douglas as he seeks God’s family.

As we were taking down the table, a father and son (10 to 12 years old) stopped, wondering what we were doing. So e. Chuck explained our desire to help people fall in love with God through prayer and devotion. The boy, much excited, wanted to tell what happened to them. On a road trip, they were low on gas but a long way from the next gas station. Afraid they would not make it, the whole family prayed for help and the gas gauge went from empty to a quarter full before their very eyes. The father then shared that his own life, now ten years sober, was a gift from God and we all praised God for his many blessings. They chose a Rosary to share as a family. Thank God for the simple trust of this family and for His many miracles. May our own eyes be open to the hand of God at work in our world.

There was another hockey game and therefore lots of foot traffic. Although e. Lucy had to leave after only a short time due to the suddenly hot weather, we gave away, at the very least, 25 Rosaries (based on the number of remaining pamphlets). E. Chuck also gave out a Divine Mercy prayer card, a “Praying to Saints” pamphlet, a “Why be Catholic?” pamphlet, and a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

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.

God is as alive today as He was on the Day of Resurrection, and He graciously answers prayers. We love hearing and sharing those stories. 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).

May 21, 2023

Building relationships is an important component of evangelization, as is introducing Jesus Christ, and encouraging people to get to know Him. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

“Walt”, a formerly homeless man and frequent visitor, made a special trip over the extra block just to visit us. We hadn’t seen him for a year-and-a-half. Right before Thanksgiving, 2021, he finally got off the streets and into government-subsidized housing. He looked great. He’d gained enough weight to look healthy and was no longer bent over, giving him an extra 8 inches of height. He asked for prayers for “Estella”, his estranged daughter, and for “Kenny”, who is nearly 30 but suddenly no longer sure of his gender.

“John”, the retired parking lot attendant, came by on a bicycle, bringing his dog. Give God thanks for John’s improved back health. Please also continue to pray for his wife, “Linda”, that she recovers from her shoulder-replacement surgery and is granted the willingness and ability to follow her doctor’s advice.

The man from the deep South stopped by again. He spoke admiringly of his relatives who remained devoutly Catholic despite overt discrimination in that part of the country.

“Uwe” passed by twice, again only mentioning the weather. Please continue to ask God to grant him the gift of Faith.

The man who hails the enemy of his soul again blurted out his mistaken loyalty when we offered him a Rosary. Please continue to pray that his eyes are opened to the Truth and that he changes his ways long before it’s too late.

Two different same-sex couples passed by, of opposite gender. We offered them each a Rosary, pretending we didn’t notice them holding hands. None of them accepted.

A woman angrily responded to our offer of a free Rosary by saying she identified as someone who has no need for God or religion. May she, too, find healing and Truth.

An athletic game had been relocated to Boise after its previous venue’s city suffered a lockdown of all public events. The game here was expected to start about an hour after we finished. Crowds were beginning to gather.

A young couple waiting for the game came to the table, he said he was a Christian and thinking he should get active in his faith again. Although he was not raised Catholic, he said his grandmother is a “super Catholic”. The woman said her parents had never taught her anything about God. Neither knew anything about the Rosary but were curious. So we explained the Christ-centeredness of the prayer and how the Mysteries show us who God is and how much he loves us. The man started asking about where he could go to a Catholic church, so we gave them a map to area parishes. We also encouraged them to pray the Rosary together. Pray they allow the Holy Spirit to take root in their lives.

A man kindly declined a Rosary, indicating that he was not Catholic. Still, he shook e. Chuck’s hand and thanked the team for “being out here and doing this.” Pray for an increase in evangelization in Boise, in Idaho, in America, and in the world.

A young Frenchman with very little English, who is traveling in America for a few months, wanted a Rosary. Though he knew the prayer in French, he took the pamphlet in hopes  it would help his English. He seemed to be trying to ask why we were giving away Rosaries but it was hard to tell whether he understood the answer. Finally, he took out his phone so it would translate what he had been trying to say: “The greatest adventure is found in Jesus Christ.” On that we could agree! Later, he stopped at the table again because he wanted a Divine Mercy card. He was also curious about our “Come Home” pamphlet. When he saw the list of area parishes on the back, he took one. Pray for his safe travels and for his deepening relationship with God.

Lots of people were out on this Mother’s Day. The evangelists gave away 20-25 Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as a map to area parishes, a Divine Mercy prayer card, and a “Come Home” pamphlet.

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.

Although we may see no immediate fruit, our efforts continue. 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).

May 14, 2023

Our session didn’t happen last week but, through the mercy of God, today is a new day. So, thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

Last week, I (Lucy) was in charge of our wagonful of Rosaries, signs, and other supplies. However, when I was about a block away from “our spot”, I confess I threw in the towel and cancelled the session. I refrain from offering excuses, and simply beg forgiveness of Our Lord and of you.

And today we’re ready to go out there again, thanks be to God! So, please pray for us.

Please 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.

This apostolate has continued for more than 10 years, suffering only the odd, short interruption. This continued effort happens only through the mercy of God. So thank you again for your prayers and other support. In turn, may God protect and greatly bless you and all those you love!

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

May 7, 2023

A dare can lead to prayer. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A nicely dressed Catholic couple, “Paul” and “Nicole”(?), from a state way south of us stopped to offer encouragement. They (and others) wondered why the fountain in the business park wasn’t going yet, since it was 90° F out (compared to 60° F only the previous week). They don’t seem to understand that there’s still a good chance of a hard freeze between now and Memorial Day.

A group of teenage girls stopped, not familiar with the Rosary but wanting one (probably because they were free). They were not Christian, so e. Lucy used the Rosary pamphlet to show the life of Jesus and encourage them to get to know Him by spending a few minutes a day thinking about one of the 4 groups of stories.

“James” (perhaps soon to be “e. James”) brought his mother, “Eleanor”, by so they could see our setup. He had previously invited e. Lucy to give a presentation at the apologetics class he facilitated at e. Lucy’s parish.

“Jason” (“Jesse”?) stopped to banter with e. Chuck. He told us he was just back from spending part of the winter in a warmer state on the other side of the country. He described being in a large Catholic church there for a family event. He wasn’t clear, though, about whether it was a wedding , a baptism, or Easter. (Of course, if it occurred during the Easter Vigil, it could have included all three.) Added to his confused description of the event was his declared need to “get into RCIA” so he “could participate in Mass”. It was difficult to keep him on a single subject in conversation, but he was not going to take a Rosary because he wasn’t yet Catholic. We convinced him that the prayer was not limited to practicing Catholics. So, he finally, reluctantly, chose a Rosary. Sensing that his interest in the Church was superficial, e. Chuck pushed him to commit to actually praying the Rosary. He half agreed to read the pamphlet and we said that it was not the same thing, and that he needed to pray it. Then e. Chuck went so far as to “double-dog dare” him to open himself to Christ in prayer. Pray that Jason can get past his own theories of life and faith, and be transformed by a deep relationship with his Savior.

A Catholic family with 3 young children under the age of 6 stopped. They weren’t yet in the habit of praying the Rosary as a family, so e. Lucy set them each up with one and encouraged them to pray it daily.

Another group of teens, boys this time, stopped. E. Chuck shared the Gospel with them.

A group of 4 college-aged men stopped. They each chose a Rosary, including the last black ones we’d brought. A few minutes later, two of the men returned to ask for different colors. E. Lucy sanitized the black Rosaries and put them back out, where, within moments, they were chosen by other passersby. A big thank you to Rosary makers who give us black Rosaries (which are difficult to make because the hole in the bead is so hard to see).

A grinning man took the Rosary from e. Chuck’s hand and said it was good to see us back in the business park now that the weather is nice. We told him we had been there every Sunday all winter. The man chuckled and replied, “Oh yeah, I guess I’m the one who hasn’t been walking to work in bad weather.” May his good cheer be a result of his growing relationship with you, Lord.

When offered a Rosary, a teenage boy declined, saying he belonged to a non-Christian religion. But his friend, who wore a cross on his necklace, came to the table. However, after hearing about the prayer, he also declined saying he had no pockets to carry it in and, besides, he already had a cross. Pray, Mary, that he can see that your Motherhood will only lead him closer to Jesus.

Four teenage girls, wanting free necklaces, listened politely as we explained and extolled the Rosary. All seemed to be Christian, but they were not very talkative. May the sight of the Crucifix remind them of Your great love for them and draw them deeper in love with You, Lord.

Teenage boys (3 or 4) came to the table, one of whom was not a Christian. E. Chuck set him up with our one-page copy of the kerygma while e. Lucy introduced them to the Rosary as a way to get to know Jesus Christ.

A Catholic family of four (the children were both under 2 years old) seemed undecided about stopping. Finally, the father came to the table. As they discussed what color to choose, we encouraged them to pray as a family.

“John” (the retired parking lot maintenance man) stopped to chat. Please pray for his wife, “Linda”, who recently had surgery to install an artificial shoulder.

Foot traffic was light for 3/4 of the session, perhaps because of the suddenly-summer temperature. Still, we gave away at least 15-20 Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as a couple copies of the Good News/kerygma pamphlet and our pamphlet on Confession.

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.

Prayer is the best way to get to know Jesus Christ. 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).

April 30, 2023

God knows our needs and what will draw us to Him. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort. Last week, one evangelist was available.

It was raining steadily when I arrived to set up. But the rain slacked off by 10 ‘til, and had pretty much stopped by “opening time”. Foot traffic immediately increased, though still somewhat lighter than usual. Toward the end of the session, the sun even started to peek out of the heavy cloud cover. God is good! And He knows what will draw people outside where they can encounter us!

A father and son, in his pre- or early teens, stopped so the boy could get a Rosary. The man began to nod vigorously at every mention of Jesus Christ during e. Lucy’s brief description of the Rosary devotion. When she asked, the dad admitted they were non-Catholic Christians. Please pray the son catches his father’s enthusiasm for Christ?

A “former Catholic” woman, now identifying as belonging to a generic non-Catholic Christian denomination, stopped for a Rosary. Her husband took one, too. The woman had questions about St Joseph: “Why wasn’t he at the Cross?” E. Lucy let her know the consensus among Biblical scholars that St Joseph had died before Jesus began his public ministry. The evangelist also explained that Scriptural evidence confirms that Jesus was an only child, and reinforces the Catholic dogma that Mary remained a virgin before, during, and after Jesus’ birth. When the evangelist went on, though, to remind the woman of the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and invite her back to the Catholic Church, the woman seemed to remain unmoved. St Joseph, please pray for her return to the True Church, founded by your Son!

A group of four teenage boys stopped at the word “free”. They each took a Rosary, but then looked a little sheepish when e. Lucy encouraged them to actually pray it and grow closer to Jesus Christ. Lord, bring them to You!

Two business park employees spent a fair bit of time collapsing the large umbrellas over the picnic tables. When they finished, they headed past our table. One of them stopped. He listened attentively and seemed interested in the Rosary devotion. His fellow employee, though, was impatient and they hurried off. Blessed Mother, bring that man to your Son!

Our last visitor, a red-headed man of very unkempt appearance, kept repeating two phrases, which seemed to mean, 1) “I suffer from dissociative identities,” and 2) “I believe I am the deity”.  May God deliver and heal him!

Despite the relatively unpleasant weather and resultant light foot traffic, the evangelist gave away 10-12 Rosaries and the pamphlet on how to pray it.

Please pray for us again today? Ask God to prepare people’s hearts so they recognize 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.

Week after week, God shows us that He is worthy of our trust … and our worship! 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).

April 23, 2023

On this Divine Mercy Sunday, we encountered a variety of needs. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

Our first visitor, as we were just setting up, said he was Catholic and had just come from Mass (though without naming the parish). He asked for a wooden Rosary, of which we just happened to have one. He then asked for a scapular, which we also gave him. Please pray for him? Something seemed “off” in his manner.

The pseudo-Christian sect was holding another assembly in the sports arena. This is the first time we’ve seen them in several years. And, this time, they had four pairs of security guards patrolling outside the entrance, up from a single pair last time. None of sect members (readily identifiable by their formal “Sunday best” apparel on a Sunday afternoon) stopped to talk with us.

“Douglas”, a visitor from a few weeks back, was looking for a quiet place to call his father this week. After hearing the Gospel one-on-one in another state, he had now achieved six months of sobriety and was looking for e. Chuck, with whom he had visited at length before. He has been trying to find a church community in the area. However, in the denomination here that was associated with the one in the other state, he felt “looked down on” as soon as he admitted to being newly sober and renting a cheap room at another denomination’s mission facility for the homeless. E. Lucy explained that the Catholic Church was truly universal, and gave him a copy of our map to area parishes. She also waxed enthusiastic about the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, as well as about the error-free teaching of the Magisterium. She invited Douglas to the 3 pm Divine Mercy service at the nearby cathedral, but didn’t recognize him if he actually came. Please pray for Douglas?

A family, parents and 3 small children under the age of 6, stopped because the children wanted Rosaries. They weren’t Christian, so e. Lucy gave the 2 older children the Rosary pamphlet with pictures for each Mystery, and gave the mom a copy of the one-page kerygma, “in case the children have questions.”

A toothless, homeless woman stopped for a Rosary. She accepted a copy of the Rosary pamphlet, too, though her hands didn’t seem to work well, either. Please pray for her?

A man came to the table. He announced he was Christian, but was skeptical about the Catholic Church and uncomfortable with the Rosaries. So, e. Lucy explained how the devotion lets up do “a deep dive” into scenes from the life and Christ, and how the beads help you time it, so you spend about 5 minutes on each story. He decided he wanted to get one for his daughter, and they would learn to pray it together. He chose a purple one with pink Our Father beads, saying that purple and pink are his daughter’s favorite colors, and that she “included them in her prayers every night”. Please pray for them?

The teenage girls with masks, now pulled down under their chins, passed by again this week and said hi.

I have a vague recollection of another family all choosing Rosaries and e. Lucy encouraging the parents to have them pray it together “for peace and protection”.

Two parents with an older toddler stopped for a Rosary for the girl. Then each parent chose one for themselves. as well, after e. Lucy had extolled the benefits of the prayer.

Altogether, the team gave away 10-15 Rosaries and its pamphlet, 1 brown scapular (with white cord), a Jesus Knocking prayer card, and a Good News/kerygma pamphlet.

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

Father, for the sake of His sorrowful Passion, please have mercy on us and on the whole world!  And, 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).

April 16, 2023

On Easter Sunday, many people were open to learning about the Rosary. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

One man called out, “He is risen!” We responded, “He is risen indeed!”

“Cameron” stopped and accepted a Rosary. As he left, e. Lucy suddenly recognized him from about a decade earlier at the college Newman Center. When he came back past the table, she called his name and he came over. We oriented on what year it was that we had met and wished each other Happy Easter. Please pray for Cameron, since it seemed that he is not doing well.

As e. Lucy was changing our table sign from “Why Did Jesus Die for Me?” to “What Gives You Hope?”, a man had come up and was waiting for her to notice him. He was a non-Catholic Christian and, though he had Catholic relatives, had grown up in a part of the country where there was a great amount of peer pressure to avoid the Catholic Church. E. Lucy explained the Rosary devotion to him and how it helps people grow closer to Jesus Christ. He chose one for himself, and took the pamphlet on how to pray it, as well.

A somewhat unkempt man stopped at e. Lucy’s offer of a free Rosary. Although he had been raised Catholic, he now attended a non-Catholic Christian megachurch that has lively music. But the Rosary still calls. He not only accepted a Rosary, but asked for a copy of both pamphlets and both prayer cards on the table. May Our Blessed Mother draw him back to the fullness of the Faith and the True Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist!

A family of four stopped because the mother wanted a Rosary. Noting that she spoke with an accent, e. Lucy asked if she’d like the prayers in Spanish. “No, I’m French,” she replied. She and both children selected Rosaries for themselves.

A Catholic man stopped to offer encouragement. Asked if he prayed the Rosary every day, he responded that he was up to once a week. Citing the fact that the Rosary is a powerful spiritual weapon, even against secular evils, the evangelist encouraged him to up his game and be a much-needed “prayer warrior”.

The evangelist set up a couple of families with a copy of the Rosary prayers in Spanish.

Two teenage girls stopped. As they approached the table, the evangelist heard one telling her friend that she’d gotten a Rosary from us before. They then each chose one and listened politely as e. Lucy explained the devotion and encouraged them to use the Rosaries for prayer.

Almost everyone happily replied, “Happy Easter”, to the evangelist. Two notable exceptions were two with headphones, who tried to give the impression they could neither see nor hear us. But even that is a reaction to the Gospel. Lord, please have mercy and save them all!

“Uwe” stopped for a moment at e. Lucy’s request. Asked how his exploration of the nature of God is progressing, he replied that “all religions were good” and “all teach us to be good.” Notably, he also admitted that nobody could do it perfectly. He nodded in agreement with the “field hospital for sinners” analogy. This is continued progress! Lord, please bring Uwe all the way home to You.

Two teen girls were wearing masks. Asked about them, they declared they were just insecure about their looks. But they pulled them down to their chins to talk with the evangelist, whose face actually is disfigured. They each took a Rosary, and perhaps encouragement. May God bring them to Him!

The man who has loudly greeted his enemy passed by early in the session. After calling out that the concept of God is a deception, he moved away at full speed. I’m not sure he’s the same provocative man as last week. Either way, may God save them (both)!

A young, nervous man (late teens or early 20s) offered me a tract from a non-Catholic Christian sect, branches of which are known to be virulently anti-Catholic. The evangelist politely declined, then kicked herself later for not trying to engage him in conversation. Lord, please draw him to the fullness of Christianity in Your Catholic Church despite my shortcomings.

The evangelist gave away 20-25 Rosaries and its pamphlet, one each of the “Come Home” and “Good News”/kerygma pamphlets, 1 Jesus Knocking prayer card, and 1 Divine Mercy prayer card.

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.

Although some may have imagined egg-laying rabbits, many Christians seemed to relish the opportunity to exchange Easter greetings. 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).

April 9, 2023

Spring has finally begun to appear, and the teenagers are venturing outside, where our presence reminds them of their Savior. So thank you again for your prayers for this apostolate.

A large multi-family group, accompanying 8-10 children, passed by. The first groups all shook their heads no at our offer of a Rosary. Lagging behind a few paces was another woman. She accepted our offer and came to the table. Soon a mom and 2 girls (maybe 4 and 7 years old) from the previous group came back to join her. The mom pointed to e. Chuck’s newest sign, which asked, “Why did Jesus die for us?” She said to the girls, “We know the answer to that, don’t we?” The girls said yes. We explained the Rosary devotion to these non-Catholic Christians, and both children and moms each chose a Rosary. Then they asked for one more, for a boy in the group. Later, they all came back, the boy looking over the other Rosaries we had available, as if to see if there was one he’d like better. But he was content with the one he’d been given. Please pray they grow closer to Jesus Christ every day!

The man sporting an anti-God symbol or saying on his shirt passed by again. Again, we didn’t recognize him until after we’d offered him a Rosary. Again, he called out a salute to the enemy of his very soul. But he never stops. We prayed a Hail Mary out loud together for his salvation. Please pray for him, and for all who have rejected their Creator, that their eyes, ears, and hearts may be opened to the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

A man went by. When offered a Rosary, he said he “didn’t pray to Mary”. Although I’m sure his understanding of “pray to” differs from ours, still it’s his loss. He didn’t pause so we could clarify the issue with him.

It was a day for teenagers, we had several groups of teens stop by, some were Christian, some were indifferent, some were polite, and some were mocking. May the Crucifixes on the Rosaries remind them of the great cost of their salvation and God’s call to them.

Two late-teen girls came to the table, unsure what the Rosary was and, though they knew about Jesus, they admitting they were not Christian. We told them about the loving actions of our Savior God and how they could see snapshots of that love in the Mysteries of the Rosary, and that it was okay to ask God honest questions in prayer. They listened politely and accepted the “Who Am I?” and “Do I Need a Savior?” pamphlets as well. Pray that they will come to know their need for Salvation.

A family strolled past and the teenage daughters broke off to select Rosaries. The father joked that “they really needed them” as he and the mom kept walking. The girls were Catholic and all wore various medals. They eagerly selected a Rosary apiece. Pray that this family remains united in faith.

A group of 3 or 4 teenagers stopped at the word “free”. E. Chuck told them how Jesus came to take the bullet for us, since we couldn’t save ourselves, and e. Lucy explained the Rosary and how to use it to develop a relationship with Jesus Christ. One boy didn’t say anything, but also didn’t manage to hide a disrespectful attitude. Blessed Mother, please intercede for all those who have been indoctrinated against your Son!

Two young women in their late teens stopped. They were nominally familiar with Christ and, as we explained the devotion, they might have become interested in trying the Rosary meditations. Please pray they do, and that Jesus draws them into His heart.

A man seemed to be hauling all his earthly possessions, piled on and around a bicycle carrier. He stopped and accepted a Rosary from e. Chuck, who thought at first that he was asking him to hold the leash on his hunting dog, perhaps so he could choose a Rosary. Instead, he just took the one e. Chuck was holding.

On this Palm Sunday, we saw nowhere near the amount of foot traffic we had the week before. Still, the two evangelists gave away 20-25 Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well 1-2 Divine Mercy prayer cards.

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.

Many of our youth are being indoctrinated against Christ, but still they stop for a Rosary. 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! Happy Easter!

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

April 2, 2023

Simultaneous events, from two different worlds, brought many people past our table. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort. Two evangelists were available.

Both a music festival and a flower and garden show were taking place downtown during our last session. So, there was LOTS of foot traffic, praise God!

A surprising number of flower show attendees said they “already had a drawerful of Rosaries at home”. We asked them to pray it once for us. Some music festival attendees were in the brightly colored costumes we’ve come to associate with the (mostly unholy) annual cartoon festival that used to be held here.

One larger woman, dressed somewhat diva-style, hung back as the women in front of her declined our offer of a free Rosary. Yes, she did want one but didn’t know anything about it. E. Lucy described the devotion and how it could help her grow closer to Jesus Christ. Our visitor then chose a bright pink, extra-long Rosary for herself.

A group of young adults stopped when one of the members wanted a Rosary. As e. Chuck talked with him, e. Lucy offered a Rosary to the nearest woman. “I’m Jewish,” she said. “Oh? So is Jesus!” the evangelist replied. “I know,” the woman said, but remained friendly. However, except for the one person talking with e. Chuck, none of the rest took a Rosary.

A thin man with a little boy (4 or 5 years old) stopped so the boy could get a Rosary. “Are they blessed?” the father asked. “Yes, they are, and that’s a Catholic question, isn’t it?” the evangelist replied. The father nodded. We encouraged him to pray the Rosary with his son. The evangelist spotted them again later, as they headed toward the park containing the loudest part of the music festival.

A man and woman stopped, sporting sequins under their eyes. He explained that costumes were encouraged at the music festival. The man wanted a Rosary, but was unfamiliar with it and only knew a little about Christianity “from ’way back in childhood”. Since he was colorblind, e. Lucy helped him pick the Rosary he wanted. He listened graciously to her explanation of the devotion and accepted a copy of the kerygma as well, “to refresh his memory”.

“John”, the retired parking lot attendant, came to talk with e. Chuck. We were too busy with visitors, though, so he left after only a short visit.

Altogether, the two evangelists gave away a near-record 35-40 Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as at least one copy of the kerygma.

Please pray for us again today? Ask God to prepare people’s hearts 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.

Visitors were from contrasting lifestyles, churched and unchurched, those loyal to the One True God and those still chasing chimeras. But we tried to provide a moment of light for all. 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).

March 26, 2023

Christianity is “Good News”, though no guarantee of comfort in this world. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort. One evangelist was available.

A woman stopped to tell e. Lucy about her “favorite Catholic”, a priest in a major city south of here who started what is now a $multimillion vocational training program for gang members. She didn’t take a Rosary. May the love of Christ, manifest in His faithful witnesses, draw her into full communion in His Catholic Church.

A group of 3 Catholic young-adult women stopped. One, unfortunately, attends a Mass offered illicitly in a rural town. Fortunately, she is also connected with the licit version of the Mass in a nearby city. When e. Lucy mentioned a friend of hers in the choir for the authorized Mass, our visitor not only knew her, but excitedly said that she sings in the same choir. She then volunteered the she and another of the women with her attend Adoration at e. Lucy’s parish. The third woman stood back, said nothing, and didn’t accept a Rosary. Lord, please grant them the willingness and strength to sacrifice their own desires should obedience call them to do so.

A family stopped so the three children and one of the parents could get Rosaries. E. Lucy encouraged them to pray it together as a family.

A mother exited the sports arena, carrying a sleeping toddler lying flat in front of her. (Strong woman!) Followed by a slightly older child, the mother responded to e. Lucy’s offer of a free Rosary, and came to the table. “Yes,” the mother sighed, “I do need to begin teaching her about religion.” E. Lucy extolled the Rosary as a way of learning about Jesus, but the mom’s demeanor decidedly cooled at the mention of the Crucifixion. Yes, true religion is good, but it’s not “all butterflies and balloons”. May God lead her to Himself and grant her the ability to pass the Faith to her children.

A 30-ish couple stopped so the woman could get a Rosary. “I need this,” she said,  her mouth suddenly exposing several missing teeth, “because I’m flying out tomorrow.” This is not the first apparently homeless person who has spoken of air travel in the near future. I’m not sure what they actually mean, but imagine that commercial air travel could well be beyond their financial means. Please pray for her safety and salvation?

A man stopped, perhaps out of mere politeness. He had heard of the Rosary because of “a Catholic in his family tree”, but was not religious himself. E. Lucy offered the Rosary as a way to get to know Jesus through meditating on the Mysteries. He took the Rosary booklet and a copy of the kerygma, but declined receiving a Rosary “at this time.” Lord, lead him home to You!

Altogether, the evangelist gave away 10-12 Rosaries and the pamphlet on how to pray it, 3 Divine Mercy prayer cards, 1 Jesus Knocking prayer card, and 1 copy of the one-page kerygma.

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.

Our Rosaries each have a Crucifix; some see it and turn away without approaching; others come, but still believe our culture’s lie that all suffering is unnecessary. We hope to speak the truth. 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).

March 19, 2023

Jesus still seeks the lost, and their children. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

Frequent passerby “Cole” stopped several times, talking about some athletic playoffs featuring his home state far from here. He repeated again this week that someone has offered to take him to church, but that he has again put it off. Please pray that he finds his way home to Jesus Christ and salvation.

A heavy-set young man, in his late teens or early 20s, stopped as his family continued on a few paces. He didn’t know what the Rosary was, was not Christian, and had never really thought about Jesus or even whether there is a God or not. E. Chuck proclaimed the good news about Jesus Christ, our rescuing God, and our vital need to spend time thinking about the most important things in life. Since he seemed eager to move on, we handed him some pamphlets (“Good News”, “Do I Need a Savior?”, “Who Am I?”) to go along with his chosen Rosary and its booklet. Pray he responds to the graces that God is offering him.

While e. Chuck was finishing up with that man, e. Lucy waved a greeting to another man coming out of the sports arena. She offered him a Rosary and he came to the table. He “used to be Christian”, but has only recently begun to think seriously about questions such as the need for a Savior. He also accepted a copy of the kerygma, “Who am I?”, and “Do I Need a Savior?”, as well as a Rosary and its booklet.

The woman “Sarah”, who likes to sit in “our spot” to sell her bracelets, seemed disappointed that we were already there when she arrived. She set up near the north end of the north spoke of the business park.

A man sporting diagrams and an anti-theism slogan on his t-shirt called out, as he passed without slowing down, that God was “a scam”. If it’s the guy I’m thinking of, at least he didn’t salute the enemy of his soul this time. E. Chuck hopes he will actually stop to discuss things one of these times, since God loves him and wants him saved. Please pray for him?

Two well-dressed young women declined our offer but later, as they were returning, they came to the table. One said she was a Christian, and knew that Rosaries were for praying because she had a grandparent who was Catholic. She was interested in the how and why of the Rosary. The other woman said she was raised in a non-religious home, so had no clue about anything to do with God. We shared with them the possibilities and the promises of the Rosary and gave the non-religious woman a “Good News” and “Do I Need a Savior?” pamphlets. Pray the eyes of their hearts are lifted to their Redeemer and Savior.

Four young teens on skateboards, attracted by the word “free”, stopped but didn’t know anything about the Rosary. They were a mix, ranging from those who knew who Jesus is to the not-so-sure. We encouraged them to get to know Jesus better through praying the Rosary. Pray for young people everywhere who are growing up without spiritual direction to guide them into the Way Everlasting.

A large, cheerful family group of non-Catholic Christians seemed very open to the challenges and promises of the Rosary and even asked follow-up questions as we explained the prayer. Pray they stay united in their love for Christ.

A family, consisting of two parents and their two toddlers, stopped in order to coax the children to select a Rosary. The father said he was raised Christian, was not any longer, and didn’t elaborate. The mother was noncommittal, did not select a Rosary herself, but helped her children pick out one apiece. They politely listened as we showed them how to pray with it, and we gave the father a Good News pamphlet. Pray that these parents realize their calling to guide their children into faith.

Altogether, we gave away 15-20 Rosaries and its pamphlet, and 2-3 copies each of the kerygma, “Who am I?” and “Do I need a Savior?” pamphlets.

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.

More and more people were raised without religion, and now pass the deficit down to the next generation. We sometimes feel like a lone flickering candle in the storm. So thank you again for your prayers and other support for this much-needed apostolate. In turn, may God protect and greatly bless you and all those you love!

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

March 12, 2023

The Rosary devotion leads people to Christ. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort. (Check our PS note below for why there was no report for 3/5.)

Damp and cool weather featured pouring rain as we made our way to the business park. But, when our little red wagon arrived at the Grove, the rain slacked almost immediately, and the last 3/4 of the session was dry. Once the rain stopped, the foot traffic picked up noticeably, though still much lighter than normal.

A down-and-out-seeming couple stopped for Rosaries. They were our first “customers”, after an unusually long initial stretch of “no thank you”. The man and woman were both familiar with the Rosary, they said. The man showed us a cross on a string of beads that hung from his backpack. He called that a “rosary”, so e. Chuck explained the actual prayer to him. The man talked to e. Chuck about his non-Catholic Christian church but seemed excited about the gifts of the Rosary prayer. Meanwhile, e. Lucy talked with the woman and soon picked up on the fact that she didn’t actually seem to know the devotion. The evangelist gave her a brief explanation and showed where in the pamphlet the prayers were. We encouraged both of them to pray it together every day. May the Rosary help them persevere in living the joy of salvation.

Two teenage boys came to the table at the word “free”. They had no idea what the Rosary was and were not Christians. We encouraged them to read the short bio of Christ to be discovered in the Mysteries found in the Rosary pamphlet, and to reflect on the God who was willing to die to save them. They were polite and thanked us. E. Lucy gave one of the boys a Good News pamphlet as they were walking away. Pray for these boys and for the world of people who do not know that Jesus is their Savior. May God lead them to Himself and salvation!

A mom with 4 boys, ages about 3-11, stopped on their way out of the sports arena because  the 2nd youngest wanted a Rosary. The mom said she already had several and was familiar with the prayer. The three younger boys each chose one for himself. May God grant Faith and Salvation to that whole family!

A man, perhaps in his mid-20s, stopped for a Rosary. He flashed us a grin that we found puzzling, hinted that he had stopped for a Rosary only a few weeks before, but didn’t give us any clues to help us remember him. He chose a bright teal Rosary with pink Our Father beads. Please pray for him? God knows his story.

A woman came to the table and said she had talked to us two weeks before but hadn’t taken a Rosary. She had taken a Rosary pamphlet at that time, and now wanted a Rosary. We apologized for not remembering the encounter while she made her selection, took another pamphlet, and moved on. Pray she continues to be drawn closer to Christ through His, and our, Blessed Mother.

A passing couple declined a Rosary, the woman explaining they were not Catholic, and we responding that it was a Christian prayer. Suddenly she came rushing back to the table, saying she had changed her mind, that her church was “almost Catholic”. Pray that she continues to respond to the urging of the Holy Spirit and finds her way home to the fullness of the Faith in the Catholic Church.

A mother with three small children at first declined our offer. Then she came back and had her children each select a Rosary to show to their grandpa who was, evidently, a devout Catholic. This would, she assured us, make their grandpa very happy. We encouraged her to pray it with her kids but she said that she would let the grandpa do that. Pray that this family, and all families, would grow in Faith.

“John”, the retired parking lot attendant, came striding up just as we were finishing packing everything away. His back didn’t seem to be bothering him and he was happy to report that he was again able to walk for miles every day.

Despite the rather unpleasant weather and sparse foot traffic, the evangelists still gave away 10-15 Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as 1 Good News/kerygma pamphlet.

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

We introduce the Rosary as a tool to help people meditate on the life of Christ and develop a relationship with 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).

P.S. This report is from the session two weeks ago. We weren’t able to set up last week, 3/5. There was an event in the sports arena and the entire business park was reserved. E. Chuck was asked to leave, and e. Lucy was home sick. But a big thank you, especially to Fr. Tom, who sent prayers up for us several days beforehand, almost as if he’d been given a spiritual heads-up that difficulty was on the horizon.

February 26, 2023

We wish everyone to recognize and trust Jesus Christ. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A heavyset man in a wheelchair stopped for a Rosary. He couldn't see well enough to tell what colors we had, so e. Lucy helped him make his choice. He got one for each of his two caregivers, but said he already had one of his own hanging on his refrigerator and preferred to use that one. He accepted pamphlets for the caregivers and e. Lucy's encouragement to have them teach him the prayers and then to pray it daily.

One of my daughter’s high school youth ministers (now with gray hair) stopped, glad to see us still out there after so many years. He was accompanied by his wife and 2 children. E. Lucy described how her family's bedtime routine of praying the Rosary together (only 5 decades, about 15 minutes) was one of her favorite childhood memories. The two boys each chose a Rosary and the parents seemed interested in trying to establish the nightly Rosary routine in their home.

An extended family stopped. About six of them, children and adults, chose a Rosary apiece. Several of them preferred the Rosary pamphlet in Spanish, which we were glad to be able to give.

Another gymnastics tournament was being held in the sports arena. A father and one of the child gymnasts stopped for a Rosary. He was proud of his daughter's latest 5-medal winning streak. They explained that this was a higher level of competition than the tournament a few weeks ago.

A man stopped for a Rosary, happy to say that he was Catholic. When asked what parish he attended, he sheepishly admitted that he hadn't connected with a local one yet. (He claimed to be from another country, but had no accent. But maybe he just has a good ear for dialects.) We gave him a copy of our map to area parishes and helped him identify the one closest to his neighborhood.

Another couple stopped, also not connected with a local parish. They also received a copy of the map, as well as a Rosary and the booklet on how to pray it.

“Doug”, a homeless man, walked by the table declining the free Rosary by saying he was “just a Christian”. But then he started back toward us, and e. Chuck went to meet him. Doug apologized and said he wasn't rejecting us as Catholics, he just wanted us to know that he wasn't Catholic. E. Chuck showed him how the Rosary is focused on Christ, that the reality of the Church has been seen throughout history, and that she is made up of the Saints in heaven as well as us now striving to be saints. Doug shared his struggles as well as the prayers that God has answered for him: that he is sober, is in recovery, and has just landed a job. Still hesitant to take a Rosary, he mentioned that he had lost his wallet in which he’d had a little medal with Mary on it. E. Chuck guessed it was a “Miraculous Medal”, so called e. Lucy over to give a brief description of its history. She did so and gave him one of the medals (which he recognized as the same as his lost one) . Doug then asked e. Chuck if he should take a Rosary, and the evangelist said he should since the prayer could draw him closer to Christ. We let him know we were there every week at the same time. Pray for perseverance for Doug and for his continued trust in Jesus.

To avoid diesel fumes from the boom-lift hanging banners at the sports arena, we set up across the circle near its north entrance. There is no shelter there, but God granted us pleasant weather during the session!

Altogether, the two evangelists gave away another 25-30 Rosaries, 2 maps, and 1 Miraculous Medal.

Please pray for us again today? Ask God to prepare people’s hearts so they 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.

God wants salvation for all human beings (cf. Ezek 33:11) and so do we. 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).

February 19, 2023

Many feel curiosity when seeing the Rosary, and we introduce it as a means of prayer. So thankyou again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A range-management conference was going on in the convention center next to us, so we saw lots of cowboy hats and work clothes.  Many of the folks heading in were friendly toward us, and curious and willing to take a Rosary. A slightly higher percentage than average proclaimed they were Catholic and already had Rosaries. May God bless them and keep them faithful.

A non-Catholic Christian man said no thank you as he passed by, then gave the excuse that he wasn’t Catholic and so didn’t know how to pray the Rosary. E. Lucy called after him that we had a “user’s manual” and he seemed interested. So she ran after him to explain the Christ-centeredness of the devotion. The man said he had been praying for the Catholic Church, since she currently has powerful enemies trying to tear her down from the inside. He ended up not only taking the brochure on how to pray the Rosary, but accepted a  Rosary as well. May Our Lord draw him, in addition to defending the Church from the outside, but to also do so from inside.

A woman who resides in a women’s shelter stopped for a lengthy visit. E. Chuck remembered her from another time when she stopped to rest on her way home from the library. This time, she told e. Lucy that a doctor had said that she needed a hip replacement, but that Jesus had restored movement to her legs as well as clearing up a long-standing lung congestion. She gave glory to Him! May God continue to heal her and help her return to productive society.

A group of 3 or 4 older teens stopped. E. Lucy talked with the girl, who said she wasn’t Christian. E. Chuck handed her our one-page copy of the kerygma, while the first evangelist explained the Rosary devotion and how one can find peace if one uses it reverently to ask questions about Who Jesus is and what He wants. They seemed interested.

A family with two young children (perhaps 3 and 6 years old) stopped when the children wanted Rosaries. None of the adults accepted one, but the children were happy.

A woman stopped to get a Rosary for her toddler. Lord, bring both the child and his mother to You!

One teen, out of a group that stopped for Rosaries, commented that he knew what the Rosary was because of a grandparent. He ended up choosing a Rosary for “Nana”, too. May she teach him a true love for this devotion!

A homeless man came to the table with a big smile, but declined receiving a Rosary because he was “too busy to pray”. He believed that he was responsible for fixing the problems of both the United States and Europe. Please pray for this man and for all who suffer from mental disorders.

Altogether, the evangelists gave away easily 30-35 Rosaries and its pamphlet, a Divine Mercy prayer card, and a copy of the kerygma.

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.

Curiosity about the Rosary leads many people to at least ask what it is for. 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).

February 12, 2023

And trusting Our Lady to lead people to her Son, our work continues. So thankyou again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

At the start of the session and before our table was even filled with Rosaries, three older teenage boys came up, though only one actually wanted a Rosary. He was not familiar with the devotion and, when asked if he were Christian, he sheepishly replied, “I’m not really anything.” E. Chuck thanked him for being honest and shared with him the Good News of Christ as illustrated through the Mysteries of the Rosary. He told him that talking with the guy who died for you was a good way to answer questions like: why do I exist? He nodded and said that was a really important question. So, the evangelist handed him the “Who Am I?” pamphlet, which he didn’t want, but then accepted when assured that it didn’t mention God. The other two teens declined a Rosary and, as they were leaving, the evangelist told them that, of the three of them, the guy with the Rosary was the brave one. Pray that the seeds of the Good News take root in their hearts.

As e. Chuck was talking to the three teenagers (above), the Holy Spirit must have moved a woman pushing an old man in a wheelchair to stop, edge past the boys to select a Rosary, and move on, all without saying a word. The evangelist noticed just in time to hand her a Rosary pamphlet. May she continue to answer the Holy Spirit’s call.

An older woman (possibly homeless?) responded to our offer in delight saying she had always wanted a Rosary. She “used to be Catholic”, but now attends a “Bible-believing church”. She quoted the common misunderstanding that Catholics are discouraged from studying the Bible. While that may have been true in the early 20th century, since 1950 we’ve been encouraged to read the Bible every day. E. Lucy explained the rationale behind the former rule: to prevent misinterpretation of Scripture. But our visitor went on to say that she herself could authoritatively interpret Scripture, and besides that, she was a prophet and knew all sorts of things. We offered that she should seek to hear God’s voice through the Rosary, too, which she said she would do. She then asked for a Divine Mercy card before she moved on. Surround her with your peace and protection, Lord.

John, the retired parking lot attendant, arrived on his electric scooter because his back is giving him trouble again. Please continue to pray for his wife Linda’s upcoming shoulder surgery, and for John’s healing as well.

If one of the children expressed the desire to have a free Rosary, various family groups stopped in response to our offer. All of the children in each group, and at least one of the adults accepted Rosaries, its pamphlet, and the encouragement to pray it together. May God strengthen families and lead them to Heaven!

A couple stopped. The wife was Catholic, but the husband declared he belonged to a non-Catholic Christian denomination. E. Lucy tried to explain the Christ-centeredness of the Rosary, and how even non-Catholic Christians find that praying it helps them grow closer to Christ. But he didn’t want one, although he did accept the Rosary pamphlet.

Altogether, the evangelists gave away 10-12 Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as a Divine Mercy prayer card.

Please pray for us again today? Ask God to prepare people’s hearts 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.

People need Our Savior as much as ever. 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).

February 5, 2023

People of all religions, or none, are discovering the Rosary! So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

The remodeling show in the west convention center brought people out, despite cold and gray weather.

One of the vendors from the show made a special effort to come talk to us. She had seen several children running around the show with Rosaries, and said she had “always wanted one”.  She’d had a spiritual experience that morning. For quite some time, she had been ignoring the desire to get down on her knees and pray. But that morning, in her hotel room, she placed a pillow in front of the window, knelt, and just spent time with God. It was a very moving experience for her, although she lamented not hearing the Lord’s voice. Later that morning, someone else had made a spiritual comment, which she found encouraging. Then, she found us. She asked many clarifying questions on how to pray the Rosary, including how to make the Sign of the Cross. We encouraged her to not only pray the Rosary every day, but also to look up the day’s Gospel reading, and spend time with the Beatitudes, where God speaks directly about how to find His blessings. E. Lucy gave her a pamphlet of common prayers that include the Rosary prayers as well as the Beatitudes. Pray that her ears are as open as her desire to hear the voice of our Lord.

Two teens came to the table, a boy and a girl. E. Chuck talked with the boy, who had a Catholic parent or grandparent. E. Lucy talked with the girl, who said she had no religion. So, e. Lucy recommended she use the Rosary to get to know who Jesus is and how much He loves her. She also encouraged her to take her questions into the meditations. The young woman accepted the pamphlet as well as choosing a Rosary. Lord, may she soon find her way home to You!

While we were talking with them, a man came from the convention center, who wanted “one of everything” we had on the table. (These included our “Who am I?”, “Do I need a Savior?”, the kerygma, a Divine Mercy prayer card, and a Rosary and its pamphlet). As he was leaving, the man seemed surprised by what our signs say, but didn’t stay to discuss them. May God prompt him to actually read the pamphlets and to learn to pray the Rosary.

A mom, accompanying two children (of ages perhaps 8 and 3), stopped at a slight distance from the table, trying to talk her oldest daughter (?) into taking a Rosary. The child seemed reluctant to do so until e. Lucy then suggested she also pick one out for her mom, which she more gladly did. Meanwhile, e. Chuck explained the devotion to the mom and helped the youngest choose his Rosary. We encouraged them to pray it as a family.

A family of four cheerfully declined a Rosary, saying they were not Catholic. So, we let them know that anyone who loves Jesus Christ could pray this prayer because its focus was on Him. The father and children came to the table, while the mother continued to stand off to the side and expressing surprise that the Rosary wasn’t exclusively for Catholics. The father said he frequently pauses in his day to pray the Lord’s Prayer and was intrigued by the Rosary’s call to more meditative prayer. The mother continued to edge closer, and finally gave in and chose a Rosary, too. Lord, surround this family with your peace and protection.

A mom with two little kids at first declined our offer then let her children come to the table for a “necklace.” We explained that it was not jewelry but a powerful prayer that could be done together as a family. They then went into the home improvement show. Fill that family with the grace to stay steadfast in faith, Lord.

Another pair of teenagers stopped, of who knows what gender. One said he didn’t know anything about the Rosary, but believed in Jesus. E. Lucy explained the devotion and how it helps people grow closer in their relationship with Christ. By the time they left, they were smiling and thankful.

A man passed us by, saying he was Catholic, or, “I used to be”. Then later, he stopped on his way back to his car, now with take-out bags in both hands. His wife of 40 years had died some time before ,so he said he prayed and talked to her all the time, but had decided he would take a Rosary (for her sake?). Pray that he will seek comfort for his mourning in the arms of Christ and His Blessed Mother.

“John”, the retired parking lot attendant, made a special trip downtown to visit us. Please pray for his wife, “Linda”, who requires shoulder surgery.

We had been wondering if anyone even noticed our new table sign, which asks, “Why Did God Make Me?” Last week, finally, at least three people commented on it. None of them stopped to hear our answer, including two women who called out that God had made them “only to be of service to Him”. That was ¼ correct, but they missed out on the “to know, to love” … and to “be happy with Him in the next life”. But they didn’t stop.

Altogether, the two evangelists introduced the Rosary to 10-15 people, as well as gave away pamphlets including,  “Basic Catholic Prayers”, “Who am I?”, “Do I need a Savior?”, the kerygma, the pamphlet on how to pray the Rosary, as well as a Divine Mercy prayer card.

Please pray for us again today? Ask God to prepare people’s hearts 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.

The Rosary prayer indeed seems pleasing to God, and all His promises concerning it are true. So thank you again for your prayers and other support for this apostolate. In turn, may God protect and greatly bless you and al those you love!

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

January 29, 2023

The Rosary, even when misunderstood or maligned, can spark a conversation about God. So, thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A gymnastics competition was being held in the hockey arena. Many young girls, ages 3-7, accompanied by their families, sported a clanking mass of medals around their necks as they left the building. Only one family came to the table for a Rosary.

A heavy-set woman in a parka stopped for a Rosary. She had been raised Catholic, but resented that her mother expected her and her siblings to pray the Rosary three times a day, on their knees. Rather than join her in judging her mother, we encouraged our visitor to take up the devotion again and give it another try. She chose a Rosary and accepted the pamphlet with the Mysteries. Pray she is granted a true love for this devotion.

A previous visitor stopped to chat. Do you remember the man who hopes to retire to a Catholic country where Our Blessed Mother has appeared? He talked with e. Chuck for a few minutes, mostly about housing prices over there. He asked when we were going to another purported apparition site. E. Lucy thought it was a bit too close to an active war zone right now.

A family stopped for Rosaries. Don’t remember the conversation, but every member chose one.

A man and woman, who were walking hand in hand, declined our offer of a Rosary. As they continued on their way, the man shouted over his shoulder , “We pray to Jesus and don’t need beads.” We are thankful for their faith in Christ Our Savior, and pray that His Spirit will open their hearts and minds to the fullness of Faith found in the Catholic Church, and to the joy of knowing His mother.

A couple of groups of Catholics thanked us for being out there.

A slender man with a lisp stopped for a Rosary. May Our Blessed Lady lead him to her Son and Sainthood!

A well-dressed man stopped for a Rosary. When we asked if he were familiar with it, he said he didn’t speak much English. Asked what his native language was, he said something like Kirundi (Burundi). He had heard of Jesus ,but was not Christian. Besides the Rosary, we gave him its pamphlet, as well as a copy of the Good News/kerygma, suggesting he use an online translator to read it.

A man declared that “praying on beads to dead people” wasn’t Biblical. Though he slowed down to make this statement, he didn’t stop, until e. Chuck wondered aloud if he thought it was okay to ask another person to pray for him. He agreed that it was, but not to ask “dead people”. So, the evangelist pointed out that in the Bible, God said he “was not the God of the dead, but of the living”, while specifically referring to certain “dead people”. Also, “dead people” were there for Christ’s Transfiguration. The evangelist began to mention the “great cloud of witnesses” from Hebrews as an example of more “dead people” in communion with us. But the man interrupted to say he would love to stay and argue, but was late for something and moved on. May our visitor’s love for God’s Word help him see that God’s love and membership in His family do not end at the grave.

The weather was damp, breezy, and around freezing. So, there was almost no foot traffic. Still, the evangelists gave away nearly 10 Rosaries and its pamphlet, 1 Divine Mercy prayer card, and 1 copy of the kerygma.

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.

If people let us, we try to clear up misunderstandings. 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).

January 22, 2023

“To Jesus Through Mary” is a real thing. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A mom brought a small boy to choose a Rosary. He immediately grabbed the one bright green one that we had on the table. I don’t remember whether the mom was Catholic.

Two young-adult women, pushing a small dog in a stroller, hesitated when offered a Rosary, then continued on their way. On their way back, we asked if they wanted one “this time”, but they declined. Pray for them?

A group of four college-aged women stopped, led by an enthusiastic one who wanted a Rosary. The four were soon joined by a fifth woman. A talkative one told e. Chuck that she was a non-Catholic Christian. unfamiliar with the Rosary, but interested in how the prayer could deepen her walk with Christ. The fifth visitor listened in silence but decided not to select a Rosary. Meanwhile, e. Lucy explained the devotion to another of the women, this one also a non-Catholic Christian. By the end of the encounter, three had chosen a Rosary and accepted the booklet on how to pray it. Pray their lives witness to the love of Christ.

A young-adult, but economically challenged, couple stopped. He was Christian. As e. Lucy explained the devotion and the peace that people find when they reverently try to pray it, the man and woman became more animated. They each chose a Rosary, and seemed to look forward to trying the prayer.

A woman came to the table, accompanying two children/grandchildren. “Yes, I’m familiar with the Rosary,” she said, “I’m from [a country that is still predominantly Catholic].” After the two children had chosen a Rosary apiece, we encouraged the woman to get one, too, so they could all pray it together. She thanked us.

Two darkly dressed young women in their late teens responded to the word “free” in our offer of a Rosary. Only one of them engaged in conversation with us, and she said she wasn’t part of any specific religion. She told e. Chuck that she liked to pray to her loved ones who had died and “gone on to the next life”, pointing vaguely to the sky. We said Catholics also speak to and intercede for those who have died, that Heaven was real, and that Christ had come to our rescue and opened the way to Heaven. Both selected Rosaries. Pray they turn to their only hope of reaching Heaven.

A man walking a dog, and who never stopped, angrily declined our offer of a Rosary, saying he had been raised Catholic but was “done with it” because it reminded him of [a violent extremist organization associated with another religion]. His reasons were mischaracterizations of Catholic teaching, so we suggested he take a closer look at the Church. But he continued on his way. Pray his heart is softened and his mind becomes receptive to the Truth.

An elderly, homeless-looking man said he was Catholic and wanted a Rosary. His voice, though, was low and difficult to hear. He seemed to want to emphasize that we needed to obey what Jesus called the greatest commandments: to love God and neighbor. We agreed with that, but he kept on talking and the evangelists were unsure what he was saying. He had moved on by the time we pieced together that he may have been saying that “being good to others was all we needed to do”. Pray that he seeks Christ in the True Presence.

Altogether, the two evangelists gave away 15-20 Rosaries (pink and purple mostly, with a few dark brown, dark red, and 1 bright green), and the 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 thOur Blessed Mother'sat much good fruit for His Kingdom comes of today’s efforts.

Our Blessed Mother’s role is to lead people to her Son. We try to help her do that by introducing the Rosary devotion. 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).

P.S. We were so short on Rosaries by the end of our last session, that I almost asked you to obtain some for us. But, surprisingly, I received an unexpected email that very same day, granting me access to a company that sells inexpensive mission Rosaries. I jumped at the opportunity, and thanks to some donations given for Christmas, have already received a box containing of several hundred Rosaries. This very week. God is so good! And trustworthy with our needs.

January 15, 2023

Epiphany! People from all backgrounds see the Rosary as desirable. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort!

“Malcolm”, a tall, dapper, non-Catholic Christian, stopped at our invitation to receive a free Rosary. He seemed genuinely curious about the Rosary, and became intrigued as we explained and extolled the benefits of praying the devotion. He expressed appreciation for our public apostolate. He then asked us to pray for him as he tries to figure out how to be a good father to his son, “Julian”. Pray for them both, and ask St. Joseph to pray for Malcolm and all fathers.

Another very tall man stopped. He was older and on a bicycle. He had been a conscientious objector during a war, when it was not legal to refuse to serve in the military. He was taken to court and, though threatened with prison, got off with a few years of probation. He told us he was raised Catholic and even attended a Catholic university, but had quit the Church at graduation because he was unhappy with the clergy. He tried other places over the years but now rejected all churches as corrupt. E. Chuck shared his own difficult experiences with churches and his eventual conversion to Catholicism, that the Church isn’t simply a human organization, and that staying away from the Eucharist is like starving yourself to death because you’re angry at the cook. He then told us that his sister had left the Church about the same time he had, but had recently gone back, though under the influence of an online priest with controversial views, and so she is considering leaving the Church again. Our visitor selected a Rosary and its pamphlet and even accepted a “Come Home” pamphlet. Pray that his heart is softened, that he seeks the Eternal Food from Heaven, and that both he and his sister find peace within the Church.

Two young adult women stopped while e. Chuck was talking with the tall bicyclist. Only one was Catholic, but each took a Rosary and its booklet.

Another young woman stopped, while her companion continued on. She listened to e. Lucy’s brief explanation of the Rosary and then hurried to rejoin her companion as soon as it was polite to do so. Please pray for her?

Three smiling, clean-cut, college-aged men angled toward us because they wanted to hear our offer more clearly. Then, when we said they looked like “men of prayer”, they came all the way to the table. They said they had been to a non-Catholic Christian service that morning. We praised the beauty of the Rosary prayer and how it can help them grow closer to Christ They then each selected one and took the pamphlet on how to pray it. They also promised to pray for us. Lift their hearts, Blessed Mother, so they love Christ as you do.

A homeless-looking woman paused, knowing nothing about the Rosary and unsure whether she was even Christian. Two other people had seemed to be with her, but had moved on without her when she stopped. She selected a Rosary as we explained the prayer and Christian belief, and how going over the Mysteries emphasizes the Incarnation, Crucifixion, and Resurrection that Jesus did for our salvation. She then asked if she could have a second Rosary for her daughter, who was waiting for her at a truck stop a few miles south of town. We encouraged her to pray the Rosary together with her daughter. May she say YES to the Holy Spirit’s invitation to fall in love with Christ.

Two young-adult men, perhaps on bikes or skateboards, bore a close resemblance one to the other … so, brothers, perhaps? They came to the table, asking, “What’s this all about?” Both are Christian, so we explained the how’s and why’s of the Rosary and they both selected one. Pray that their curiosity remains focused on their Savior.

A passing man paused to say he was once Catholic but now attended a different church. He considered all churches the same, he said, if they focused on Christ. We gently countered that not all churches had the true presence of Christ in the Eucharist. To that he replied, as he continued walking away, that his church had had “communion” that day, and that it was just a remembrance that anybody could do. We advised him to read 1st Corinthians as he moved on. Pray, St. Paul, that he hears your admonitions to “discern the body.”

E. Lucy talked to some teens on skateboards while e. Chuck was talking to someone else. (But she doesn’t recall any details of the encounter.)

Four or five members of a Catholic family stopped to receive Rosaries. The mother was grateful to receive a copy of the Rosary pamphlet in Spanish. We encouraged them to pray the Rosary together as a family.

An older man (homeless?) always waves as he passes by. This time, he stopped to thank us for being there every week. May God grant him salvation, safety, and healing.

As the Church celebrated the Epiphany, the two eP.Svangelists gave away about 15 Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as a “Come Home” pamphlet.

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.

Non-Catholics want to try the Rosary, and inactive Catholics still find it attractive. 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).

P.S. We didn't remember this encounter before we originally posted this week's stories, but I'll tell it here. Do you remember, a few weeks back, that a man told us he talked with, shall we say, alien entities who seemed friendly to him and that he never heard Jesus reply (except during his encounter with us that day). E. Chuck recognized him as he went by and asked if he was still talking with the other beings. "No," was his reply. Praise God for His great mercy! Please keep this man in your prayers and ask that he learn to trust Jesus Christ.

January 8, 2023

The date changed, but our mandate didn’t. So, thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A man staggered by, saying "I can't breathe" and other, less-intelligible words. E. Chuck watched him concernedly as, further down the sidewalk, he bent over as if in pain. The evangelist went to check on him, to make sure he wasn't having a heart attack or other medical emergency. The man said he would be okay, that he'd just forgotten to bring his inhaler with him. May God bless and heal him!

A hockey tournament was happening in the arena. Near the end of our session, several family groups stopped at our table after they exited the building. They were either Catholic, or otherwise familiar with the Rosary. Most chose a Rosary for themselves.

A group of three young adults stopped. The two women were familiar with the Rosary, but the man was not, and was only “sort of familiar” with Who Jesus is. He accepted a Rosary and an explanation of the devotion. When e. Lucy told the three that, if they try to pray it with reverence, many people experience peace and protection, even if all they had were questions. At that, they looked more interested and suggested they might actually try the prayer. May God bless them and draw them to Himself and eternal life!

E. Lucy told another group of college-aged young adults how powerful the Rosary prayer is. A friend of hers had discovered that an illegal drug was being manufactured in a house distressingly near hers. Once she received the Rosary the evangelist sent her, the problem house was suddenly no more and peace was restored in the neighborhood. Blessed be God!

Several of the hockey families let their children come get a Rosary, but didn't take one themselves. Lord, let the little children lead their whole family to (or back to) You!

Three young women  eagerly accepted our offer of a Rosary. E. Chuck talked with one who was wearing an odd balaclava with floppy bunny ears. At least one of the women was an active Catholic, in town to visit family. Pray for their perseverance in the Raith.

A family of four active Catholics stopped to select Rosaries for the young children with them. When encouraged to pray together, the father replied that it was already their practice. Pray for the strengthening of all families in prayer and holiness.

We also vaguely remember a man who came to the table without being asked, not sure whether he passed us and came back, or just overheard us offering a Rosary to others. He may have been Catholic, but details of the conversation have evanesced.

The community Christmas tree in the center of the business park still had many (most?) of its gift-request tags remaining. This is the first time we’ve seen this happen. Usually the tags are all claimed by Thanksgiving. Are people feeling impoverished this year? Please pray?

The New Year in Boise started with a cool, but calm and sunny day. Foot traffic was surprisingly light. Still, the two evangelists gave away 15-20 Rosaries and its pamphlet.

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.

Jesus Christ is real, alive, and worthy of our worship. More and more people don’t seem to know/remember that, and so the work continues. 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).

January 1, 2023

Our presence provides a wordless witness to Jesus Christ and His Church. As evidence, during nearly every session, people hurry past while calling out they’re already Catholic, or non-Catholic Christians, or believers, or were at least raised Christian. This happens even before we say a word.

Early in our last session, several groups of large and muscular college-aged men went by. One group stopped. They were football players, in town for a bowl game. Three out of the four men chose a Rosary. One was a non-Catholic Christian, “in love with the Lord.” He picked out a Rosary for his girlfriend, but listened as we encouraged him to actually seek Christ in the prayer. We wished them well in their game. Pray that their love for the Lord grows to fill their life.

A 30-something couple stopped because the man was curious about the Rosary and “what this is all about.” After explaining the how’s and why’s and the promise of the Rosary, he still declined to take one but he did praise us for being out during the Christmas season. We let him know we were there year round and have been for ten-plus years. We then went back to challenging him to take a Rosary and try the prayer, but he only agreed to take a how-to-pray-the-Rosary pamphlet and promised to pray for us. Pray they hear Christ saying to them, “Behold, your mother” (John 19:27:)

A perhaps-homeless woman, whose backpack sported a large combination lock, stopped for a Rosary and its pamphlet. She also asked for a plastic sandwich bag to put them in so they wouldn’t get dirty before she got a chance to pray it.

The several-time visitor, who is also a world traveler, stopped to chat with e. Chuck a bit.

A Catholic family stopped after the man pulled a large wooden Rosary from his pocket to show us, and saying they had lots of Rosaries at home. Visiting from a town a couple hours north of us, the parents told us they had been non-Catholic Christians until the father looking into the history of Christianity and discovered that it was Catholic. The mother, when her husband shared his discoveries with her, began asking questions herself and also found that all the answers pointed to Catholicism. They entered the Church last Easter. They had attended Mass that morning at the cathedral and had been impressed with the reverence there. Since they already had Rosaries, we encouraged them to pray it together as a family every day. Praise God that their response to Catholicism was “not my will but Yours be done”.

A group of 3 or 4 teenage girls stopped for a “free Rosary”. One of them claimed to be Catholic, and accepted a Rosary and the pamphlet on how to pray it. At least two of the young women declined to receive a Rosary.

The mother in a passing family stopped to ask if we had heard that a school in a nearby city had banned the wearing of Rosaries, because some gang members wore a Rosary as part of their “uniform.” She added that, even though she was no longer a Catholic, it bothered her that the school had banned wearing them. We emphasized that Rosaries are not jewelry and are meant for prayer. And so, if carried in the pocket instead of around the neck, they were just as potent for those who intended to pray with them. We then encouraged her to select a Rosary for herself as a route back to the Church, but she quickly declined and rejoined her family. Pray she stops banning Christ’s Church from her own life.

A tentative young man told us he was raised Catholic but wasn’t now, though he did not elaborate. Yet, he wanted a Rosary. Mother Mary, call him back to the fullness of faith in your Son’s Church.

We received a text from John (the retired parking lot attendant) that he was ill and couldn’t come downtown to visit us, so we ask you all to please keep him in your prayers.

Foot traffic was fairly steady, if light. Still, the two evangelists gave away 12-15 Rosaries.

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.

Sometimes, God just uses our mere presence to remind people of His Lordship. 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).

P.S. In case you noticed the delay in reporting from our last session, please know that last week was one of those rare days when neither evangelist was available: one was taking care of family obligations, the other was ill. We both plan to be there this week. So thank you again for your prayers!

December 18, 2022

The Cross is not easy, but Jesus loves us that much! So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

Two teenage boys paused at the table wondering what we were giving away. The one e. Lucy talked to was not a Chrisitan but we’re pretty sure we gave him a Good News/kerygma pamphlet. The other boy said he was a Christian and listened politely to the meaning and gifts of the Rosary prayer. May they be moved by our Lord’s love for them to draw closer to Him.

A soggy foursome asked us for directions to a place they didn’t know the name of, so we couldn’t help them with that. But we offered them something of greater value, and three of them chose Rosaries. Turns out they are Catholic and seemed familiar with the prayer. May they, and all of us, seek first the Kingdom of God.

Just as e. Lucy decided to put our second-to-last chain Rosary out on the table, a woman came up and, acting slightly embarrassed, asked if she could make a special request. She pulled the Rosary from her purse and told us that the Saints featured on it freaked her out, so much so that she couldn’t pray with it, and so she would like a different one. What she had was a chain Rosary with a centerpiece featuring a photo of the two youngest shepherd children of Fatima. She knew the story, but couldn’t wrap her head around the suffering the children had willingly endured. We offered to let her trade it in for the chain Rosary, which had a standard Marian centerpiece. “I’m okay with Mary,” she happily said. Please pray for our visitor? One can’t outrun suffering. Saints Francisco and Jacinta, pray for us.

A man strode to the table with a grin and replied to “Are you familiar with the Rosary?” with “No, but you’re going to tell me all about it.” Though his manner implied a certain skepticism, he listened to our call to dive deep into the life and love of Christ in prayer. He responded that maybe he would give it a try. Come, Holy Spirit, and turn his “maybe” into “yes”.

A woman, who must have overheard us offering Rosaries, was already on the way to the table when we made the offer to her. She knew nothing about the Rosary, but was curious and, after we explained it to her, she seemed genuinely willing to pray it. May her love of Christ grow as she explores the gifts and mysteries of the Rosary.

The cold, light rain served to dampen spirits and reduce the number of passersby, but the evangelists still gave away 12-15 (double digits, despite the rain!) Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as a copy of the kerygma.

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.

The Cross is as challenging today as it was when Jesus taught that one must “take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). 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).

December 11, 2022

Catholic or not, people who accept a Rosary from us have at hand a sure means to grow closer to Jesus Christ. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

Last Sunday saw the first snow of the season that stuck. Business park employees, zooming around on mini-snowplows started clearing the plaza. But the diesel fumes took e. Lucy out. She left at halftime.

Right off the bat, even before the Rosaries were fully laid out, three Catholics from different groups stopped to select a Rosary. The last of the three, a man eating a hotdog, and who paused to say he was Catholic and already had a Rosary. He began to walk away, then paused, laughed, and said, “but I don’t know where it is.” He selected a Rosary, and then said what the other two Catholics had said, “I guess I was meant to bump into you today.” May their love of Christ and devotion to his Mother grow during this Advent Season.

A busker, carrying his guitar case and looking for a place to panhandle, stopped at our table when his girlfriend pointed out a Rosary that matched the color of his guitar. He took it, but then worried aloud that he “would burst into flame” if he actually prayed the Rosary. He also said he couldn’t read the pamphlet. E. Lucy encouraged him to listen to it on the internet in order to learn the prayers, and encouraged him to try it. The woman with him told e. Chuck that she was a non-Catholic Christian and very interested in learning how to pray the Rosary, even asking clarifying questions about the prayer. She said she’d help the man learn how to pray with it. May they find peace, protection, and the love of Christ in prayer.

A woman encouraged her elderly mother to take a Rosary. They were Catholic and the daughter said she had a lot of Rosaries already. The mother selected one (but seemed confused or reluctant to). Pray that families are united in faith.

An elderly man stopped to select a Rosary, then stayed to talk. He recommended that we contact family members during the holidays, saying that personal contact is better than presents. He then went on to lament that his son was so busy with his sales job that he rarely bothered to call or even return his calls. He wished his son would put God and family ahead of making money. Pray for this man and his son as well as for all families broken by separation, may they not wait for the other person to make the first move.

A teenager approached us, but declined a Rosary. A non-Catholic Christian, he wanted to tell us he was a “church planter”, hoping to gather people and form new churches. Unfortunately, his target population is the large Basque (and mostly Catholic) community here. We were glad that he spent his free time serving God but let us pray he looks deep enough into Christianity that he discovers the truth in the Catholic Church.

Altogether, we might have given away 10 Rosaries at the most. Foot traffic just got lighter after e. Lucy left, and the snowplow noise never stopped. (No wonder John the Baptist went into the wilderness to preach, it’s quieter there ?)

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.

We still encourage everyone to learn to pray the Rosary, diving deep into the Mysteries and learning just how much God loves us. 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).

December 4, 2022

Jesus is still the Reason for the season. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

The annual decorated Holiday-Tree event was happening in the convention center, so there was plenty of foot traffic.

On a couple of occasions, a Catholic grandmother, escorting a child or two, came to the table so the children could get a Rosary. We encouraged them to pray it together.

A Catholic deacon and his wife, from a neighboring town, stopped to encourage us. They already were praying the Rosary daily.

A teen girl, part of a large family group, pulled her mouth down in an inverted smile/shared-grief face as she shook her head no thank you. It seemed closer to grief than to disapproval. Whatever turned her heart against the Faith must have been big. Bad, deeply painful. God, help her! Heal her!

Two elderly ladies with cameras stopped, one more interested in the Rosaries than the other. but both friendly. The interested woman said she had her late father’s Rosary. but was afraid to use it because it was so old and fragile. She was not Catholic and seemed to equate her other beads, from a non-Christian religion, to the Rosary. We showed her the how’s and why’s of the Rosary prayer and offered it, partially, as a connection between herself and her long deceased father. We also gave her a “Who Am I?” pamphlet and suggested she contemplate that when tempted to get out her non-Christian beads. The other woman took a “Good News”/kerygma pamphlet. Pray they stop playing with faith and begin to work out their salvation with fear and trembling.

A pre-teen girl came for a free Rosary. Moments later, her younger sister came for one (although e. Lucy at first thought it was the same girl returning. When the first girl returned to stand by her sister while she chose her own Rosary, it was clear they were several years apart in age.)

Though the husband walked past the table to stand in line at the ticket booth, a woman and her small children came to the table seeking a Rosary. She had grown up Catholic, but her family had quit attending Mass when she was twelve. She was never taught how to pray the Rosary. Later, she married a man from another religion, further sidetracking her. But she admitted she had been thinking about the Catholic Church again. Beginning with the Rosary and its deep dive into the life and love of Christ, we reminded her of our desperate need for the Eucharist and other Sacraments of the Church. With a sigh, she said all these things were weighing heavy on her mind, then left to join her husband at the event. We encouraged her to pray the Rosary with her children. Pray she listens to Christ calling her to return to the Church.

Another family, with teenage children, paused at the table on their way to the event. The father hung back but smiled in a friendly way, while the mother said she had been raised Catholic but had long neglected her faith. She, too, had never been taught how to pray the Rosary. We encouraged her to reacquaint herself with Christ through the Rosary and to seek him in the Eucharist. She selected a Rosary that had just been donated. Pray the grim beauty of the Crucifix on her Rosary and the love it represents move her to seek her Savior in His Church.

While e. Chuck was conversing with the previous woman, some Catholics came over to greet us. One woman in the group, “Anna”, donated a Rosary she had made with real stones. E. Lucy lay it on the table, then turned to get Anna’s contact info. E. Chuck said the Rosary didn’t stay on the table even 10 seconds because the woman talking with him immediately claimed it. May Our Blessed Mother use that Rosary to draw the woman and her family into Full Communion with her Son’s Church!

Two teenage boys on skateboards selected Rosaries and even paused to listen to the evangelist’s pleas to seek Christ in the prayer. Later, however, a little girl brought us a Rosary taken by one of the boys but now found on the ground. Pray that the boys do not throw away the love Christ has for them.

“John”, the retired parking lot attendant, showed up toward the end of our session with dog and lawn chair. He sat and swapped stories and shared how he learned to fit in at family functions by offering to serve others. He also told how he ran a halfway house for addicts and served tacos there for Thanksgiving for many years. Remember John and his family in your prayers.

Altogether, the two evangelists gave away 25 or so Rosaries and its pamphlet, and several “Come Home” and kerygma pamphlets.

Please pray for us 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.

We didn’t mention the sour looks we received, but they acknowledge that whether He is loved or hated, Jesus Christ is real and truly Our King. 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).

https://streetevangelization.com/team-page/?team-chapter=boise&view-blog=true

November 27, 2022

We provide a safe place for questions. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort!

A man stopped at the table for a Rosary. He wasn’t Christian, but had been wanting to know about God. E. Chuck gave him a quick overview of salvation history and Who Jesus is. The evangelist then shared with our visitor the uniquely human moral quandary and God’s merciful rush to our salvation in Christ. We then showed him how the Mysteries of the Rosary would give him a brief snapshot of Christ’s life, show him His love for us, and provide a source of peace and protection. He ended up accepting, not only a Rosary and copy of the kerygma, but also a copy of our new “Who am I?” pamphlet. He also received a map to area parishes and the invitation to begin attending services. He thanked us for sharing with him, and even said that maybe there was a reason he ran into us. Yes there is! Pray that he answers the door of his heart where Christ is patiently knocking.

Three teenage girls came to the table, all smiles. The girl e. Chuck spoke with knew nothing about the Rosary and was pretty sure she was not Christian. The evangelist told her about the human dilemma of sin and the saving rescue granted by God in Jesus Christ. He gave her a Good News/kerygma pamphlet and a copy of our new “Who Am I?” pamphlet. Pray that the hearts and minds of all three young women are open to the love God is pouring out for them.

“Tyson”, a genial but dedicated atheist who has talked to the evangelists a few times before, stopped by and asked what we were thinking about. When e. Chuck replied that we were contemplating questions like “who am I?” and “why do I exist?”, he grew animated and stayed to talk for the rest of session. The evangelist tried to help him see the inconsistencies in his arguments and how they actually point to God, but Tyson’s theories are very dear to him and he remained unmoved. With great reluctance, he took a “Who Am I?” pamphlet and we parted amicably. Pray for Tyson’s change of heart.

While e. Chuck was trying to get through to Tyson, e. Lucy offered free Rosaries to a Millennial couple walking by. The woman declined, saying she was Catholic and already had one. But then the man came to the table, saying he wasn’t Catholic but wanted a Rosary. He was Christian. So e. Lucy explained the devotion and how even non-Catholic Christians found that doing a deep dive into the life of Christ helps them grow closer to Him. Our visitor then waxed enthusiastic about the historical truth of the Bible, with which the evangelist heartily agreed. The woman, who grew up in a homeschool environment, then volunteered that she’s been surprised that her coworkers find the very concept of “servant” offensive. (Is this yet another generational barrier to the Christian message?) As they left, the evangelists encouraged them to actually pray the Rosary.

The weather had suddenly turned cold and so foot traffic was light. Still, the two evangelists gave away 15 or so Rosaries and the pamphlet on how to pray it, as well as 2 maps to area parishes, 2 copies of the kerygma, and 2-3 copies of our “Who Am I?” pamphlet, that aims to get people thinking about ultimate questions.

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.

Our informal “Catholic information booth” allows people to ask questions they’re not yet ready to carry across the threshold of a parish office. 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).

November 20, 2022

Our presence empowers fellow Catholics to talk about Faith concerns. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A Catholic man, heading south, commented on our faithfully being there every week. On his way back, he again commented on our being there, no matter the weather. Evidently, he walks past us often. (St. John Paul the Great, help the evangelists remember faces!) This time, he stopped to share his story. A devout Catholic who loves Mary, he had been invited on a pilgrimage halfway around the world. The trip had a profound effect on him, drawing him closer to Our Lady. In our discussion of Marian appearances, he expressed concern over the Church's fulfilling of Mary's request at Fatima to consecrate Russia. E. Lucy was able to cite from the Vatican website's voluminous coverage of Fatima that the seer, Sr. Lucia Dos Santos, had been granted word after Pope St. John Paul’s consecration that “Heaven has accepted”, and that therefore the matter is at rest. He was grateful for the news. Since Russia is still troublesome, the evangelist told him she thought it is because she continued to spread her errors during the forty years before the consecration. Errors are insidious and harder to reverse than prevent. Our visitor then told us of his plans, when he retires in a couple of years, to move overseas near a famous Marian site and to undertake some major pilgrimages there. Lord, may your son grow in faithfulness and holiness, and be a credible witness to the power of God for everyone he meets.

From a group of four passing women, one came to the table while the others kept going. Our visitor wanted to get a Rosary for her mother, who was in the hospital and not expected to live. She said her mother was Catholic, but did not say what she herself believed. She was, however, going to visit her in the hospital that day. We convinced her to get a Rosary for herself, too, so she could pray it with her mother. She picked out two Rosaries and, just before she rushed away, e. Lucy gave her a Divine Mercy prayer card and asked her to pray the Chaplet in her mother’s presence. Pray for the peaceful repose of our visitor’s mother and for the comfort of Faith for both women.

A college-aged Catholic woman, accompanied by a friend, stopped for a Rosary. We encouraged her companion to also choose one, and for the women to pray it together.

A group of college-aged teens paused briefly on their way into the convention center. One young woman held back to proudly proclaim her Catholicity and that she was looking forward to getting married in the Church. Was there a young man already in the picture? No. E. Lucy encouraged her to ask for St. Joseph's and St. Anthony's intercession.

Altogether, the two evangelists gave away 20-25 Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as one Divine Mercy prayer card.

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.

Our Catholic presence gives fellow Catholics the courage to express their Faith in a public setting. 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).

November 13, 2022

What is more visibly Catholic than the Rosary? Curiosity about it can draw people to Christ. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

“I gave that up a long time ago,” was the reply to the offer of a Rosary by a man passing our table. Suddenly, he turned back to us and launched into a lengthy list of political grievances, to which the evangelist offered, “This is why we should pray for our country.” He rolled his eyes, moaned, and walked away shaking his head. Pray that his heart is softened and he turns to the One Who is truly trustworthy, God.

After declining a Rosary, an older woman from a large family group noticed our sign and said, “Oh, you’re Catholic.” She came back to the table. She was Catholic, did not pray the Rosary, but was thinking she wanted to start doing so. The evangelist showed her the Rosary pamphlet, and how it could help her re-learn the prayer. Teenage members of her family had paused with her and listened in, but shook their heads when encouraged to pick out a Rosary. Pray she perseveres in her intention to devote herself to prayer.

A woman came to the table with her reluctant husband in tow. It was unclear whether she was Catholic or not, but she was definitely Christian and seemed eager to try the prayer. The husband did not choose a Rosary at first, saying, “That’s her thing.” She replied that she mostly prayed for him. The evangelist offered that the Rosary was a good prayer to get introduced to Jesus and through which to ask Him questions. Looking from the evangelist to his wife (surrounded!), the man picked out a Rosary and took the pamphlet. Pray that his reluctance is turned into rejoicing in the salvation of the Lord.

After the couple left, a young man came to the table, unbidden. He was In RCIA at a local parish, and was eager to try praying the Rosary. He listened attentively to instruction on how to pray it. He couldn’t wait to be baptized! Pray his faith continues to bloom in joy and gladness.

Another young man, with a thick accent, stopped without being asked. He admired the array of Rosaries. He exclaimed that he wanted a Rosary wherever he went and said he had them hanging in his car and all over his house. The evangelist recommended he pick one up to actually use for praying, and he thought that was a good idea. He also noted down the time our team is at the Grove so he could bring his sister another day. Pray for his family in the Ukraine.

The fourth in a group of young adults stopped, causing the rest of his group to stop, too, curious about our offer. The young adult knew nothing about the Rosary and was iffy on whether he was Christian. The evangelist showed him the Mysteries and how they were good places to ask God questions, to see just how great God’s love is for us, and how He is calling us to love Him back. The man selected a Rosary, but the others in the group just wanted the Rosary pamphlet to look at. The evangelist and the first young man reasoned they might as well take a Rosary, just in case the pamphlet inspired them to pray. So, they did. Pray they hear the Lord knocking on the door of their hearts and let Him in.

A young couple stopped for a Rosary. She was Catholic, and he was not. At first, he was not going to take a Rosary but she persuaded him. Then the evangelist encouraged them to pray it together at their first opportunity. Pray she has the courage to evangelize her boyfriend.

Two different groups of teenage skaters, all professing to be Christian, eagerly chose Rosaries and even stayed long enough for the evangelist to explain and extoll the prayer. The second group later brought another teen to get a Rosary. Pray these teens hang onto Christ and don’t give in to temptation.

More than one family leaving the arena stopped to let their children pick out a Rosary. Most of them were Catholic. Pray these families are united in prayer.

It was a blustery, cold day at the Grove with minimal foot traffic, that is, until the game ended at the sports arena there. Still, the evangelist gave away 20-25 Rosaries. Oh, and white Rosaries were really popular last week, as were blue.

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.

Although many misconceptions about the Rosary have sprung up over the last several hundred years, when people find out that it leads to closer union with Christ, their hearts open. 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).

November 4, 2022

Despite the secular holiday looming on the morrow, we had a variety of visitors. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A middle-aged woman stopped for a Rosary, saying she knew what it was but wanted to know more. So, e. Lucy explained the worth and promise of the prayer. Not Catholic, our visitor was the first ever to mention the Supreme Court’s Roe v Wade reversal. She assumed we were happy about it? We said we were, but it was only the beginning of what needs to be done. She said she did not like the court’s decision, and wondered if we were in favor of states helping pregnant mothers after they had given birth. We agreed that was important, along with the welfare of the newborn child. She took a Rosary, the pamphlet on how to pray it, and a Divine Mercy prayer card. She seemed to have more to say but went on her way instead. Pray that her heart softens toward the unborn.

A group of 2-3 boys in their mid-teens came over in response to the word “free.” They stayed to listen to a quick explanation of the Rosary, but their attitude was barely polite.

A multi-family group was exiting the hockey arena when they heard us offer a free Rosary. A woman with two young girls in costume broke away from the group and came to the table so the girls could get Rosaries. The mom said they were already familiar with the Rosary, and agreed to pray it together as a family.

A man named “Brian” came to the table with an odd story about a Crucifix that disappeared. He had been raised Catholic, but had quit because he married a non-Catholic. He said he was in town because he was in rehab, but that he didn’t actually need it. He credited his Grandma’s Rosary-praying habit with helping their family but that, when she died, the family “fell apart”. We told him this was his opportunity to take up her prayerful work and we encouraged him to go to Reconciliation and get back to receiving the Lord in the Eucharist. He said that had been on his mind, too, and he selected a Rosary. We gave him a “Come Home” and a “Primer for Confession” pamphlet as well as a map to area parishes. Pray for Brian’s reconversion and recovery from addiction.

Three or four people out of a family came to choose a Rosary apiece. This happened at least another two times.

While e. Chuck was talking with Brian, e. Lucy gave away Rosaries to a group of 3-4 teenage girls. (She also gave a copy of the kerygma to several people during the session who told her they weren’t Christian.)

1. 1. Chuck gave a Rosary to a man carrying a baby in the front of his coat, after joking with him about his “costume”.

The parents of three children declined our offer of a free Rosary, but one little boy ran to the table anyway. We told him he could have one only if his parents said it was okay, and we assured the mother that they were free. She then told her son, “These are about God and you don’t know about God because you don’t know yourself yet. When you get old enough to know yourself then you can decide about God.” Lord, have mercy on those parents, and fill those children with the grace to seek You.

A man wearing red, video-game-inspired sunglasses was walking two dogs that were each in costume. The man had picked up a Rosary from us last week, but stopped when we commented his dogs’ costumes. He tilted his head when we asked if he had prayed the Rosary, then said he had read all the material we gave him and it had given him lots to think about. He did not elaborate. Keep turning his thoughts to You, Lord.

Altogether, the two evangelists gave away 20-25 Rosaries and its pamphlet, 1 map to area parishes, 1-2 Divine Mercy prayer cards, and 2-3 copies of the kerygma.

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.

It isn’t surprising, is it? God continues to draw people to us, despite the seemingly pervasive attitude that excludes God. So thank you again for your prayers and other support of 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).

October 30, 2022

The Rosary leads to Jesus Christ, and we encourage people to pray it. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A large group of people were passing by. One called out that they were in a hurry and didn’t have time to stop for a Rosary. But one couple peeled out of the group and came over. They chose a Rosary, listened to a brief description of the devotion, then sprinted off to rejoin their companions.

A man was passing by on his bicycle. When he heard the offer of a free Rosary, he braked hard to stop in front of the table. He said he was Catholic and “needed another Rosary”, so he could have one at home and one with him. When asked, he admitted he was not attending Mass, but desired to get back to going. He had been faithful when living at home but, now that he was in a new city, he had gotten out of the habit. E. Lucy used the list of area parishes to identify the one closest to his apartment and gave him the list. We encouraged him not to delay getting back to Reconciliation and the Eucharist, which prompted him to admit he usually felt a lot of relief after receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Lord, you gave him the grace to desire a return to Your Sacraments. May he act on it.

An older teen picked out a Rosary and admitted he didn’t know much about it. He also said he wasn’t really Christian, but had studied the world’s religions. Before he could go on about his universalism, we showed him how to pray the Rosary and how meditating on the Mysteries and asking God any questions they brought up was a great way to focus his spiritual wanderings. We gave him a Good News pamphlet. Pray he has an encounter with the living God!

A teen girl stopped for a Rosary. When offered the pamphlet on how to pray it and grow closer to Jesus Christ, she declined it saying she “practiced [a form of forbidden divination].” We told her the Rosary was not the same, but she walked away saying she knew that. But she said it in a way that told the evangelists that she did not have a clue what the difference was between Christianity and her dangerous practices. Pray for this girl, Mother Mary, that she can meet her true Savior.

Three teenage girls rushed to the table for Rosaries, one saying she was Catholic. The other two girls were quiet through the explanation of how to pray the Rosary, and we encouraged the Catholic girl to pray it with her friends. Pray she has the courage to evangelize her friends.

Several groups of older teens stopped at different times. In a couple of the groups, a teen admitted they weren’t Christian. Each one ended up accepting a copy of the kerygma pamphlet and the encouragement to read it.

One of us has a vague memory of three college age men stopping, one of whom was Catholic.

A dad with two youngsters brought his kids to the table. In reply to our query about whether he knew about the Rosary, he said he had gone to a university founded by Catholic friars. The smaller of the two girls was in an uncooperative mood, so her older sister picked out a Rosary for her. The father did not take one. The little girl perked up once she had the Rosary in hand, and we encouraged the father to teach his children to pray. His reply was noncommittal. Pray that those Rosaries stir the flame of Faith in that family.

Also, a larger family with several children stopped so everyone could get Rosaries, but the parents seemed evasive when urged to pray it together.

It was noticeably colder than last week and windy, but God answered prayer and calmed the wind gusts so our teaser sign, “Do I need a Savior?”, stopped blowing over. He also held off the rain until the last evangelist was in the car and started driving away. Praise God!

Altogether, the two evangelists gave away about 20 Rosaries its pamphlet, as well as 2 copies of the kerygma 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 efforts.

We encourage everyone, believer or non-, to pray the Rosary to get to know Jesus Christ. 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).

October 23, 2022

God, the Unmoved Mover, moves us by attraction. We sometimes see evidence of that. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A woman, in her early 20s at most, stopped to thank us for being there. She still had the Rosary she had gotten from us "years ago". It has brought her a lot of comfort, she said. She even "takes it down sometimes and uses it". May God bless her, protect her, and continue to draw her closer to Himself.

I started adding "God loves you" after "may God bless you" in response to a polite refusal. One man smiled and automatically replied, "love you, too". I may not have articulated the beginning of that sentence well enough <g>

A man and woman stopped at a picnic table behind me, perhaps to rest. The woman declined my initial offer of a free Rosary. A few moments later, though, she got up and came to the table, wanting Rosaries for her two children. I explained that we could give only one per person per week, but she was welcome to come back the following week for the second one. No, she would just take one. She chose the only chain Rosary on the table (we're getting short on them again). Then she asked for a Divine Mercy prayer card, of which I gave her two.

A group of three 20-something men stopped at the table. At first, they seemed to only want "a necklace". But they were Christian and the evangelist explained the devotion and how it helps people grow closer to Christ, Who brings them peace and protection. They grew steadily more interested and, in the end, said they would begin praying it every day. May God bless and encourage them!

A man and woman passed by. He was tall and blond. Shaking his head no as the evangelist opened her mouth to offer a Rosary, he said, "Jesus is Truth!", except that he used the Hebrew pronunciation of Jesus' name. "Amen!" the evangelist replied. May God bless the man and continue to draw him into the fullness of Christianity in the Catholic Church.

A man came to the table carrying a restaurant order. "I said no earlier," he said, "but I do want a Rosary." E. Lucy set him up with one, making sure he understood the basics of the devotion.

Several Catholic groups passed by, happily proclaiming the Rosaries that awaited them at home. One group even said they prayed it every day! The evangelist asked all of these to "pray it for us out here".

A man, accompanying a perhaps 3-year-old child of uncertain gender, stopped so the child could choose a Rosary. The evangelist offered the booklet on how to pray it and asked if the man were familiar with the devotion. He declined the booklet, saying, "No, we've already done Christianity." Lord, have mercy!

You may remember a prayer request some time ago from “Barbara” for her sister, “Laura”, who was very ill. Barbara gave us an update this week: “My sister Laura received wonderful news on Friday. Her oncologist surgeon stated, ‘You can credit your incredible faith, your positive attitude of walking with Jesus in cancer, and your praying friends. As of right now you are a cancer survivor!’”  Thank you, Jesus! And thank you for being a prayer warrior for Laura!

Altogether, the evangelist gave away 12-15 Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as two Divine Mercy prayer cards.

Please pray for us again today, Mission Sunday. Please 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.

God loves us and continually calls us to grow ever closer to him. So thank you again for your prayers 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).

October 16, 2022

God still answers prayers, and we love hearing about it. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A Catholic grandmother stopped, accompanies by two of her grandchildren, who were in their late teens or early 20s. She was already a great believer in the power of praying the Rosary. After the grandchildren had each made their choice of a Rosary, the grandmother volunteered this “Rosary story”: Her father was in the hospital and doing poorly. His blood work was “all over the place.” The doctors weren’t sure what was wrong, but said he should probably have surgery. But the family thought he was too frail to survive an operation. They gathered in his room and prayed the Rosary together. Just as they finished the last prayer, the doctor came in again. He said he “didn’t know what to think. The latest set of bloodwork had just come in, and surgery was no longer indicated. In fact, their father could go home.” Praise be to God!

“John”, adjusting to retirement, brought his wife “Linda” along last week to introduce her “to the Catholics”. She belongs to a non-Catholic Christian denomination known for emotional services. Linda was unmoved, though, when e. Lucy shared the testimony with her about God granting sudden healing to that family’s father. “Oh, that happens all the time”, was her take on it. (Then why, I wonder, did her husband have us pray all those months when their friend Myron was at death’s door?) Please pray for Linda’s and John’s conversion to the fullness of the Faith in the Catholic Church?

Two 20-something women stopped. One admitted she practiced a non-Christian style of spirituality. She had a question, though, about why God answers some prayers and not others, or more specifically, why He helps some people but not others. E. Lucy explained that God always loves us and knows what we need the most, that even suffering and death are not the worst of evils. She offered her a copy of our pamphlet on “Suffering” (as well as a copy of the kerygma). She and her companion also each chose a Rosary for herself. Then they expressed interest in attending a church, just to see what it was about. E. Lucy happily gave them a copy of our map to area parishes. But then they asked how they were to dress. E. Lucy explained that people show up wearing many different styles, a large number of them dressed casually. Could they come dressed like they were then? Yes, e. Lucy said, saying that only swimwear was actually frowned upon. But then she took a second look at their outfits. Both girls were wearing long-sleeved tops and shorts, and their shorts were, well, awfully short. She suggested they wear something slightly longer. They seemed okay with that. Please pray that the Real Presence of Our Lord in Catholic churches draws them all the way into full communion with the Faith.

Some teens, perhaps 13-14 years old, were noisily careening around the cobblestones on their skateboards. After about half an hour of this, one of them headed to our table, the others following. All but one claimed they were Christian. E. Lucy handed the nonbeliever a copy of the kerygma, and also encouraged him to actually pray the Rosary, at the same time thinking about Who Jesus Is and what He has done for him. She described the peace and protection that many experience, even if all they have is questions. They all seemed willing to try it.

A pre-teen girl in a bright purple team uniform rode her bike up to the table and asked about the Rosary. She hesitated about accepting one, because she was afraid her parents wouldn’t approve. They were in a nearby restaurant, she said, and e. Lucy suggested she ask them if it was okay. If so, then she could come back and get one. Soon thereafter, the girl was again seen riding around and around the business park, now noticeably more wildly. She didn’t come back to the table.

A story from last week (and here on our website) was about “James”. He stopped by the table again during this session. He seemed clearheaded, for once, and also seemed to have no difficulty walking. He said he had gone to church that morning, implying but not actually claiming that it was the Catholic Church that he had attended. E. Lucy reminisced about his coming to the table 10 years earlier, when he was a teenager and being forced to panhandle. James remembered us as always being there. He was also very grateful that he wasn’t panhandling any more, and that he had the dignity of a real job. He cut the conversation somewhat short at that point, because his break was almost over and he had to get back to work. Please keep James in your prayers?

Altogether, the evangelist gave away 15-20 Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as at least 2 copies of the kerygma, a map to area parishes, and a copy of our pamphlet on suffering.

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.

Evidence of God’s love and mercy are all around us, for those with eyes to see. 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).

October 9, 2022

Many people seem attracted to the Rosary, perhaps for its connection to Jesus Christ. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A private security guard, working the show in the convention center, came directly to us for a Rosary. Already Catholic, she wanted to pray it during her long hours on watch. After she left, e. Lucy suddenly remembered our 3^rd/4th-class relic cards of St. Michael the Archangel, and ran to take her one. The guard had already started praying her first Rosary, but was very happy to receive the prayer card/relic. May God bless and protect her and all those who serve to protect us!

“Kit”, the homeless guitar-carrying spiritual dilettante from last week, stopped to talk, telling us that he is flying to Hawaii that following Tuesday (which seemed incredible, considering his apparent homeless condition). He even tried to give away some of his “medicine” to a passerby right in front of the table, which the man declined. He also told us he was very hard of hearing, and hinted at suicidal ideation. He proceeded to extol cultures and religions that still practice human sacrifice, erroneously claiming the Bible approved of it in Jesus' case. Kit didn't consider that, although Jesus didn't prevent his execution, those who decided on his death and those who participated in it were all guilty, not only of murder, but also of the most  heinous of crimes: deicide. And besides, Jesus' death was the once-for-all sacrifice, hence there is no further need of human sacrifice, which the Bible repeatedly teaches is especially abhorrent to God. Pray that Kit’s eyes will be opened to the spiritual dead end he is following.

Frequent passerby “Cole” has been out of jail for a month now, and the medications seem to be wearing off. His ability to speak coherently was noticeably worse. He complained of losing hundreds of dollars out of his pocket a day or so earlier, but was trying to be okay with the loss.

”James”, a sometime visitor ever since we met him as a teenage panhandler 10 years ago, stopped when e. Lucy hailed him. He walked like he was in a lot of pain, or had other neurological disabilities going on. He chose a Rosary, but didn't say much. Please continue to pray for his salvation, safety, and health?

A group of four Catholic men stopped when one of them wanted a Rosary. They were from different cities, but had met here for the college football game earlier in the weekend. The man e. Chuck spoke to was Catholic, but did not own a Rosary, a situation he called “sad”. He added that he thought our being there with a table of Rosaries was “meant to be”! Three of them were choosing a Rosary for themselves when the fourth man pulled out his wallet. E. Lucy let him know that we didn't accept donations. “Then I'll take a Rosary, too”, he said, and put his wallet back away. We encouraged them all to spend time praying it, as well as to get to evening Mass. Pray that they will use these rosaries and stir the flame of faith to burn brighter in their lives.

A group of families with small children passed by, one father giving a solid no to our offer. But a few paces behind them came a mother with a very young toddler. One of the boys who had just passed by with his father went running back to join the mom. When she reached us, she said yes to our offer so that boy could get a Rosary. Before he was finished making his choice, another brother had also run back to get one. Please pray that family becomes united in Faith and prayer?

A couple stopped at the table when the woman wanted a free Rosary. She was a non-Catholic Christian, though, and didn't know anything about the devotion. E. Lucy explained the prayer and how it helps people grow closer to Jesus Christ. Then both she and the man accepted a Rosary apiece and the pamphlet on how to pray it.

Three women declined the offer of a Rosary for themselves, but suggested we ask the very heavyset man who had just entered the business park and was slowly and painfully walking our direction. “He probably wants one,” they said. He declined, however, but one of the evangelists sent up a silent prayer for mercy for him. On his way back, about a half hour later, he declined again, but this time seemed to be walking at normal speed and without pain. Praise God!

At the end of our time, retired John rode up on his grandson's bicycle, getting there in time for a short visit with e. Chuck. John's been vigilant about his health, talked about car problems and politics, and remains wary of organized religion “when it makes exclusive truth claims”. E. Chuck reasoned that it is in the nature of a religion to make truth claims and that, by definition, truth is singular. Then the two (!) employees hired to replace John showed up, and he began talking to them. Keep praying for John!

Altogether, the evangelists gave away 15 or so Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as one St Michael prayer card relic.

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 to bring much good fruit for His Kingdom out of today’s efforts.

“To Jesus Through Mary” is the shortcut to Sainthood commended by St. Louis de Montfort, and therefore we encourage everyone to pray the Rosary. 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).

October 2, 2022

Some souls sense that they’re “lost”, but lack the courage to turn around. We offer hope in Jesus Christ. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A family with two children began passing us by, but then the man broke from the others and came over. He was encouraging the boy with him, about 6-8 years old, to select a Rosary. Though the father told us that he knew what the Rosary was, he seemed surprised as we showed him the how-to-pray-the-Rosary pamphlet. After the boy chose his Rosary, the man was reluctant to take one himself, until we extolled the virtues of praying it together. May that family be united in prayer.

“Dennis” came to ask us a question, making it clear he didn’t want to offend us. (He had picked up a Rosary some weeks ago, and was wearing it around his neck.) He asked, “Who is the god of this world?” We replied that the Triune God, Who created planet earth and the whole universe, was God of all. He disagreed, saying that another entity had told him that he was god on earth. Dennis said he had been in constant conversation with that one, who had also convinced him that, since Jesus didn’t talk openly to him, this other entity must be god. (Early in his encounter with us, Dennis had asked, “Jesus, where are you?” And then, surprised, reported that he’d just heard “a new voice” saying, “I’m right here.” Later, though, he returned to his claim that “Jesus never responds” to him.)  Dennis would briefly agree with us that his interlocutor was lying to him and that his soul was in mortal danger, but then he would return to saying the devil was not evil and was his friend. Although he chooses the enemy over God every time, he still thinks he will wind up in Heaven. We tried to clear up his misconceptions and to give him tools to deal with Satan, including recommending that he turn his back on this other entity and refuse to listen to him.  But Dennis would switch from interest to indifference within a single breath. He agreed to let us pray for him, and even clutched at the Crucifix on his Rosary as we prayed, but then he interrupted us with more questions and disagreements. At one point, e. Chuck suggested that our booklet on “The Dogma of Hell” might be helpful. When e. Lucy pulled a copy out of our satchel, Dennis’ eyes lit up—so  much so that both of the evangelists’ hearts sank. Earlier in the conversation, in response to e. Lucy’s showing him the promise in John 14:21, Dennis had asked, “What are the commandments?” At the end of the long conversation, Dennis he left with a how-to-pray-the-Rosary pamphlet, the booklet on hell, and a copy of our “Confession” pamphlet, which both lists the commandments that Dennis had asked about and offers the hope of a remedy if the Holy Spirit does convict his conscience. Pray that Dennis will stop cooperating with his worst enemy, and that he will value his everlasting soul over momentary bodily health.

Having just struggled to help a man who was giving in to temptation and making deals with the devil, the evangelists were quickly presented with the opportunity to make their own bargain with the father of lies. A homeless man named “Kit”, with long hair and a guitar on his back, heard our offer of a free Rosary. As he approached, he reached into the top of his shirt to clutch the black leather pouch (or “medicine bag”) that was hanging from a cord around his neck. Tucking the pouch back in, he told us he didn’t need a Rosary because he already had something, patting the “medicine bag”. For a while, we debated the merits of belief in the true God versus Kit’s muddled universalism. Then he suddenly decided to take a Rosary “just in case he met someone who needed it.” He carefully rolled the Rosary pamphlet around the black Rosary. Then he leaned forward, holding his “medicine bag” out towards us saying, “I took your religious thing, you should touch mine.” The evangelists declined his offer but Kit, in a wheedling voice, said, “If you don’t touch my religious thing, I’ll give yours back.” He then feigned putting the Rosary back on the table as he waved the “medicine bag” at us and, in a mocking tone, said, “Oh no, I’m putting the Rosary back. You better touch the bag. Come on, you can do it.” We told him he was free to give back the Rosary, but that we would not profane our faith in the one true God. Careful to keep the Rosary wrapped in the pamphlet, he put it in his pocket and returned to his muddled arguments. So, e. Chuck continued wrangling with Kit while e. Lucy turned to give away more Rosaries. Pray for Kit, for his freedom from evil and for his conversion.

Meanwhile, e. Lucy spotted a couple of young teens who had moved up close behind our table, perhaps too close. She offered them a Rosary and one of them accepted. Please pray for their conversion?

As the young people left, a homeless man accepted her offer of a free Rosary. And then another one did, too.

After that, yet another man stopped. (E. Chuck was still talking with Kit.) The latest visitor had a thick black beard and smelled strongly of an illegal substance. He was not Christian, but had paused because he was curious about what exactly the Rosary was. E. Lucy explained the devotion and offered to let him have one. He said he’d “go study up on it and might stop by a different day”. The evangelist said we were there every Sunday afternoon. She’d also offered him a copy of the kerygma, and he had declined that as well.

A passing Catholic man asked, “What do you call a Catholic sitting in the front pew at Mass?” We shrugged, so he gave us the punch line: “Late!” Thank you for the levity, Lord, and please bless the jokester!

About three minutes before closing time, “John”, looking less purple, strolled up, carrying his folding chair and leading his dog on a leash. We got into a discussion on the nature of Heaven. That is, John started telling his understanding from the religion he grew up in, and every other spirituality he had since encountered. E. Chuck tried to respond with the Catholic understanding, using stories from the Bible to illustrate. Then John said, with a wry grin, that now that he was retired he had Sundays free for the first time in 20 years, and no longer had an excuse for not going to church. Also grinning, we told him to get himself into church and invited him to Mass. Keep praying for John!!

Altogether, the two evangelists gave away 15 or so Rosaries and its pamphlet, a copy of “Dogma of Hell”, and a “Confession” booklet.

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.

So many souls on the slide to destruction! So much work for God’s 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).

September 25, 2022

Sorry for the shortness of this report, but I ended up recalling only a few details about last week’s session. But be assured that we’re still out there every week inviting people to grow closer to Jesus Christ through the Rosary. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

Several young adults, approaching separately throughout the session, each wanted a Rosary but said they weren't Christian. Besides accepting a Rosary, they each then accepted a copy of the kerygma and the encouragement to read it and to try praying the Rosary, even if all they had were questions. Lord, have mercy and bring them all home to You!

A non-Catholic Christian man stopped, curious about the Rosary. E. Lucy explained the devotion and that even non-Catholics found it “helped their walk with Christ”. He first accepted the how-to pamphlet, and then chose a Rosary for himself. Lord, grant him the grace to trust Your Blessed Mother’s prayers for him!

E. Todd stopped by with his wife. He reported that another member of his men's group might be interested in this apostolate. He showed his hefty silver St. Michael Rosary that had gotten damaged on a foreign trip, but had now been repaired.

“John”, the retired parking lot attendant, showed up on foot and sporting bright purple hair and beard (not allowed when he employed). A passerby complimented him. His coworker, who got a Rosary from us a few weeks ago, hurried by twice, very busy now that John has retired. John had told his wife that he was going to go “visit his Catholic friends". Please continue to pray for John’s conversion.

“Uwe” walked quickly by again, only speaking pleasantries about the weather. Please pray for his continuing growth in Faith and his discovery of Jesus Christ.

Altogether, the lone evangelist gave away 12-15 Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as 3-4 Good News/kerygma pamphlets.

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.

Spiritual progress is sometimes slow to appear, but our efforts continue. 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).

September 18, 2022

Though people may be steeped in sin, they still notice the message of the Cross. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

Our session last week happened to land on the last day of a week-long promotion of a sinful lifestyle. A parade had been held the day before, and events were still happening. Loud music could be heard in the distance, and lots of people were wearing colors to symbolize their support for the problematic way of life. For us, this meant that lots of people passed our table!

A young man with a paper bag declined a Rosary, but wondered if e. Chuck knew of a homeless person to whom he could give his sack of food. The evangelist pointed him to an area that is a frequent hangout, and he went on his way. Then he stopped on his way back to say he had found someone to take the food. He commented that he passed our table frequently and appreciated that we weren’t pushy. His name was “Robby” and he had been baptized Catholic. His parents, however, had then joined a non-trinitarian sect and then, somehow, an anti-Christian religion came into his family picture as well. Naturally, he was now leery of religion, but decided to take a Rosary and its pamphlet and try the prayer again. He wanted a second one for a friend who was also seeking, and e. Chuck said he could have one if he read our “Coming Home” pamphlet and prayed about returning to the Church. He agreed. Pray that Robby sees past the damage his parents’ religious experimentation did and finds his way back to Christ’s Church.

A young couple stopped because they wondered what the Rosaries were for. So, e. Chuck explained the power and grace of the Rosary, and they cheerfully each chose one. May their openness to the Rosary prayer help them fall deeper in love with Christ Jesus.

A trio of teenagers (this little exchange happened more than once!) came to the table but paused when they saw the Crucifixes. Many passing people sported colorful strings of party beads around their neck, and it seemed these kids were looking for more. After they saw the Crosses, they asked what these beads were. When e. Chuck explained the Rosary to them, they said, “Oh, no thanks.” Pray for everyone who rejects the Cross of Christ. Forgive them, Lord, they don’t know what they do.

A man named “Stephen”, who wore a cross around his neck, cheerfully said he loved Jesus but didn’t want a Rosary.  He then told his faith story and his sense of being called to drive demons from people. He was heavily influenced by dreams,  was basically “spiritual, not religious”, and claimed, “all we needed was the Bible and the Holy Spirit’s guidance”. As the evangelist tried to help him see the Catholic perspective, he interrupted or cracked jokes, and then went on with his ideas. He talked a long time and did not want to hear anything that might contradict him, but then suddenly he stopped and asked what e. Chuck had to share with him. He shared the Rosary, its beauty and power, and showed him how the Rosary prayer takes us past our ego and self-will to put us more deeply into the hands of Christ. He declined the offer and returned to his “we just need the Holy Spirit” theme and left. Pray for Stephen, that his conversion will not stall in a spirituality of his own making.

As a couple walked by, the woman suddenly darted to the table. She seemed nervous and could not hold eye contact for long but wanted to know about the Rosary. After explaining and extolling the prayer, e. Chuck offered a Rosary to the man also, who stood a few steps away, but he did not respond. The woman gave a nervous laugh and said he was not a “Rosary kind of guy.” He did not respond to that comment either. Please pray for her safety and for a softening of his heart. May praying the Rosary bring her the peace and protection she needs.

Three giggling teenage girls rushed to the table, wanting Rosaries. One girl said she was Catholic and wanted to start praying the Rosary regularly. The other two readily accepted the how and why of this prayer. Pray they have the perseverance to let the Rosary change their lives.

“John”, the soon to be retired parking lot maintenance man, sat with e. Chuck for half the session. However, we did not have much time to talk due to the large number of passing crowds. But at the end, as the evangelist was busy putting the Rosaries away, John shouted “want a Rosary?” at two men who were standing staring at the table, unnoticed by the evangelist. They were both Catholic and in need of a Rosary. Pray for these young men, and Catholics everywhere, as they seek a more dynamic faith. And please continue to pray for John.

The lone evangelist gave away perhaps 15-20 Rosaries, and one “Come Home to the Catholic Church” pamphlet.

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.

People may reject Christ’s call to conversion, but still He calls. 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).

September 11, 2022

Our continuing friendly presence hopefully communicates God’s love for each of us. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

You may remember frequent-passerby “Cole”, the chronically housing-challenged man who walks laps a lot, the number of times each week corresponding to the calendar date? We hadn’t seen him lately. Last week, though, he stopped to chat at least 3 times. He told us, in his usual hearty manner, that he’d just gotten out of jail after 60 days. He said he’d “maintained his innocence” and that the public defender was very good. Surprisingly, though details were mostly missing, his ability to converse coherently was suddenly much better than we’d ever experienced from him. Please continue to pray for Cole? He still didn’t accept a Rosary.

We didn’t see “John”, the soon-to-retire parking-lot attendant. Please send up another prayer for his safety and conversion?

A group of three 30-somethings stopped for a free Rosary. The man e. Lucy talked with was not Christian, but listened politely to an explanation of the devotion and its effects. He also accepted a copy of the Good News/kerygma to study later.

A multi-generational Catholic family group stopped, and about 6 of them chose a Rosary apiece for themselves.

A young adult man stopped. Catholic, but “new in town”, he wasn’t connected with a parish. After setting him up with a map to area parishes, we learned that he goes to the local university. Therefore, we directed him to the active Newman Center there.

A group of at least 3 teens stopped for a free Rosary. Each of them also accepted a copy of the kerygma.

A homeless man stopped and talked with e. Chuck for awhile. Mostly, he was in the mood to talk and not ready to listen.

A teenage girl stopped for a Rosary. She said she was Catholic and familiar with the Rosary. Then tears began to run down her face as she told about having a falling out with her sister, and with her boyfriend, who apparently hadn’t accepted her texted apology for something she had said to him earlier. E. Lucy almost offered to pray with her, but she didn’t seem open to it. Lord, please have mercy on your daughter, heal her heart and teach her how to be a loving presence to those around her.

Altogether, we gave away 15-20 Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as 4-5 copies of the Good News/kerygma pamphlet, and 1 map to area parishes, which lists Mass and Reconciliation times.

Please pray for us again today? One evangelist will be available today and, as rarely happens, we won’t be able to set up next week. Please ask God, though, 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.

God loves us to an incomprehensible extent, and wants us to love one another. We try to live that out and so communicate God’s love for our visitors. 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).

September 4, 2022

More than one kind of poverty exists, but spiritual poverty is the most heartbreaking. So, we offer news of Jesus Christ, the only real solution. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

As we were setting up, a 20-something man on a skateboard and carrying two guitars stopped, without being asked, wanting a Rosary. He was Christian but not Catholic and knew of the Rosary but nothing more. He listened attentively as we explained and extolled the prayer, challenging him to seek a closer relationship with Christ through the Mysteries. May his intention to pray the Rosary become a blessed reality.

A homeless-looking man, carrying a clear bag of bagels, stopped for a Rosary. He believed ... well, it was difficult to understand what he believed. He had been exposed to a lot of religions, and didn’t seem to really believe anything. E. Lucy explained that Jesus Christ is real, is as alive today as He was on the Day of Resurrection, 2000 years ago, and He has promised to reveal Himself to anyone who loves Him enough to obey His commands. E. Lucy gave our visitor a copy of the pocket-sized Gospel According to St Luke, as well as a Rosary and the booklet on how to pray it. She encouraged him to spend time using the Rosary to get to know Jesus Christ and how much He loves him. E. Chuck then had a go at conversation with him, which had devolved seemingly into fruitlessness.

“John”, the soon-to-retire parking-lot attendant, came and chatted with e. Chuck for the last half hour of the session. One of his coworkers came by and ended up choosing a Rosary.

Four boys in their early teens rode past on bicycles, most of them ignoring our offer of a Rosary. The last one then looked at us and yelled, “God’s not real!”, before riding away. Lord, have mercy on the boy, as well as on whoever taught him that lie.

Several Catholics went by, gladly proclaiming they already had a Rosary.

A Catholic man, sporting a large St. Benedict medal, stopped for a Rosary. We asked him to pray it once for us.

“Julia” stopped and greeted e. Lucy, who hadn’t recognized her with long hair. We talked about a priest friend’s struggle with macular degeneration.

A 60-something couple went by. The woman called out that she used to be Catholic, but was glad to be out. E. Chuck called that she would always be welcome back. But she said over her shoulder, “Nope, I’m done with all that.” Lord, have mercy, soften her heart, and open her mind and eyes to see the truth of Your Catholic Church.

A couple set up a very loud sound system, and started to play jazz on saxophone and keyboard. We moved our table partway down the south spoke, to get away from the noise, but it didn’t make much difference. Still, people from across the walkway continued to respond to our offer of a free Rosary, so perhaps Our Lord let our voices be heard despite the loud music.

A homeless man came to the table saying we were just what he needed. Though he didn’t elaborate, he said he was going through some things and needed to spend time in prayer. Please pray for his needs and for all the homeless that they, like the thief on the cross, may reach out to Christ Jesus for their salvation.

A homeless man with a dog stopped to select a rosary and had a question about Jesuits. At first the conversation seemed coherent, but it soon became evident that he was full of odd theories about God and religion that he was ready to repeat without responding to our rational replies. Please pray for peace in his chaotic mind.

A guy on a bicycle circled back to get a Rosary, but we don’t remember anything else particular about the encounter.

Altogether, the two evangelists gave away 12-15 Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as a copy of the pocket-sized Gospel According the St. Luke.

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.

The treasure God made us for, and therefore the only one worth pursuing, is our inheritance with Him in Heaven. But few seem to know that, 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!

”For you say, ’I am rich and affluent and have no need of anything‘, and yet do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked“ (Rev 3:17).

P.S. Our fellow Boise Catholic street evangelist, Mike Nourse, died last week after a 3-month battle with brain cancer. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let Perpetual Light shine upon him. May his soul and the souls of all the Faithful departed, through Your Mercy, rest in peace!

August 28, 2022

Reactions are mixed, but we continue to offer the Rosary as a sure way to grow closer to Christ. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

As we were setting up, a homeless man zoomed past on his bicycle. Then he circled back and gave us one of his two chilled water bottles, receiving our thanks and prayer for God’s blessings. We trust in Christ’s promise to reward anyone who gives “even a cup of cold water” to one of His little ones (cf., Matthew 10:42). May we all seek to be one of Christ’s little ones.

“Aaron”, the man with a Rosary from Rome, stopped. He and e. Chuck talked about something secular.

A young man, dressed all in black, came to the table. He said he would take a Rosary, but just for the sake of the cross on it and “nothing else.” E. Lucy went around the table to stand beside him and described how the Mysteries can draw us closer to Jesus. He seemed to not know what to say, but he accepted the how-to-pray-the-Rosary pamphlet and chose a black Rosary. May he hear Christ’s voice from the Cross saying, “Behold, your mother.”

A woman paused, undecided, when offered a Rosary. She said she “didn’t know what to say.” We suggested she say “yes”, and she took our suggestion! She then came around to the front of the table and chose a Rosary. When e. Lucy explained the devotion, and the peace and protection that people often experience when praying it, our visitor said she would wear the Rosary and read the pamphlet that night. We pray she follows through and is moved by the Mysteries to say YES to Christ.

A large, multi-family group strolled past, declining our offer. Then one man seemed to suddenly realize what we were offering, and came to the table. He said he was familiar with the Rosary and a couple of the boys joined him in choosing one apiece. He said they were going to someone’s baptism. (This is where the story gets confusing because one evangelist missed some of what he said, and the other doesn’t remember.) The man may have been Catholic, but perhaps he wasn’t but another part of his family was, and they were the ones that included those getting baptized. At any rate, may his openness to our Mother and the Church draw him deeper in Faith.

The father of a family of four shook off our offer, but the mother brought her two sons to the table as the father waited nearby. Though the boys were mostly occupied with choosing a Rosary, the mother accepted our explanation of the power of this prayer with a polite smile, and agreed to let the boys have their pamphlets when they got home. May the pictures illustrating Christ’s great love for us draw this family together in love for God.

Two Catholic women stopped. One was from out-of-town, but hadn’t brought her Rosary with her. She felt blessed that we were there so she could get one. We encouraged the two women to pray it together.

John, the parking lot attendant, came and told stories of war survivors and an elderly great-aunt.

A 20-something couple started to decline our offer, but then the man came to the table. He seemed to struggle to choose a Rosary and, after our explanation and exhortation, he took just the pamphlet but not a Rosary. The woman didn’t either. They walked away, but came right back, the woman saying, with a smile, that the man decided to choose one after all. May he continue to use his free will to say yes to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

For perhaps the third week in a row, a man zoomed by on his bicycle, loudly saluting the enemy of his very soul. May he recognize his grave mistake before it’s too late, and may he turn to Our Savior Jesus Christ Who can save him from destruction.

Not too many people were out, possibly because of the continued record-breaking heat wave. Still, the two evangelists gave away about 15 Rosaries and its pamphlet.

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.

People respond to us and our at least tacit invitation to choose Jesus Christ. Some are happy to see us; some are curious; most are polite, but a few express hostility. God loves each one and wants them saved. 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).

August 21, 2022

Being Catholic brings many spiritual advantages. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

As we were arriving, “Sarah” set her blanket of bracelets for sale directly across from “our spot”. Most people turned to us instead of toward her. E. Lucy tried to talk with her afterwards, but she was pretty incoherent. May God bless her, save her, and bring her into the Catholic Church.

“Aaron”, a homeless man who has talked to us in the past, came up to us just as we were setting up. He said we were an answer to prayer because he had a question. He wanted to know how to stop sinning and being tempted. He wanted to reform for the sake of a new girlfriend. We assured him that temptations were never going away and that seeking virtue rather than trying to stop sin by sheer force of will was his way forward. E. Chuck recommended the “Litany of Humility” as a daily prayer for him. E. Lucy then brought it up on her phone so we could pray part of it with him. Though Aaron attends a non-Catholic Christian church, we pointed him to the Catholic Church with its many means of grace as the greatest asset to help him. He accepted a “Why Be Catholic” pamphlet. Lord, soften Aaron’s heart that he may seek to please You.

A large, multi-generational family group declined a Rosary, but the eldest man suddenly dropped back and came toward us. He said he’d like to pray for us. He stretched a hand toward each of us and offered a prayer for the growth of the God’s Kingdom and for our protection. E. Lucy said this was the same prayer she prayed just before we set up. He stopped by again on their way back, and let us know from what state he’s visiting. He described to us how he’d taught his children to be respectful to everyone, including the homeless. He also admitted that he’s not a typical resident of his home state. Thank you, Lord, for Your faithful servants!

Two women approached, wearing black lipstick and sporting large upside-down cross earrings. They wanted a Rosary and we encouraged them to pray it. St. Peter, who chose to be crucified upside-down out of humility, please pray for the salvation of these women!

“John”, the parking lot attendant, stopped to have lunch and to chat. One of the things he related was the story of how he was “excommunicated” from the pseudo-Christian sect he had grown up in. He described his “trial”, in which he had freely admitted all his past actions. E. Chuck noted that this sounded like a General Confession and, if had he done that as a Catholic, he would have received absolution rather than condemnation. Though he acknowledged this, it did not seem to resonate with him and he passed on to other stories. Open the eyes of his heart, Lord, that he may see all the graces You offer him in Your Church.

Three members out of a family of five stopped to choose Rosaries. They were already Catholic.

A Catholic couple happily proclaimed their affiliation with the Church and let us know they had “lots of Rosaries” at home. We asked them to pray it for us.

Altogether, the two evangelists gave away maybe 15 Rosaries, half of them black. With each Rosary, we also gave away a copy of the 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.

The Catholic Church is truly a treasure-house of grace. 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).

August 14, 2022

Amid a typical lack of interest or reverence, we encountered some real questions. So thank you again for you r prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

John, the parking lot attendant, came fairly early and again stayed for most of the session. This time, e. Chuck was able to talk a little about Christianity. John asked about the Church being called “catholic”. E. Lucy explained the “universal” nature of the Church, but he seemed to be probing for the historical origins. [From Catholic Answers: “The earliest document we have in which ‘Catholic’ is used to label the Church is a letter from Ignatius of Antioch, who wrote around AD 107 while being taken to Rome for execution. For all we know, the term was used well before that time—which is to say, in the time of the Apostles.”] As a deist, John did agree that it made more sense to live as if God were a reality, even if one wasn’t absolutely sure He existed, since we are all going to die and face God eventually. Pray that John will say yes to Christ as the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and that God grant him the gift of Faith.

A somewhat heavy-set and seemingly economically challenged woman walked by. She yelled at us to stop tormenting her. May God grant her peace.

A man walked close to the table. When offered a Rosary, he shuddered and said he didn’t want anything touched by a priest. How did he know the Rosaries had been blessed? May God deliver and save the man!

Three college-aged men walked past the table but, after fifty more paces, turned around and came back. Two of the young men, all smiles, pointed at the third, who sheepishly told us that he didn’t have a Rosary on his rear view mirror and was picking one up for that. Though mostly joking with each other and not very forthcoming, it seemed that two of the men were Catholic although evasive about their current practice. The third said he was not Christian, so we gave him a Good News pamphlet, which he tried to give to the man choosing the Rosary. We encouraged him to not just display the Rosary, but to pray it. May the daily sight of the Crucifix draw him into a deep obedience of Faith.

A mother and two 20-something daughters stopped. They each chose a Rosary. The mom wanted the Rosary booklet in Spanish, which we gladly provided.

Several groups of Catholics went by, each group cheerfully calling out that they already had Rosaries. Some promised to pray it for us.

A young-adult man stopped for a Rosary, saying one of his parents was Catholic and the other a member of a pseudo-Christian religion, and that he was familiar with the Rosary. It sounded like he mostly participated in the other religion, but occasionally went with the Catholic parent to Mass. He seemed to not see much difference between the two religions and tried to pass it all off as merely a funny predicament. E. Chuck tried to explain the  seriousness of our relationship with the true Christ and how it could be deepened through praying the Rosary. Mother Mary, pray he choose, not between parents, but the true Jesus Christ, our Savior.

Altogether, we gave away 15-20 Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as a Good News/kerygma pamphlet.

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.

Thinking even for a moment about ultimate things raises important questions. We hope to point toward the Answer, Jesus Christ. 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).

August 7, 2022

Though not many people ventured outside, we still reached some. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

“Uwe” walked by, making pleasantries about the weather. God had granted us a slight cloud cover and breeze, so it wasn’t as unbearably hot as had been predicted. Not many people were out, though.

A man stopped and chose a Rosary. He came back a few moments later and asked the history of the Rosary, which e. Lucy briefly told.

A passing family sent their two boys to the table to choose a Rosary. The children chose a Rosary apiece while e. Chuck talked about the prayer with their mother, who did not seem familiar with the prayer but told the evangelist that the boys were in a Catholic school. Just before they left, the father decided to take a Rosary and e. Chuck encouraged him to pray with his boys. He did not reply. Pray for this family, Mother Mary!

“John” and “Allie” stopped, wondering what the Rosary was about. Asked if they were Christian, they enthusiastically responded yes. Turns out that John is the leader of a non-Catholic Christian congregation in a nearby State. His grandmother, though, is a devout Catholic and very active in her parish. John remarked, puzzled, that she had never explained the Rosary to him. He then asked pointed questions from his separated-brethren perspective but remained polite. E. Chuck added that it is good to have prayers that are not all about the one praying, so the focus is more on God. Though John did not take a Rosary, he accepted the how-to-pray-the-Rosary pamphlet as well as a pamphlet explaining the Catholic devotion to Mary. Pray today begins his loving relationship with Our Blessed Mother.

“John” the parking-lot attendant showed up before e. Chuck arrived and stayed for the entire session, telling stories and killing time. E. Chuck was able to tell a story about his own journey in Faith, but please pray that the evangelists find ways to break through John’s chatter.

Altogether, the two evangelists gave away, 15 or so Rosaries and/or its pamphlet, as well as one copy of the “What About Mary?” pamphlet.

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.

“It’s good that we are here” (Matt 17:4; Mark 9:5; Luke 9:33). 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).

July 31, 2022

Conversion is possible, but it takes God’s grace. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A homeless woman, who was missing most of her lower teeth and carrying cardboard sign and bedroll, stopped for a Rosary. Then she asked for a large-print Bible. E. Lucy showed her the one she had, which was full-sized and quite heavy. Our visitor hesitated, so then we showed her our two pared-down ones. She chose the Gospel According to St Luke. She also accepted a map to area parishes after hearing that she’d be welcome at any Mass. Pray for peace and protection for her.

Another woman, possibly also homeless and with lots of tattoos and an odd shoulder twitch, came to the table. E. Lucy walked around the table to talk to her but doesn’t remember the encounter.

A Catholic couple, visiting from out of state and already having “plenty of Rosaries”, paused to chat. The woman was a traveling nurse, evidently filling in emergency shifts as needed. E. Lucy, finding they hadn’t been to Mass yet, told them about the next available Mass downtown, but they were heading back to their hometown before then. Pray for their safe travels.

A woman, with a foreign accent and pushing a toddler in a stroller, stopped because she thought we were offering non-Christian mediation beads. E. Lucy explained that the Rosary was a Christian meditation, described it briefly, and gave her the pamphlet to go with the Rosary she had chosen. She may also have accepted a copy of the kerygma. Perhaps, though,  our visitor was just being polite.

The father in a family of four responded to our offer by saying his son (maybe 8 years old) would want one. The father and son came to the table as the others walked on. The father said he had grown up “socially Christian” but was “merely spiritual” now, and thought that all religious roads lead to heaven. E. Chuck offered that Christianity is unique, that spirituality and other religions present God as someone/something to pursue while Christianity shows us a loving God who pursues us, lived among us, was killed, and rose again so that we can be saved. Both father and son chose a Rosary apiece, and we encouraged them to pray and meditate on the Mysteries together. Pray that their hazy spirituality becomes a solid Faith in Christ.

A man on a bicycle rode by, declaring he was an atheist, but did not pause to talk further. Pray that the hearts of this man and all unbelievers are softened and their ears opened so they can hear and respond to Our Lord’s knocking.

Three high-school-aged women, who had overheard us offer of free Rosaries to other people, came to us from across the plaza. The enthusiastic “leader” of the trio turned out to be Catholic, so we encouraged her to teach her friends how to pray the Rosary. Pray that these Rosaries open the door for this young Catholic to witness to her friends.

A group of very young teens came to the table to select Rosaries. Mostly, they seemed to be simply looking for a necklace. One snarky young man wanted to know if Jesus could win in a fight with a certain cartoon anti-hero. Still, e. Lucy got a couple of them to accept a copy of the Good News/kerygma pamphlet. One girl then asked, “Will I go to hell because I’m gay?” E. Lucy explained that it wasn’t a sin to experience same-sex attraction, but to act out on it would be sinful. When the rest of the teens left, the girl hung back to ask for more detail. Heartbreakingly, she described activity without any sense of commitment whatsoever. E. Lucy explained that God considers sex sacred, that one of its purposes is to produce more human beings, that same-sex activity was by its nature sterile. The evangelist went on to say that God didn’t forbid such activity in order to hurt her, but because He had a better plan for her and wanted her to be truly happy. Our visitor didn’t seem offended when she took her leave. May God continue to call her out of sin into the path to Eternal Life.

Altogether, the  evangelists gave away 10-15 Rosaries and the pamphlet on how to pray it, as well as maybe 3 copies of the kerygma, 1 Gospel According to St Luke, and at least 1 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 will come of today’s efforts.

Truth carries its own authority, and some people can hear it. 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!

July 24, 2022

Nonbelievers equate the Catholic Church with Christianity, our separated brethren are suspicious, and Catholics feel encouraged. So thankyou again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

After several days in a row of triple-digit weather, a very welcome cloud cover appeared and stayed overhead for most of the session, cooling things down noticeably. The sky cleared again about “closing time.” Because of this Heaven-sent, merciful intervention in the weather, quite a few people were outside and encountered us. Thank you, God!

A tall 40-ish man stopped. He was wearing a khaki collared shirt, carrying a backpack, and gave his name as “Ron”. He was new in town and complained about the incivility of the homeless shelters here. He told us he had been raised in a non-Catholic Christian liturgical denomination and had suffered abuse there. The experience had damaged his faith, he said, but he still tried to read the Bible and pray. I can’t remember if he accepted a Rosary. He said he had been trained as an assassin. Lord, save him!

A family who did not speak English came to the table. E. Chuck tried to converse with the mother, but wasn’t able to communicate well enough to give her directions she desired to shopping places. The father and two pre-teen boys seemed to understand English well enough to converse with e. Lucy, who gave them the Rosary booklet in their own language and encouraged them to pray it together as a family. Pray for safe travels for them.

A heavily tattooed couple stopped. While e. Chuck was explaining the Rosary to the woman, the man asked e. Lucy to give him advice (but not saying about what he wanted advice). Although the man had been introduced to the Rosary devotion as a child, the evangelist explained to him how to form an intention, and then use the Rosary prayers to grow deeper in his understanding of Christ. She let him know that God often answered petitions when couched that way. He thanked her.

A couple passed by, the man snapping pictures of the business complex with his phone. When he finished, he turned toward us, calling out, “We’re non-denominational.”  When e. Lucy replied that the Rosary was for all Christians, he stepped a bit closer and starting quoting Bible verses that he thought justified his (false) once-saved-always-saved-and-no-effort-ever-needed philosophy of Christian discipleship. Of course, he didn’t stop to listen to any counter-arguments. Pray that his heart will be open to dialogue when next he passes.

“Sarah” set up shop again a few feet down from us. After placing her lawn chair and display blanket, she  passed us on her way to get soaked in the fountain before sitting to await customers. She seemed surprised when e. Lucy hailed her by name, and spoke again of the “parade” she had joined one time around the cathedral, which the evangelist recalled is across the street from her home. She was, though, fairly inarticulate. Lord, lead her home to You!

John, the parking lot attendant, again came early and stayed the whole session, swapping secular stories with e. Chuck. Lord, open his understanding and bring him into the Church that You founded.

Another non-English-speaking family stopped for a Rosary. The woman requested the booklet in her native language. The man preferred the English-language version because, although he already prayed the Rosary regularly, he wanted to learn it in English.

A Catholic family stopped so the boy, who was dripping wet from playing in the fountain, could get a Rosary. The father didn’t seem to be familiar with the Rosary, yet listened as we explained and extolled the prayer. Then he told us that his son attends a local Catholic school and so knows all the prayers. We encouraged the father to pray with his son. Please pray this family is united by the love of the Lord.

Just as the evangelists were preparing to take down the table, a group of teenage boys approached, wanting “necklaces”. One of the group responded to our table sign, which asks, “Does God exist?” He said he thought there was a God. We assured him that was the most important thought of his life. As we tried to explain the true purpose of the Rosary, most of the boys joked or hung back, but a couple of them did hear us out. Each of teens selected a Rosary for himself. Pray, Mother Mary, that they accept the grace to walk in the way everlasting.

Altogether, the evangelists gave away 20-25 Rosaries, black and pink being the most popular colors chosen.

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.

A wide variety of people respond to us, 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).

July 17, 2022

People repeatedly show renewed interest in the spiritual life. So thankyou again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

Three clean-cut men in their early 20s had come to town from another part of the State. “Chandler”, “Trayson”, and “Dawson” came to the table. Chandler told e. Chuck that he couldn’t really say that he was a Christian although he “leaned that way”. So, e. Chuck showed him how the Mysteries of the Rosary could show him what he’s missing. E. Lucy talked with Dawson, who asked us to pray with them for safe travel for Trayson, who was going to drive their car back to eastern Idaho. When e. Chuck reached a stopping point with Chandler, e. Lucy let  him know the prayer request and the evangelists prayed for the young men. From their posture during the prayer, e. Lucy deduced they were raised in the pseudo-Christian sect that has a large presence in their hometown. Only Trayson did not select a Rosary. As they were walking away, e. Chuck remembered he wanted to give Chandler a Good News/kerygma pamphlet and ran it to them. However, it was Trayson who turned to take the pamphlet. May Your love and Your sacrifice on display in the Mysteries of the Rosary draw these young men closer to You, Lord Jesus.

“John”, the parking lot attendant, stopped to chat. After a while, a flustered-looking woman walked near the table, and e. Chuck asked if she needed help. She had forgotten which parking garage she had parked her car in and then, when she had found it again, she couldn’t get her parking ticket to work. We told her it was her lucky day and pointed to John, whose job it is to maintain those machines. So John went off to help her. May we be as persistent in seeking the Lord as she was in seeking her car.

A man stopped to say he didn’t need a Rosary as he had many, including one that he had picked up in Rome. He then stayed to chat about his many travels. At the end his recitation, we encouraged him to pray with that Rosary from Rome. May he see the Rosary as more than a memento.

A Catholic father, mother, and teenage daughter stopped to select a Rosary each. The teenager told e. Chuck that she felt it was time she finally learned to pray the Rosary. So, he first went over the mechanics of the prayer with her using the how-to pamphlet, and then let her know the great spiritual value of the prayer. She said her grandma knew the Rosary by heart.  May this family learn to pray together.

A man on a bike, with a Rosary around his neck that we are pretty sure he got from us in the past, stopped to select another Rosary. He smiled a lot, but didn’t have much to say. We gave him a how-to pamphlet and encouraged him to actually pray with the Rosary, to which he nodded, still smiling, and rode away. May he find true joy in the Cross of Christ.

The repeat visitor whom we dubbed “Tony” came and talked with e. Chuck for a short time.

The homeless woman, who professes belonging to a pseudo-Biblical cult, and her very heavy friend stopped to chat about the weather. The friend actually came and chose a Rosary this time!

A man in a mint-green business shirt headed purposely toward our table after the scruffy-looking group in front of him had all said “no, thank you” to receiving a Rosary. E. Lucy allowed him to choose a Rosary, but then was tongue-tied, so e. Chuck explained the devotion to him.

A Catholic family stopped and got Rosaries for the children. We encouraged them to pray it together daily!

A young person in his mid-teens came for a Rosary. He said he was not Christian, but seemed in a hurry to rejoin his family. So, e. Lucy gave him a copy of the kerygma and encouraged him to read it when he got a chance.

A man came by to ask if we had a permit. We explained that we had permission to set up there, since we neither sell anything nor accept donations.

A disheveled-looking group of 3 adults stopped for Rosaries. They went by again later.

Altogether, we gave away 15-20 Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as at least 2 copies of the Good News/kerygma.

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.

People who have been raised in a faith, seem to feel the call to take another look at things spiritual, including Christianity, as preserved intact by the Catholic Church. So thankyou again for your prayers and other support for this ministry. In turn, may God protect and greatly bless you and all those you love!

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

July 11, 2022

Foot traffic was heavier again on this holiday weekend, and we got to interact with people, both hot and cold toward Christianity. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

It was nearly the Fourth of July holiday last week. This time, in the convention center, was a gathering of role-playing gamers. Several convention goers stopped for Rosaries. One group had gone by with “no, thank you” on their lips. Then they tried the wrong door to get into the convention center and turned around, puzzled. E. Lucy directed them around the corner to the correct door. At least three members of the group then stopped to get a Rosary. May God bless them and save them!

A fairly young, red-haired, homeless-looking man stopped for a Rosary. After he chose one, he didn’t leave but kept standing there. E. Lucy asked if he had any questions. He asked, “If you had a daughter that was an angel, and she needed help, what would you do?” E. Lucy said she would pray. She then asked the man if he had a daughter. “Yes.” “Has she ‘passed on’?” she asked, trying for delicacy. “No.” So, e. Lucy then explained how to make an intention for whatever his daughter needed most, and then to pray the Rosary while working hard to concentrate on the Mysteries and trying to understand Jesus better himself. She said many powerful blessings come when you pray that way. He thanked her and seemed willing to try it.

John, the parking lot attendant, told us about going back to college as an adult and enjoying his philosophy class, where his instructor  taught him the nonsense that “we could not attain any idea of what reality is because we cannot trust our senses or our reason”. E. Chuck tried to help him see that materialism and relativism not only lead to logical dead ends, but also bar us from being in a true relationship with God. Please pray that the evangelists rely solely on the Holy Spirit as they continue in conversation with John. Please continue to pray for John, who is at least beginning to take another look at the right questions. And, God, please forgive instructors who teach error, and please save them and their students!

A homeless man named “James” stopped for a Rosary. His words didn’t make a lot of sense.

A man stopped, but didn’t know enough English to read the Rosary booklet. We gave him one anyway, for its pictures, and encouraged him to look online for the prayers in his native language. He chose a Rosary and agreed to do so.

A multi-generational Catholic family of 8 or 10 stopped. The father and some of the teens chose Rosaries. We encouraged them to pray together every day as a family. They said they would.

A group of young adults stopped. One admitted to not being Christian. E. Lucy explained the benefits of still praying the Rosary, even if all she had were questions.

Lucy offered a Rosary to a group of 3 or 4 going by. A man called out, “No, thank you. We’re Jewish.” “Oh, so is Jesus!”, e. Lucy replied. “He was a good man”, the man responded. Ah, more than just “a good man”. God, bring them into the Catholic Church so they can become “completed Jews”.

A couple in their mid-20s declined a Rosary as they passed, but then the woman suddenly changed her mind and came back, while the man stayed a short distance away. She wanted to pick one out for someone else (child? relative? friend?). She said she knew who Jesus was and even seemed to believe in Him, but then her smile left her face as she stated, “but I believe what I want to believe.” E. Lucy went over the Rosary devotion with her and assured her that it was okay to pray the Rosary even if all she had were questions. Please pray for her conversion.

Two teens on bicycles passed by, then circled back to select a Rosary. They were not sure if they were Christian or not, so we showed them how the prayers of the Rosary would show them who Jesus Christ is. We also gave them each a Good News/kerygma pamphlet. May they come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

A woman yelled at us that she didn’t “believe in that stuff”, so e. Chuck asked her why and she replied, “’Cuz I’m a pagan.” E. Chuck then asked why she was a pagan, but she only gave us a shocked/annoyed look and kept walking. For the sake of His Sorrowful Passion, Lord, have mercy on her and on the whole world.

Three young teenage girls, wearing more makeup than clothes, stopped at the table. Two selected Rosaries but were not Christian. They each accepted a Good News/kerygma pamphlet as well as the evangelist’s words. The third girl declined everything offered to her, saying that she was an atheist with an upside-down cross tattooed on her hip and that she liked to take drugs. She declared all this with a smile. Oh, St. Peter, who was crucified on an upside-down cross, pray that she repents and is saved.

Altogether, we gave away 25-30 Rosaries and its pamphlet, 3-4 copies of the kerygma, and 1 map to area parishes.

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.

God can work with people who are hot or cold. So, thankyou       again for your prayers for this apostolate. In turn, may God protect and greatly bless you and all those you love!

July 10, 2022

Despite a spiritually unwholesome convention going on, God sent people to us. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

The convention that is centered around a style of cartoon art was held again this year, after a (welcome) several-year break. We saw lots of bizarre costumes but fewer Christian-friendly attendees than in previous years. Several passersby even called out a salute to the enemy of their very souls. Lord, have mercy and save them!

A newly Catholic father encouraged his son to get a Rosary. It seemed as if the dad is the only Catholic in the family so far. Lord, help him lead them all home to You in Your Church.

“Sarah”, a homeless-looking woman, stopped for a Rosary in order to “check out the competition.” She had the separated-Christian suspicion of “praying to Mary”. E. Lucy explained the Catholic concepts and she finally took a Rosary. She also took copies of our “What About Mary?” and “Praying to the Saints” pamphlets. E. Chuck noticed that she had “set up shop” just on the other side of the recycle bin from us, although we are not sure what she was hawking. (I had inadvertently prayed for “Sarah” along with my other morning intentions that day. “Wait! I don’t know a Sarah.” Now I do.)

“Ezekiel”, who has stopped a few times over the years, stopped again and asked if the streets were shining. Homeless, and probably not exactly sober, he went on to recount a dream (NDE?) he’d had where he’d “visited heaven” and talked to a woman who was too bright to look at. He’d also noticed the streets being shiny, then was later astonished when he read about it in the Bible, in Revelation’s description of Heaven. He took a Rosary and its pamphlet, as well as a Divine Mercy prayer card. He also noticed that we had a new pamphlet out on Abortion, although he declined receiving one. (BTW, no one mentioned or even alluded to the Supreme Court decision this week. Indifference remains dominant.)

A costumed woman with a startling, fake-blind eye came to the table. She didn’t know anything about the Rosary, but was a Christian and intrigued by the Rosary’s focus on Christ. May her eyes be opened to Your mercy and love, Lord.

More than one group of costumed young people stopped who answered the question, “Are you Christian?” with a thinking-out-loud sliding scale of “I was I think ...  sort of ... I’m not really sure” and a confused shrug. All accepted Rosaries and its pamphlet, our Good News/kerygma pamphlet, and our exhortation to pray and read the pamphlets. Pray that their wobbly confusion turns into solid Faith through the leading of the Holy Spirit.

A couple, wearing matching red costumes from an old video game, stopped to tell us they were Catholic and attend a local parish. At first, they were not going to take a Rosary, but then saw their favorite colors and selected one each. Give them the perseverance to remain steadfast in the Faith, Lord Jesus.

A family, not in costume, let their three young children select Rosaries. The parents had just become Catholic at the Easter Vigil and thought it a good idea for the kids to have their own Rosaries. We agreed! Mother Mary, surround these new Catholics with your loving prayer and support.

“John”, the parking lot attendant, spent nearly the whole hour chatting mostly about motorcycles and cars but, prompted by e. Lucy’s telling a story of an encounter she’d had with a menacing non-believer many years ago, started talking about his understanding of some pre-Christian philosophers. His summation was skewed towards supporting his belief that “all religion is the same and leads to heaven” and he still wasn’t open to much correction. Pray for the softening of John’s heart.

Altogether, the evangelists gave away 40-50 Rosaries, 2 Divine Mercy prayer cards, 3-4 copies of the kerygma, and a copy each of the “Praying to the Saints” and “What About Mary?” pamphlets.

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.

Although hundreds of passersby had minds closed toward Christianity, we were still able to set up near-record number of people with the tools for prayer and developing a working relationship with Jesus Christ. 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!

July 10, 2022

“Male and female, He made them.” We offer both the knowledge and opportunity to pray the Rosary, which is a sure means to grow closer to Jesus Christ, Our Lord.

• The evangelist wished a Happy Father’s Day to the many men who were accompanied by families on this US holiday. Most smiled and said thank you, but there were a couple of odd expressions, too. God, strengthen fathers and imbue them with the desire and ability to lead and protect their families.
• Repeat visitor “Jax” came to ask for another Rosary. He said he had recently discovered that he is colorblind and that, although he had gotten several Rosaries from us in the past, he hadn’t known they were pink. This time, he carefully picked out a tan and brown one.
• “Uwe” stopped for a moment, commenting on the sunshine we were (finally) experiencing again. When asked how he was doing, he replied that he was very well but also that he always makes it a point to look on the bright side. Anytime he was tempted to complain, he said, he soon realized that someone was worse off.  He acknowledged that many people were suffering, and that it wasn’t always their fault. E. Lucy agreed that bad things can happen seemingly at random, but that God can always bring a greater good out of them. “Sometimes,” Uwe hedged. “He does,” e. Lucy assured him. Uwe didn’t seem to agree, but left it at that and took his leave.
• “Cole” came by, after our not seeing him for months upon months. He was wearing new clothes (and a hat?). He still talks heartily, but never quite makes sense. May God bless and heal him!
• “John” the parking lot attendant tried to stop by several times. Within moments, however, he was always called away to service another parking lot machine. He seemed to be finally getting over his last bout of a bad bug. Thank you for your prayers!
• A woman stopped for a Rosary. She told the evangelist that she has a friend who is a believer, and a Catholic. E. Lucy explained the benefits of trying the Rosary devotion, even if all she had were questions. The woman also accepted a copy of the one-page kerygma and the encouragement to take a moment to read it.
• Two college students stopped by. They were Catholic and already in the habit of praying the Rosary together daily. They wanted Rosaries to give away. E. Lucy let them each have one and demonstrated how she introduces the devotion to people, especially those suspicious of Catholicism.
• A dad and small child, 3-4 years old, stopped so the boy could get a Rosary.
• An older Catholic couple stopped briefly to encourage us. The man pulled a thumb-ring Rosary out of his pocket. During the session, two other men also pulled out Rosaries to show the evangelist. Amazing, the power of Rosary-praying men!
• Yesterday marked the interment of our fellow street evangelist Gary Novotny, who died of the pandemic virus last fall. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let Perpetual Light shine upon him. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through Your Mercy, O Lord, rest in peace. Amen. Please also keep his widow, Mary, in your prayers?
• Altogether, the evangelist gave away about 20 Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as 1-2 copies of the kerygma.

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.

Fatherhood is regaining some respect in our culture at last, thank God! And 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!

July 10, 2022

God loves the poor, and we try to lead them to Him. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

• It rained lightly off and on during our last session, the sky remaining heavily overcast. Still, a few passersby ventured outdoors and encountered us. Most people seemed to be in a good mood.
• As we were setting up, a somewhat heavyset homeless man came over. He commented on every different color of Rosary as we laid them out, waiting to see what all the color choices would be. He did not respond to questions about his faith, nor did he want the offered how-to-pray-the-Rosary pamphlet. His only response to e. Lucy’s explanation of the Rosary and the encouragement to pray it was a smile. There was one Rosary that interested him, but it wouldn’t fit over his head. So, he put it back, declined all the others, and walked away “to find a restroom.” He left behind, next to the wall of the hockey arena, a 4-foot-tall pile on belongings all strapped together and balanced on top of a single skateboard. He hadn’t come back by the time we ended the session. Pray for him, body and soul, please?
• A man from a large city in a neighboring state stopped. Mostly, he lamented that his home town had turned into “a retirement place for 20-year-olds”. Our visitor had been raised in a nationalistic, non-Catholic, liturgical tradition (though he was no longer practicing). He accepted a Rosary and the pamphlet on how to pray it. He was interested in an obscure foreign dance tradition, however,  and that seemed to overshadow our call to him to Faith and prayer. May Our Lady and her Rosary woo his heart for Christ Jesus.
• John, the parking lot attendant, came by. Still ill, he told us he was just glad he made it through a day of work. Pray for his healing and conversion.
• The homeless woman who identifies as belonging to a pseudo-Christian cult, and two companions, came by. None took a Rosary. The women who has spoken with us before, was wearing sandals and having fun stamping in puddles.
• The father, from a large family who were strolling by, broke off to accept a Rosary. He said they had “just come from Mass” and were faithful Catholics who prayed together. At least four members of the group chose Rosaries for themselves. We encouraged them to pray it together, which they enthusiastically said they would. Guard them, Lord, and help them persevere in the Faith.
• A few people stopped to cheerfully claim a Rosary, but said nothing else.
• A down-and-out-looking woman, drenched from the rain, stopped for a Rosary, which she said she thought of as “good luck”. She was difficult to hear, but we encouraged her to actually pray the Rosary, using it to grow closer to Christ and to grow in holiness. E. Chuck handed her a Divine Mercy prayer card, which she gladly accepted. We again urged her to pray.
• A woman on a bicycle stopped. She said she was familiar with the Rosary because her friend was Catholic, and had said he would show her how to pray it. Though she was “not religious” she chose a Rosary and accepted both the how-to-pray-it and the Good News/kerygma  pamphlets. She looked forward to surprising her friend with her very own Rosary. May their prayers together draw her to our Lord.
• A trio of homeless people stopped, who looked ill-prepared for the wet, cold weather. When they heard we were Catholic, they asked if we had blankets for them. We referred them to the St. Vincent de Paul emergency help line. They each selected a Rosary. Lord, please grant them each provision, protection, and salvation.
• Altogether, the two evangelists gave away about a dozen Rosaries and its pamphlet, a map to area parishes, 1-2 copies of the kerygma, and a Divine Mercy prayer card.

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.

Our resources may be “only” spiritual, but that’s not insignificant. When people come to us looking merely for material benefits, we try to lead them to Him, Who is their real hope and the source of all good gifts. 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!

July 10, 2022

God loves all sorts of people. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

• A man stopped, but only to say that he didn’t want a Rosary because “it had a cross on it”. He didn’t approve of our saying that Jesus died to save us and, moreover, that it involved bloodshed. He also didn’t approve of what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah. E. Lucy tried to talk with him about the concept of one person laying down one’s life to save another, but he didn’t get it. He also seemed to be wearing a certain pair of spiritual (lifestyle-related) blinders, and to be carrying a lot of pain, both physical and emotional. Please pray for him?
• A father and his son, about 12 years old, paused at our offer of a free Rosary. The father took the Rosary from e. Chuck’s hand, and told him that he “knew what the Rosary was”, and even accepted a pamphlet on how to pray it, though he edged away as he spoke. The son went to the table to select a color and replied to e. Lucy that he didn’t know anything about the Rosary nor did he think he was a Christian. So e. Lucy gave him a Good News/kerygma pamphlet, pointed out that it was only one page, and encouraged him to read it. Pray that the boy’s father, and all Christian parents, will communicate and live out the Faith for their children.
• Two couples stopped together. One of the couples was Catholic and planning to move to the area. They had attended Mass at the cathedral that morning. E. Lucy gave them a copy of the map to area parishes to help them get oriented. We’re not sure if the other couple was Catholic.
• A Catholic woman stopped by to get a Rosary. She was traveling, she said, and had accidentally left hers at home. We were glad to oblige, not willing to leave anyone unprotected.
• Two women were in town trying to see “what kinds of things happen here”. They were outdoor-sy and had happily discovered the 13-mile belt of connected parks that follow the river. They had also made the trip up the hill to the east of the city, upon which a lighted cross is maintained. We suggested some other sights to see, although they were looking for free venues. They each accepted a Rosary, its booklet, and a brief explanation of the devotion.
• One man, whizzing by on a bicycle, called out that we should be ashamed of ourselves. “Ashamed of the Cross?” e. Lucy wondered aloud, puzzled. E. Chuck suggested that perhaps he was referring to the scandal from 20 years ago. Either way, may God save him!
• John, the parking lot attendant, was back. He was suffering from a virulent “cold” he’d picked up when out of town visiting family. He said the worst of it was the dizziness and disorientation he experiences when he stands up. He’d come down with it two days after getting home. His wife, Linda, came down with it two days after that. Pray for them? Also, as he was visiting with e. Chuck, he again dwelt on stories of the grave dysfunction he experienced from his parents when he was young. Pray for all the broken families in the world.
• A woman in her late teens or early 20s rode by on a bicycle, holding onto a rope or other line. Holding onto the line was a man about the same age on a skateboard. E. Lucy remarked that he might not be husband material because he “doesn’t pull his own weight”. They didn’t stop for a Rosary.
• A man on a bicycle heard our offer and looped back to select a Rosary. He was not familiar with the devotion, and listened intently to our explanation of its use, benefits, and promise. He told us he was staying at a local homeless shelter and was glad he was able to “go to chapel” every day. Pray for his healing and his perseverance in his return to the Lord.
• Altogether, we gave away 15-20 Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as a map of area parishes and a copy of the Good News/kerygma pamphlet.

Please pray for us again today? Ask God to prepare people’s hearts 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.

God’s net is open wide, drawing in people of all sorts. We try to nudge them toward Him, His Church, and salvation. 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!

July 10, 2022

In season or out, God still seeks the lost. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

• Nice weather is always welcome during our session, since otherwise most Boiseans just wait indoors until the sun comes out again, and therefore miss the chance to encounter us. Last week, however, God granted us both damp, misty weather AND lots of foot traffic. God is good!
• A paramedic stopped to chat for a bit. “Jesse” was in town for training at a nearby military base. He showed us graphic pictures of injuries he’d received in a combat zone. Fortunately, his facial injuries didn’t leave disfiguring scars. He told us he had survived “because of the Rosary” he’d had in his pocket, though he’d since lost track of that Rosary. But he also said his “guardian angel was busy that day and could now relax”. Sadly, “Jesse” (legal name, “Jesús”) seems to have lost his Catholic Faith, yet believes “God is pleased” with him and the generic “spirituality” he loosely holds. Before he left, we set him up with a new Rosary and e. Chuck’s “Come Home” pamphlet. E. Lucy encouraged him to pray the Rosary, while e. Chuck pointed him back to the Eucharist. Pray Jesse turns from bland spirituality to the powerful God Who protected him in war and sent His Only Son to save him.
• An evidently poor but intact family of six stopped to choose a Rosary apiece. The children ranged in age from about 3 to 11. The dad helped the youngest boy choose a bright green Rosary. They said they were Catholic but said nothing else.
• A Catholic man stopped for a Rosary, admitting he had never been taught how to pray it. E. Lucy gave him a whirlwind tour of the devotion, gave him the booklet with the prayers and Mysteries and a diagram of what prayer to say where. He said he would try it.
• A woman passed by, declining our offer of a free Rosary. E. Lucy wondered aloud if she was the member of the non-Christian cult from a month or so ago. No, e. Chuck said, that woman had been blonde and much shorter. He looked down the sidewalk, and (coincidentally?) here came the very woman of which we were speaking. We had a brief conversation with her before she hurried off to get warm. She was happy to say she was working four hours a week now. Please keep her in your prayers!
• A woman stopped who lives across the street from a Catholic church. On foot, she said she was on her way back from the library, which was 6-8 blocks away and had closed nearly an hour earlier. She stopped “to rest her back”, she said, standing under the overhead catwalk since the picnic tables were wet. She stood with us for awhile and chatted, until e. Lucy asked if she were Catholic. “No, Christian.” She had a strong prejudice against the Catholic Church because, she claimed, “It makes people feel guilty.” When e. Lucy tried to tell her that the Catholic Church actually offers the remedy for guilt, the woman suddenly declared that she was now rested and ready for the rest of her walk home. She did linger another few minutes and professed her belief that “all religions are good.” However, like John the parking lot attendant, she wasn’t open to hearing anything to challenged the errors in her reasoning.
• Speaking of whom, please send up a prayer or two for John. We haven’t seen him for a couple of weeks. That’s usually meant that he was quite ill. Later this week, though, e. Chuck did receive a text from him to say he’d been out of town. Lord, please have mercy on John and his family.
• A group of about six teens all stopped for a Rosary. They were respectful and grateful.
• A man with a bag of bagels came to the table. He said he was not familiar with the Rosary, but had grown up Catholic. He admitted he was no longer connected to the Church. E. Lucy showed him how to pray the Rosary and extolled the virtues of the prayer, while e. Chuck gave him a “Come Home” pamphlet and encouraged him to get reconnected to the Sacraments. Pray that Our Blessed Mother obtains for him the grace to seek her Son, the True Bread, and to return to the Catholic Church.
• Despite the steady drizzle, enough interested people came by that we gave away 20ish Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as a couple of “Come Home” pamphlets.

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.

It’s been amazing lately, as God opens hearts and brings people to us. 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!

May 29, 2022

[Renewed Interest in Religion?] Young people seem to be interested in religion again. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

“Uwe” (AKA “the Dabbling Deist”) walked by, noticing the weather was great again on a Sunday afternoon. He repeated his remark from previous weeks, saying that we had something to do with it. E. Lucy actually agreed, but giving the credit to God and saying that He grants us good weather so people are willing to come outside where they can encounter us.

Repeat visitor “Tyson”, an agnostic who has had philosophical/‌scientific discussions with us in the past, came by again. Mostly, though, he talked about an accident he’d had on his motorized bicycle. The accident really rattled his confidence in riding a bicycle at all. May the fragility and shortness of this life point him to the permanence and strength of God.

A father with four girls, aged 12 and under, stopped so the children could each get a Rosary. He didn’t get one, but was carrying a wrapped package.

A group of three college-aged men (brothers?) stopped: “Jordan”, “Andrew”, and “Matthew”. Jordan admitted to being raised Catholic but now attended a non-Catholic Christian church. They were from a populous State south of here, and visiting because Matthew was transferring to a local university this Fall. Jordan’s mother lives here, and had gotten them all to attend Mass that morning. (May God bless his mom!) The men questioned us about praying to Mary. They had trouble, they said, explaining to others how praying to Mary and the Saints didn’t amount to worshipping them. E. Lucy untangled for them the confusion over the words “praying to”, the reality of the Communion of Saints, as well as and the power of the prayers of a righteous person. She showed Andrew our “Praying to the Saints” pamphlet, which features “enough Scripture references to form a Bible study”, all of which support the Catholic understanding. He asked for a copy. He and Jordan also each chose a Rosary and accepted the pamphlet on how pray it, while Matthew waited at a distance. Pray their enthusiasm leads them into strong and lasting Faith.

A group of four 20-something non-Christians stopped because the man was curious about the Rosary. They told us they were “merely spiritual”. We encouraged them to use the Rosary to meditate on the life of Christ to see how what He did in reality can affect them spiritually. We gave them a Good News/kerygma pamphlet as well, so they could see what Christian spirituality looks like. May their hearts be open to believing in Jesus Christ, our Savior.

A down-and-out-looking couple stopped for a free Rosary. They each chose one, but the woman refused the pamphlet (twice). Please pray for them?

A group of 4 young adults with a rambunctious puppy stopped for a Rosary apiece and an explanation of the devotion. They women led e. Chuck to believe they were Catholic. One of the men that e. Lucy spoke with didn’t treat his Rosary with much respect. Blessed Mother, have mercy and lead them all to your Son and salvation!

A group of teenagers zoomed by on electric scooters. The last teen, a girl, heard our offer of a free Rosary and came back. The others followed and chose Rosaries, too. E. Lucy talked with the young woman. She was not Christian, but open to learning the prayer. She also accepted a copy of the kerygma.

Three (or four) men stopped. They were Catholic and familiar with the Rosary. We set them each up with one and encouraged them to pray it together as a group, e. Lucy explaining that men praying the Rosary constitutes a powerful spiritual weapon. They agreed the world needs some serious prayer right now, and (I think) agreed to try to pray it together.

Altogether, the two evangelists gave away 25-30 Rosaries and its pamphlet, 2-3 copies of the kerygma, and 1 “Praying to the Saints” pamphlet.

Please pray for us again today? Ask God to prepare people’s hearts 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.

Interest in religion seems to be returning among young people. We try to be a resource for them, 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).

https://streetevangelization.com/team-page/?team-chapter=boise&view-blog=true

May 15, 2022

[God's Marvelous Ways] Thank you for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort! Not only were we “unmolested” in using “our spot” in the business park last week, but we were the only “buskers” left (the others evidently now crowding the sidewalks a block or two north).Therefore, since competition for attention was removed, we saw significantly more interest. God is good!!!

The father in a family of four declined a Rosary. But his wife and youngest child came to the table, while he and teenage daughter waited some steps away. The mother told us they had “recently moved” to the area, but weren’t connected with a parish. They don’t live in Boise, but e. Lucy was able to recommend the parish in the neighboring town. The mom expressed interest. She “knew the Rosary” and told her daughter she would show her how to pray it. Then she called to the teenager to come pick one. With a nudge from the father, the teen came and chose one. E. Lucy encouraged her to pray it for peace and protection. The mom didn’t take a Rosary because she “already had a nice one”, but she did take a Divine Mercy prayer card. After thanking us, she said, “It warms my heart to see Rosaries again.” Pray for this mother’s courage and perseverance in leading her children in prayer and for religious unity within the family.

A 30-something man stopped because he wanted to get a Rosary for his grandfather. We gave him an extra copy of the Rosary booklet and encouraged him to pray it together with him.

A 20-something man stopped to pick out a Rosary for his father “who prays with a Rosary three times a day”. He was sure it would make his father happy to give him a Rosary, he said. We offered that it would make him even happier if his son prayed the Rosary with him. Our visitor hesitated before answering, then said, “I do what I can” and left it at that. Thank you, Lord, for the example of faithful parents.

Three different men passing by made snarky comments to the effect that they were once Catholic but had long since rid themselves of the Faith. Soften their hearts, Lord, lead them back to the way of everlasting life.

“John”, the parking lot attendant, sat and talked with e. Chuck for some time. He said that his wife, “Linda”, needs prayers as she undergoes tests to see why her hands were so numb. Please keep Linda and John in your prayers. After the session, John accompanied e. Lucy the last few steps to her car. He apologized for getting “hot under the collar” last week as he talked with e. Chuck. E. Lucy, who had been distracted by park security, hadn’t heard the conversation and so hadn’t been offended. But she remembered being told later that John’s main objection to Christianity was the sinfulness of Christians, so she recommended he look into the lives of some Saints, those who heroically lived out the Faith. Oh, he had already done that, he said. His two heroes were St. Augustine of Kent and St. Francis of Assisi. Judging by only those two examples, he had concluded that all Saints were rebels and devised their own way of going to God. E. Lucy countered that they still had received the Faith from others, and he conceded the point (!). St. Francis of Assisi, pray for John. St. Augustine of Kent, pray for John.

Altogether, the two evangelists gave away at least 15-20 Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as a Divine Mercy prayer card. Pink Rosaries were especially popular on this “Mother’s Day”.

Please pray for the success of our radio interview tomorrow (details below). And, as always, please pray for the effectiveness of our evangelization session today? Please 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.

The Catholic Church is the Church founded by Jesus Christ and contains the sure means to reach eternal happiness. Our presence reminds people of that, and encourages the wayward to turn or return to Jesus Christ. 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).

P.S. Be sure to catch our live interview on Salt & Light Radio tomorrow, Monday 5/16, at 7:45 a.m. MDT. Tune in: 102.3 FM / 1140AM KGEM Boise. Internet: https://saltandlightradio.com [requires app].

https://streetevangelization.com/team-page/?team-chapter=boise&view-blog=true

May 9, 2022

[Enemies of Christ?] Our being visibly Christian seems to bother some people, but we still invite people to grow closer to Christ through praying the Rosary. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

Employees of the business park where we set up approached e. Lucy to ask if she “had a permit”. She noted that this is the same wording the “stocky man with angry eyes” used the previous week when he confronted her. She answered no, but added that we’d been there for 10 years. “We’ve been here for 30,” was the response of the man who later gave his name as “Tyler”. Another security-dressed employee showed up, and Tyler excused himself to consult with someone on the phone. E. Lucy sent up a quick prayer to St. Joseph, whose Feast Day it also happened to be. The two men came back, and e. Lucy awaited their decision, ready to pack up and move elsewhere, if necessary. Tyler told her he’d “made an executive decision” and it was okay if we stayed. He also gave her his name, in case someone else comes and asks, “Who gave you permission to be here?” Thank you, God! Thank you, St Joseph! May God bless Tyler and the business park! (BTW, as we headed to our cars after the session, a woman followed us and then stood listening to us debrief. She held her phone facing us. Please pray that God’s will is done today and, if we have to move to another venue, it’ll be even more productive for His Kingdom. Again, may God bless the business park and all of our benefactors!)

In other news, perhaps related, a Catholic adult education group had for years been meeting monthly at a pizza restaurant that carries our state’s name. Although the group of 50-80 quiet, paying customers had always been welcomed, they were met at the door last Wednesday and told they could “no longer meet there” because they were “a religious group”. Please pray for the conversion of all enemies of Christ!

Meanwhile, back at street evangelization, three women stopped. They all currently stay at the relatively safe downtown women’s shelter. Two asked for prayer and took Rosaries, while the third one wandered away until the first two were ready to go. E. Lucy prayed for “Dylan’s mom”, who is Catholic and attends Mass regularly. After the prayer, the woman showed the evangelist her son’s name tattooed on her arm. He was in jail, she said, and she was trying to get him to start praying. She was going to send him a Rosary and its pamphlet. The woman that e. Chuck prayed with was “Dawn”, who has been sober for a few months, is now back to an active faith, and doesn’t want to slip back into her old life. After the group had reassembled and before they left, the third woman happily volunteered that she was now two weeks sober. May God grant all three salvation, safety, and healing! And may He grant them the grace to continue to cooperate with His grace!

“John”, the parking lot attendant, came and spent quite a bit of time with e. Chuck, repeatedly asserting that all translations of the Bible are unreliable, that all Christian churches are untrustworthy and, for that matter, so are all the world’s religions. He vehemently rejected all arguments countering his beliefs, citing as evidence stories from his highly broken and dysfunctional past experiences. Please continue to pray that John’s heart may be softened and that the seeds of Truth may take root there.

Another passerby, a man, paused briefly and exclaimed, “I hate to be the one to break it to you, but there is no god.” Evidence, happily, proclaims otherwise. May God soften his heart and show him the Truth that not only is there a God, but also that He loves him beyond imagining!

“Kyle” a young man looking for a certain store also chose a Rosary and stayed to listen to the blessings of praying it. He said he “tries” to attend a non-Catholic church but that his parents want him to attend a more liturgical church. We extolled the benefits of the Catholic Mass and the necessary access it gives to the Sacraments. He accepted a map to area parishes. Pray that he will answer Christ’s call to worship him in Spirit and Truth.

The sky was gray and the weather threatened to turn ugly, so there was not very much happy foot traffic. Still, we may have given away 7-10 Rosaries and its pamphlet, and one map of 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 efforts.

In the End, God wins! 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).

May 1, 2022

[] We still encounter people who yearn for Truth and peace. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

It had snowed enough to stick that morning, and was snowing again when e. Lucy arrived. Yet, the moment e. Chuck and our wagonload of stuff reached the square, the snow and wind stopped and the sun came out. (And therefore, so did the people. Thank you, God!) As we left, dark clouds were gathered again at the horizon.

“Ben”, a businessman traveling from out of state, stopped for a Rosary. Turns out he’d gone to e. Chuck’s alma mater, which formed a quick connection between them. Ben is Catholic and had just arrived that morning. He asked about parishes and we were able to steer him toward 2 or 3 that he’d probably feel comfortable in. He accepted a map with their web addresses. He said he would pray for us with his new Rosary, and wished us “good fishing”. Pray for grace, mercy, and peace for Ben.

A tall 30-something man, who gave his name as “Eddie”, jokingly asked us if the instigator of “the Reformation” was our favorite person. E. Chuck replied that he had converted away from followers of that one and into Catholicism just five years ago. Eddie asked why, so e. Chuck briefly related his reasons. This led Eddie to ask questions about praying to Mary and the Saints, about the Pope, the scandals, and about the nature of the Church. An active non-Catholic Christian, Eddie seemed to believe that God was in a period of “silence in the world”. E. Lucy told him about Eucharistic miracles that God has continued to grant throughout each of the twenty centuries of Christianity, but Eddie seemed skeptical. He was not hostile during the discussion, just curious, and said it would probably be good if he took a deeper look into his faith. E. Lucy then handed him a stack of pamphlets covering the topics of our conversation as well as a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. He also selected a Rosary. May the Holy Spirit guide Eddie in a deep and fruitful exploration of his faith and lead him to the Truth.

A culturally defiant-looking woman with very short hair surprised us by accepting our offer of a free Rosary. She accepted the booklet, but said she was already familiar with the Rosary.

A homeless man with an open bottle of hard liquor stopped briefly for a Rosary and its booklet before staggering on. Blessed Mother, obtain for him healing, safety, and salvation!

“John” was too busy to stop, although we saw him zoom by twice on his way to fix yet another parking lot machine.

One of the non-Christian-prayer-bead-making men from last week stopped briefly. E. Chuck encouraged him again to pray the Rosary he’d received at that time.

Two women in their upper teens stopped briefly because they “were heading to a concert”. They each chose a nice Rosary. We saw them again, though, even before our session ended. E. Chuck commented that it must have been a short concert. They said they were just trying to buy tickets, and were now going to get food while they waited for the doors to open. Lord, please inspire them to learn how to pray the Rosaries they received.

Several people, both Catholics and non-Catholic Christians, wished us a happy Palm Sunday.

A young woman, working a food delivery gig, hesitated in her hurry and came to the table. She didn’t know what a Rosary was and, when asked if she were Christian, said at first that she wasn’t sure. Then she admitted that she wasn’t. She said her family had believed in generations past, but belief seemed to have faded away in recent years, and she seemed to find that regrettable. We offered that she could be the one to bring Faith back to her family, and gave her a Good News pamphlet to go along with her Rosary. May she turn to her Lord and Savior in faith and thanksgiving.

Altogether, we gave away 5-10 Rosaries, 1 Catechism, 1 each of the pamphlets “What About Mary?”, “Marian Doctrines”, “Praying to the Saints”, “Common  Objections”, and “Petrine Primacy”, 1 map to area parishes, and 1 Good News/kerygma pamphlet.

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.

People still seek the Truth, and we work to lead them toward 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!  Happy Easter!

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

https://streetevangelization.com/team-page/?team-chapter=boise&view-blog=true

May 1, 2022

[Don’t Grow Weary] We don’t, by the grace of God, grow weary of encouraging people to use the Rosary to better understand Jesus Christ and His Kingdom. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A Catholic family stopped, the husband with a baby in a chest harness and the wife with a small dog in a backpack. The father told us they were Catholic, but “new in town” and not yet connected with a parish. We gave them a map to valley parishes, pointing to the ones with Mass in Spanish. They each accepted a Rosary. Pray they do not delay attending Mass and finding a new church home.

The man, who was selling non-Christian prayer beads and spoke with the evangelists a few weeks ago, stopped with his wife, toddler, and wagonload of goods. They each selected a Rosary and talked a little about bead making before moving on to their spot across the way. Pray that their blended religious beliefs come to find the truth of Jesus Christ.

Their other business partner, Micah (from last week), walked by a bit later, accompanied by another man. When e. Chuck called a greeting, he stopped at a distance, struck a defensive pose, avoided eye contact, and chatted small talk for a moment before walking on. Pray God grants an opportunity for Micah to learn that (as opposed to the “Christianity” pushed by the man who accosted him last week) what the Catholic Church offers is forgiveness of sins and the avenues of grace to become truly holy.

A Catholic couple stopped, the man asking if the Rosaries were blessed.

Two women in their upper teens stopped for a Rosary. Christian, they didn’t really seem interested in the devotion but paused politely while e. Lucy explained. They thanked us and moved on.

Another woman stopped for a Rosary. When asked if she were Christian, she said, “No. Catholic.” “Catholics are Christians,” e. Lucy replied. *sigh*

A 40-ish man, with a stocky build, dropped back to talk to us as several other members of his group walked on. He kept flashing the lower whites of his eyes as he talked. Surprised that someone allows us to set up in public, he also seemed to strongly disapprove of what we represent and yet reluctant to say so. He asked yes/no questions, leaving no opening to elaborate. Soon, he concluded to himself that we were there because of our right to Free Speech and moved on.

A group of about 30 men passed by. Not a single one stopped for a Rosary.

A 30-something woman going by told us, in response to our offer of a free Rosary, that she was “all good”, or was that, “All-Good”? Incredible.

A Catholic family visiting from out of state stopped to choose one Rosary. They were planning to attend a nearby 5 pm Mass. May the faithfulness of this family persevere in the children and succeeding generations.

Two young ladies broke away from a large group of women to select a Rosary each. Both were Christian, but knew nothing about the Rosary, so e. Lucy showed them how it helps us dive deep into the life of Christ, seeking His peace and protection. Pray that they deepen their devotion to Christ in prayer.

Actually, we think there were at least three groups/couples that came to the table with exactly the same story as above. In fact, it seemed like they all came in a row because e. Chuck remembers more than once telling people to listen to e. Lucy explain the devotion.

Altogether, the two evangelists gave away 25-30 Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as 1 map of 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 efforts.

The Rosary puts people in contact with that transcendent, yet greater, Reality of God and His loving plans for us. 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!

April 24, 2022

[Easter Adventures] Easter Sunday brought us some interesting encounters. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

As we were setting up, e. Chuck saw a young man suddenly drop to one knee in front of a young woman. Big grins ensued, followed by hugs and kisses. So, e. Chuck called to the man, “Did you just propose?” Yes. He invited them to come receive a Rosary to get their life started off right. When they came to the table, he asked the woman if she had been expecting that. “Not today!” she said. Although not Catholic, they agreed to receive a Rosary, choosing one between the two of them. May Our Lord bless their marriage and bring their resulting family to salvation!

A 20-something, homeless-seeming man stopped at e. Chuck’s greeting. He has visited us before and goes by “Micah”. He told e. Chuck that he was wishing to get ahold of his family. His family is local, so we suggested maybe he could just go see them in person.

While we were speaking, another apparently homeless man stopped, advising us to stockpile certain commodities and making odd claims about the military. This one was wearing a politically ultra-conservative t-shirt under an unbuttoned and open white business shirt. He offered to pay us for a Rosary, pulling out a wad of cash.

When e. Chuck politely refused the money and suggested he give it to Micah, the second man turned on our first visitor, accused him of being drunk, and then proceeded to alternately insult, brow-beat, and try to bribe him into repentance and living a Christian life.

He also tried to goad Micah into throwing away his “druggie clothes”, promising him that he would not only buy him new clothes but would also set him up for 4 days in a hotel. E. Lucy warned Micah to not accept the second man’s “hospitality” until he saw the second man actually pre-pay for things.

1. Chuck broke in and tried to dissuade the second man from his judgmental, literally hands-on tactics. While the aggressive man was thus distracted, e. Lucy slipped Micah a Divine Mercy prayer card and encouraged him to learn that powerful prayer. He was studying the card when the second man’s attention returned to him and he started his harangue all over again.

After a few more minutes, e. Chuck asked them to move away from the front of the table so other people could approach and choose a Rosary. They complied and, after several more minutes, they walked away together.

The second man was evidently still urging Micah to throw away his clothes and his last two cigarettes as he physically steered him toward a trash can. When he let go, Micah took another step toward the receptacle, but then changed direction and moved back to the middle of the walkway. At that, the second man threw his hands into the air and headed into a restaurant, Micah continuing out of sight.

Some time later, the second man left the restaurant and came back by our table. E. Chuck was busy talking with someone else, but e. Lucy helped him complete the process of selecting a Rosary that didn’t offend his male sensitivities. He didn’t try to engage her in any more conspiracy-theory or other ploys.

May Our Lord grant mercy and healing to Micah and gentle the other man’s heart, giving him peace and a love for Truth, and leading him and those he cares about to salvation.

Most people cheerfully returned our “Happy Easter” wish. But one man from a group of 4 people loudly said no to e. Lucy’s offer of a free Rosary. When she wished him a Happy Easter anyway, his second no was both louder and sharper. May he not give a final no to Jesus’ offer of salvation!

A man on a bicycle stopped briefly. He took the Rosary out of e. Chuck’s hand, and give him “an Easter egg with a nice message” in return. He pointedly didn’t return e. Chuck’s “Happy Easter” wish. The message inside the plastic egg was one that you might call anti-forgiveness.

A family stopped because the mother was interested. She and the kids selected a Rosary apiece, but the father did not. E. Chuck talked to the father about mundane things as e. Lucy briefly described the devotion to the others. As they were walking away, we could overhear the father reciting the Hail Mary to them, but it did not seem to be in a positive way. Later, when the family walked back past us the father did not make eye contact with the evangelists. Pray for peace and protection for the faithful in this family.

Altogether, the evangelist gave away 10-15 Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as a Divine Mercy prayer card.

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.

God is Love. We try to mediate His presence to all comers, even those “rough around the edges”. 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).

April 10, 2022

[Truth vs Relativism] E. Chuck was on his own last session. But, of course, he “wasn’t alone”, due to your prayer support. Thank you so much!

A family of three came to the table, the husband said he was about to be deployed overseas with the military and began a conversation about that with John, the parking lot attendant. The little boy (5-7 years old) took a Rosary, then asked what it was for. E. Chuck told him about prayer and God, but the child had a blank look on his face. His mother began to tell him, for the first time, about God and Heaven and Hell. Into her loose explanation, e. Chuck inserted Jesus Christ and how He saved us. She agreed with that addition. Then the evangelist pointed to the Crucifix and its depiction of what Christ did for us, and showed him the pictures in the Rosary pamphlet. But the boy continued to look confused. Then the mother said that she believes in God and Jesus but is not interested in any particular religion, and so hadn’t gotten around to telling her boy about it. The mother then told her son that he could choose any religion he wanted and that was okay, but that she would tell him more about God and Jesus when they got home. She then picked up a Divine Mercy prayer card so the boy would know what Jesus looks like. The evangelist entreated them to go through the Rosary pamphlet together and to practice praying it together. He also wished the father a safe deployment. Holy Mother, please pray for this confused mother that she will point her son to your Son.

A family of five declined a Rosary, but the three children gathered around the table asking what the Rosaries were for. E. Chuck gave a quick explanation of the Good News and the Rosary prayer, but said they couldn’t have one unless their parents said it was okay. The mother then said that it was okay if they take one between the three of them, and she would talk to them about it at home. Holy Spirit, grow the seed of Faith in that family.

A Catholic man broke away from his group to choose a Rosary for his son. He said he didn’t need a pamphlet, but e. Chuck convinced him to take one for the boy to use, and to pray through it together with his son. Other Catholics stopped at the table during the hour to choose a Rosary, often for a loved one. Lord Jesus, draw them each into a deeper relationship with You and each other through the prayer of Your Mother.

When offered a Rosary, a man on a bicycle politely said, “No thank you, I worship [the enemy of his very soul]”, and sped past. Pray the man is released from captivity to the father of lies!

Two men came to the table to choose a Rosary each. Then they told e. Chuck that they were “making rosaries” at the other end of the business park and giving them out (selling them?). They showed the evangelist what they were making: it wasn’t a Rosary but some kind of non-Christian prayer beads. They said they believed in Jesus, but also liked to practice an eastern-style meditation. So, e. Chuck talked about the difference between Christianity and the religion they claimed, and the very different focus on Jesus within the Rosary. He also told them that not all prayer beads are the same just because beads and string are involved. They continued discussing the differences. Then they wanted to know what the Divine Mercy cards were about, so the evangelist gave them each one after using it to point out that the fact that God became man and sacrificed Himself for us is the biggest difference between Christianity and all other religions. They reiterated that they believe in Jesus. One man chose a Rosary for his wife, who was back at their table. Draw them into Your Church, Lord, so they can become grounded in You, the Truth.

“John”, the parking lot attendant, arrived at the table in the middle of the conversation with the two men above and, after they left, he expounded on his theory that all religions lead to God and so no religion can say it is the only way. Among other things, the evangelist explained that the Catholic Church was not just a human institution subject to the fallibility of man, but a Divine institution full of fallible people subject to a loving God. Pray that John seeks Jesus alone and joins His family.

That’s all the conversational encounters from last week. The rest were each grab-and-go with little time to explain anything.

Altogether, the lone evangelist gave away 10-15 Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as 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.

The Christian message is getting lost in our society’s fear of objective truth. We reach whom we can, to at least plant a seed of hope. 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).

April 3, 2022

[Abundant interest] An abundance of foot traffic brought us many interested people. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

Both a music festival and a home and garden show were going on last week, so there was lots of people out and about.

A man named “Will” and his 4-year-old daughter politely declined a Rosary and passed by the table, but a woman and her tween daughter stopped. It turned out they were all together, so Will came back and let the little girl join her mother. Will was curious about the Rosary, so e. Chuck gave him a pamphlet, demonstrated how to pray it, and showed him how the meditations call us into a deeper love for Christ. Though Will seemed to hold Christianity at arms length, in the end, he decided to take a Rosary and was open to try praying it.

Meanwhile, the 4-year-old also wanted a Rosary, but the 10-year-old walked away. Her mother told e. Lucy that the older girl was “anti-religion”. The mom was thinking, though, about putting her in Catholic school. E. Lucy encouraged her to do so. She also encouraged her to pray the Rosary every day with her younger daughter. Then she gave the mother a St. Monica relic and told her the story of how St. Monica’s son, St. Augustine, was lost for years but eventually not only came back but also became one of our greatest Saints. Pray that the reality of the life of our Lord Jesus Christ, and healing and love He offers, draw this family into faith in His saving work.

Two women stopped, “Linda” and “Susan”. When asked if they were familiar with the Rosary, they said they were Catholic, but told us they belonged to an irregular “parish”. Janet said she prayed the Rosary every day and challenged e. Chuck that he’d “better pray it every day, too.” They declined the Rosary pamphlet because it includes the Luminous Mysteries, and they seemed doubtful that these Rosaries were actually blessed. E. Lucy and Susan did chat amiably about different indulgences offered for praying the Rosary. E. Lucy then asked them to pray for unity, but the suggestion was ignored. Pray that God softens their hearts, and the hearts of everyone who seeks God outside His Church. May we all stop “straining out gnats and swallowing the camel” of disunity.

We gave away one of e. Chuck’s hot-off-the-press, brand-new pamphlets, “Come Home”, addressed to inactive Catholics. It went to a woman who volunteered to give us her unused Rosary-making supplies. (Yes, please!) She had not been back to Mass since the pandemic began, was new to the area, and so didn’t know where to leave the supplies. We invited her back into active participation in the Catholic Church and recalled the unsurpassed blessings available only in the Eucharist. Pray for her belief in and return to the Sacraments of the Catholic Church.

A man with a longish, dark beard stopped to ask e. Chuck what we were up to. When e. Chuck explained our desire to draw people closer to Christ in faithful prayer, our visitor nodded agreement. Then he began a lengthy conversation about his belief in a flat earth and a large variety of conspiracy theories (most of which were concocted in the last 150 years specifically to discredit Christianity). E. Chuck pointed out that, whether true or not, most of those things were out of his hands, whereas our active faith in Christ was the only thing we could control, and was the most important thing in life. The man again agreed but returned to the other topics. Pray that he can turn his obsession from the world to God.

A 20-something woman stopped, sporting dramatic makeup. She had gone through RCIA and become Catholic a year ago at e. Chuck’s parish. Now, she wanted a Rosary. Thank you, Lord, for all converts! Fill them with Your strength, grace, and perseverance.

A teenage girl stopped briefly. Besides Rosary and booklet, e. Chuck gave her a Divine Mercy prayer card and encouraged her to try it because it was a shorter prayer than the Rosary.

A man went by, loudly proclaiming he didn’t “need the Rosary”. May God save him!

Two teenage boys came by, one of them being directed to our table by the other. After the one had selected a Rosary and received the booklet, the other boy told us he already had a Rosary from us and had begun studying the booklet to figure out how to pray it. E. Lucy encouraged him to look for “15 minute Rosary” on YouTube in order to “catch the rhythm” of the prayer. He told her that the other boy was his brother.

A man accompanying two or three children said they’d stop on their way back. We must have ended our session before then, because we didn’t see them again. May they accept God’s offer of salvation before it’s too late!

A mother and young child (5-6 years old?) stopped. The child asked who Jesus was. E. Lucy gave him a quick overview of salvation history, ending with the fact that Jesus was coming back to take us to Himself. The mom seemed satisfied. (I guess it had been a test.)

A man was walking by when he turned toward us and loudly saluted an entity that hates him and wants only his destruction. The evangelists remarked to each other that he’s going to be in for a nasty shock if he ends up in that one’s hands. Lord, have mercy! Save him!

A young mom, pushing her little boy in a stroller, stopped to pick out a Rosary. She was Catholic but had just moved here from another part of the state. So, we gave her a map to area parishes and showed her the one nearest her home. Pray she finds a warm welcome wherever she goes to Mass.

Altogether, the two evangelists gave away 35-40 Rosaries and its pamphlet, at least 1 map to area parishes, 1-2 Divine Mercy cards, 1 St. Monica relic card, and 1 “Come Home” pamphlet.

Please pray for us again today? One evangelist is out sick, but the other is rarin’ to go. Please ask God to send people to us 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.

Many people were interested in learning about the Rosary last week. 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).

https://streetevangelization.com/team-page/?team-chapter=boise&view-blog=true

March 27, 2022

[Week In, Week Out] Deep within the 10^th year of this apostolate, we still offer a visible Christian presence in public! So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort. One evangelist was available.

Last week featured cool and breezy Spring weather but, praise God!, nothing threatened to blow off our table (except once, when a certain man was trying to choose a Rosary; he may have thought the evangelist was pressing down on a group of Rosaries to say “off limits”, but it was just to keep them from blowing away <sheepish grin>).

“John”, the maintenance man, came early and stayed until one minute before closing time. At least, he didn’t feel interrupted when the evangelist offered Rosaries to (the occasional) passerby. And, if she was distracted and would have missed someone, he cheerfully called out the offer.

A Catholic family stopped. They were already fond of praying together, they said. The dad and two children each chose a Rosary. The mom was evidently content with the one she already had at home. We encouraged them to pray it together daily.

A fairly young woman, all clad in purple, stopped for a free Rosary. She was already familiar with the devotion, and gladly chose a bright purple one.

One young-adult woman dropped back out of her group to get a Rosary. The evangelist gave a very brief explanation of the devotion before she hurried off.

A man and woman, 20-somethings, stopped for Rosaries. The man seemed already familiar with it because he exclaimed about how very effective it was when he wanted to get his mind off some worry. The evangelist urged them to pray it often.

Although foot traffic was fairly light, and interest in general seemed low, the evangelist still gave away 7-10 Rosaries and its pamphlet.

Please pray for us again today? Today is last day of the annual secular music festival, returning after a multi-year break. The last time it was held, some people passing our table were visibly relieved to encounter a Christian presence. May God use us again this year! Please pray, too, that God prepares people’s hearts to perceive their need for Our Savior and His Holy Catholic Church and that much good fruit for His Kingdom comes of today’s efforts!

There is never an off-season for the Gospel! 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).

March 27, 2022

[The Rosary, a Powerful Prayer] The Rosary is so important! Therefore, we urge everyone to pray it! So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

Two men paused because one of them wanted a Rosary pamphlet. He said he already had a Rosary.

A perhaps 20-year-old woman, who identified as belonging to a non-Trinitarian pseudo-Christian religion, stopped to say, “You guys are out here every Sunday!” And we offer her a Rosary every Sunday, which she declines. She told us she couldn’t use a Rosary because of her religion, but said she sees us every week as she walks from the city library to the women’s shelter where she lives. She told us about the terrors that exist for women living on the streets and was very thankful for the safe shelter that had accepted her. She avoided our offer to pray with her. But she recounted the abuse she suffered as a child and her current social anxiety, so we were thankful she had been granted the strength to talk to us. Pray for protection and healing for her, as well as for a growing relationship with the evangelists so that we can give witness to the love the true Christ has for her.

“John”, the parking lot attendant, stopped to announce his plans to retire in six months. He also said how blessed he and his wife were feeling about life. He said he still had the Rosary we gave him some years ago, but no longer had the pamphlet on how to pray it. E. Chuck gladly gave him a new one. Pray John seeks eternal blessings with Christ in prayer.

A perhaps 30-year-old man dropped back briefly from his female companion to ask for a brown Rosary (which he seemed to have no trouble telling apart from the dark-reds one, as our older eyes do). Pray he uses to Rosary to develop a vibrant Faith in Jesus Christ.

A man walked directly toward our table, reaching into his front pocket. He then pulled out the thumb-ring Rosary to show us. Praise God for Rosary-praying men! Later, two other men passed by together, also telling us they were Catholic and had Rosaries. Pray they all devote themselves to God in prayer.

A man on a bike yelled that he probably needed a Rosary, so e. Chuck yelled back “Here’s your chance to get one!” The man slowed down and came back to the table to tell us he was a believer, but neither elaborated nor chose a Rosary before riding away again. Pray his faith is in the Triune God.

A trio were going to pass us by, but then the woman asked us where she could “buy a Rosary”. We told her about a local store, but pointed to the table in front of her, full of “free Rosaries”. She selected one for the younger man with her (husband?) and said her son already had one, but she took a second pamphlet for him. Pray this family gathers in faith around the Rosary.

The weather was damp and cold, so not very many people ventured outside. Still, the evangelists gave away 7-10 Rosaries and its pamphlet.

Please pray for us again today? As far as I know, one evangelist is available. 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.

God mediates powerful graces through the Rosary, especially when used reverently in prayer! 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).

March 27, 2022

[Our Unchanging God]  Last week featured changeable spring weather: sunshine alternating with cold wind gusts, snow, and sleet. When the sun came out, so did the people. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

As we were setting up, a homeless man named “Brian” selected a Rosary. He told us he had just finished cancer treatment and was told he was cancer-free. However, fear and constant what-if thoughts were depressing him and tempting him back into drinking. We prayed for him and gave him a Divine Mercy prayer card, encouraging him to unite his suffering with Christ’s. We also encouraged him to keep the Rosary near and use its meditations on Jesus’ life to break the recurrent thought patterns. He seemed to feel more hopeful as he left. Lord, please grant Brian peace, protection, and courage.

The couple from last week who claimed to follow a non-Christian eastern spirituality walked past and the man reminded us of their non-Christian affiliation. But his wife interrupted, emphatically saying, “We don’t believe in any religions!” This seemed to disconcert the man and he hurried her out of earshot. Pray their hearts are softened so they can hear the Good News that there is a God and how much He loves them.

A man, from the same state that e. Chuck’s parents grew up in, stopped twice to chat with him.

The man, still carrying the large flag of a war-troubled country, came by again. Though not Catholic, he had observed Pope Francis’ Ash Wednesday request for prayer and fasting for peace there, and throughout the world. “It was surprisingly difficult,” he said, “but worth it.” Please keep praying for peace.

Three middle-school-aged boys on scooters were hanging around the business park until we got our table set up. When they came over, two of them volunteered that they had received Rosaries from us before and still had them, but admitted they had not tried praying with them. The third chose one for himself. E. Chuck gave them each a Divine Mercy prayer card, letting them know it was a powerful, but much shorter, prayer they could try. Pray these boys, and young people everywhere, respond to God’s grace with faith.

A 20-something couple came to the table. They didn’t know anything about the Rosary, and the man added that he was not religious. E. Lucy assured them it was okay to pray the Rosary even with doubts, using the prayer to ask questions such as, “Jesus, are you real?” E. Chuck explained that the Mysteries of the Rosary are the Gospel story in miniature, and that Christ’s sacrifice was meant to save us from our sins. They listened, barely politely, and accepted a Good News pamphlet. Please pray for their conversion.

A Catholic man stopped to tell us he had just climbed the hill that overlooks the city, and which features a large cross. New to the area, the man had connected with the cathedral parish, but sounded like he wanted to find a parish closer to home. He had his Rosary with him, so just wanted to chat. Thank you, Lord, for faithful Catholics.

A 30-something woman hurried past us, saying she’d stop on the way back, once she “got the girls”. She came back only a few minutes later with two other women, not much younger than herself. “See, I said I’d be back.” She chose a Rosary and accepted the booklet on how to pray it. Neither of “the girls” did. Lord, please grant salvation, safety, and healing to all three women, confirming your pleasure at our praying the Rosary.

Altogether, the two evangelists gave away another 15-20 Rosaries, 5-6 Divine Mercy prayer cards, and 1-2 Good News/kerygma pamphlet.

Please pray for us again today? Ask God to prepare people’s hearts to perceive the reality of God and His Love and their need for Our Savior and His Holy Catholic Church, and that much good fruit for His Kingdom comes of today’s efforts.

God’s love for us is constant. We pray all the people we encounter will turn toward 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).

March 8, 2022

[Families Need Prayer] Last week brought us in contact with quite a few families, some broken or not in unity. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

The husband of a passing middle-aged couple came to the table, while his wife waited some steps ahead. Catholic, they had just moved to the area and had not located a parish yet. We gave them a map, with thumbnail of the local parish churches and Mass times. The man selected a Rosary and thanked us before rejoining his wife on their walk. Pray they join a parish soon.

A college sports team from a neighboring state crowded around the table to select Rosaries. From what we could tell from their jostling and joking, they were all Catholic or at least knew about the Rosary. At least 5 of them accepted a Rosary and its pamphlet on how to pray it. Pray these men stay steadfast in faith.

A 20-something man and woman passed by. Dressed flamboyantly, they loudly declared their allegiance to dark and alien spiritualities. The man has stopped by before, e. Chuck remembered, and is trying to make up his own religion. Lord, have mercy on their souls! A bit later, another couple proclaimed they follow of a non-theist world religion. Lord, lead them to You, the One and only Way, Truth, and Life!

A father with three children, maybe 11 down to 3, declined receiving a Rosary. Then the middle child pleaded for one and the father gave in. All three children chose a Rosary. They were not Christian, so e. Lucy slipped the oldest boy a copy of the kerygma.

Two nicely dressed women in their early 20s stopped at our offer of a free Rosary. “Are they blessed?” one asked. Usually a question asked by a Catholic, right? They were. One, perhaps less familiar with the devotion, also accepted a copy of the Rosary brochure.

A group of about 5 pierced and tattooed teens stopped, greedy for a Rosary. We set them each up with one, pleading with them to pray it, though they didn’t seem to take it seriously. God, help them!

A man went by, carrying a large Ukrainian flag on a 10-foot pole. He declared himself a member of a local non-Catholic Christian denomination known for pacifism. He said he was going to fast and pray on (Ash) Wednesday for world peace because the Pope asked everyone to do so. He seemed surprised that we already knew that.

A non-Catholic Christian mother and adult daughter came to the table. They wanted to get a Rosary for their husband/father because he was Catholic, though they were not. The daughter was hesitant to get a Rosary for herself because she was not Catholic and didn’t know if she should. E. Chuck described the deeply Christ-centered nature of the prayer. Meanwhile, e. Lucy talked with the mother, who had seen Rosaries before, but had no idea what its purpose was. E. Lucy explained the devotion to her, including how the repetition builds muscle memory so she’d always have a prayer handy in case of trouble. The mother selected a Rosary for her husband and the daughter took one for herself. Pray for a unity of faith in their family.

A father with children coming out of the hockey arena let his children select a Rosary apiece. The man said he was not Catholic but his father had been. Then, our visitor told us he had never known his father because he was murdered by his own mother (the grandmother of the man at the table) when our visitor was only a few months old. The man said, “Yeah, that’s my crazy family.” Pray for healing for all broken families.

As he was selecting a Rosary, a 20-something man approached. He told us he was a Catholic, new to the area, but currently attending a non-Catholic Christian megachurch with a friend. He agreed he should return to the Sacraments and accepted a map of area parishes. Pray he has the will to return to the Church.

Yet another father with several small children let his kids select a Rosary but declined one himself. He asked why we were passing out Rosaries, and e. Chuck explained our desire to encourage people to be in deep conversation with God. The father agreed that we needed lots of prayer, and said his family prayed together all the time. Pray God strengthens their perseverance in prayer.

Altogether, the two evangelists gave away 15-20 Rosaries, 2 maps, 2-3 copies of the kerygma.

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.

The family Rosary is a powerful prayer for protection, unity, and peace. So thank you again for your prayers and other support for this apostolate that encourages families to pray together! May God protect and greatly bless you and all those you love!

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

https://streetevangelization.com/team-page/?team-chapter=boise&view-blog=true

February 28, 2022

[Pain not quite hidden] We try to witness the Good News of Jesus Christ to people wounded by our sin-torn world. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

Two women with broken English came to the table for a Rosary. They had a difficult time understanding they were free. Finally, they asked, “How many dollars?” E. Lucy replied, “Zero dollars!” A passing man overheard and also came to the table, in the middle of a video conversation with a man in another part of the world. The women had chosen a Rosary, but when e. Chuck explained that it was about Jesus Christ, they excused themselves and left. The man then picked up the Rosary the women had previously chosen.

A group of older teens stopped. One of the women shook her head when asked if she were Christian, so e. Lucy gave her a copy of the one-page summary of the Good News/kerygma and asked her to read it when she got a chance.

Former visitor “Jax” and a young woman stopped for a Rosary apiece. Jax reminded us that his mother “collects them”. We encouraged him to actually use the Rosary for prayer. The girl seemed sad, nearly to the point of tears, and didn’t say anything.

Walking a pair of rambunctious puppies, a trio stopped and the two men said they were familiar with the Rosary because they learned to pray them in jail. The woman, who was sister to one of the men and girlfriend to the other, told e. Lucy they were grieving the recent loss of their Rosary-praying grandmother, who had been “holding the family together”, and that now they were all struggling. We expressed sorrow for their loss and encouraged them to sit down and pray the Rosary together for peace and to restore the unity they craved. May Our Blessed Mother obtain for them guidance and stability.

Some younger teens on skateboards (except for the boy who forgot his) stopped for a Rosary. They brought with them a broken Rosary they “had found”. It was a distinctive black-and-gold one that we had given away earlier, but now was missing the Crucifix and 4 of the 5 leading beads. The boys all claimed to be Christian, but seemed lacking in reverence. May Our Lord bless and save them!

Another group of older teens stopped when one of them cried out that his grandmother “loved the Rosary!” We set them each up with one, and encouraged the grandson to pray it with his grandmother.

Two parents accompanying a 2- or 3-year-old stopped so the child could choose a Rosary. The child seemed barely old enough to make a choice, and neither parent took one. Lord, bless that family and lead them to You and salvation!

A couple, perhaps in their early 20s and financially distressed, came to the table. The man picked out a Rosary, and stood to the side waiting for her to choose one. She stood still while we told her about the devotion. But she didn’t reply, and her face grew sadder and sadder until she silently turned and went with the man. Pray that God grant her peace and protection in prayer, whatever her circumstances.

We were pleased to see “John”, the parking lot attendant, approaching after a several-week absence. E. Chuck, though, was the one to notice that he was on foot! His back bothered him to stand, but he and Chuck caught up a little. His coworker “Myron”, who nearly died from the worldwide virus, is now out of rehab and back home! So, thank you again for your prayers for both.

There are also some incomplete snippets of memory: the people on the bicycles with the huge (ape-hanger) handlebars, the two boys on skateboards, the guy who grabbed a Rosary out of e. Chuck’s hand as he rode by on his bike, the one guy in the college-aged group that, with the rest of his friends, refused the Rosary the first time they walked by but then he came to the table on their return trip.

A couple of days before this session, E. Chuck had taken a rather dramatic “tumble” from his pickup bed. Luckily, nothing was broken or torn, and the lump on his head, though tender, is nothing more than a lump. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise team! It could have been bad.

Altogether, the two evangelists gave away 20 or so Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as 1 copy of the kerygma.

All Creation has been wounded by sin. We trust that prayer will lead people to the Divine Healer and salvation. 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).

https://streetevangelization.com/team-page/?team-chapter=boise&view-blog=true

February 28, 2022

[Instruments of Grace] We hope God uses us to help bring souls to/back to Him. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A woman in her early 20s eagerly came to the table for a Rosary. She asked e. Lucy, “This provides protection, right?” E. Lucy clarified that the Rosary is not a magic charm, but that it’s God Who protects us when we spend just 15 minutes a day thinking about and being grateful for what He has done for us. May God grant the woman the protection she desires as well as a true love for the Rosary and the One to Whom it leads.

A man hurried by saying, sorry, he didn’t believe in God. “Sorry!” was our response. We then considered how God had made him and was even then holding him in existence.

Two 20-something women came to the table, arm in arm. They each chose a chain Rosary and stood there politely as we explained the devotion, encouraging them to pray it. Lord, save them!

A woman came to the table because Rosaries reminded her of her grandmother. E. Lucy explained the devotion to her, and then also gave her a copy of the kerygma after hearing her refer to believers as “them”.

A woman, accompanying an older man in a wheelchair, turned out to be from e. Lucy’s parish. The man told us the woman had 10 Rosaries for every day of the week. She thanked us for being out there. We asked her to pray the Rosary for us.

Three boys in their early teens declined a Rosary, then one changed his mind. He tried to grab one and go, but we detained him long enough to hand him a pamphlet on how to pray it, and make sure he knew it was meant to draw him closer to Christ. When he rejoined his friends, one of them shouted “all hail [something unintelligible]”. Please pray for their conversion so that their understanding of God goes from mere joke to loving Father.

A couple in their early 30s was passing by. The man declined a Rosary, but said his girlfriend might want one. Sure enough, she did. The man remained uninterested in a Rosary but chatted with e. Chuck about his interest in a sport. E. Lucy spoke with the woman, giving her a copy of the kerygma as well as the Rosary pamphlet.

Two (or three, we’re hazy on the number) young women came to the table but only one selected a Rosary. She knew about it from seeing her grandma pray with one. We explained the how and why of the prayer and encouraged her to surprise her grandma and pray it with her. Thank you, Lord, for your faithful children who, through prayer, bear witness to young people  of the Faith.

A man, who may have overheard us talking to someone else, came to the table without being asked, wanting a Rosary. He said he loved Jesus and appreciated the promise of the Rosary. Mother Mary, pray that his faith in your Son grows in strength and truth.

A couple coming out of the hockey arena eagerly came to the table. He said he was a Catholic, but then described their local non-Catholic Christian megachurch as “catholic”. Ignoring his confusion, we showed them the beauty and goodness of praying the Rosary, which they gladly accepted. Feed Your sheep, Lord Jesus.

Two 12-year-olds came smirking to the table in response to our offer of a free Rosary. One was wearing a black t-shirt featuring a sword-holding monster. They didn’t know what the Rosary was, but knew who Jesus is. So e. Chuck showed how the prayer reviews the life of Christ. By the time we had explained how to use the devotion as a way to grow closer to Jesus Christ, they had sobered up and seemed thoughtful as they left. [Was this perhaps a divinely sent intervention for two souls just stepping onto the wrong path?] Lead all souls to heaven, Lord, especially those in most need of your mercy.

Altogether, the two evangelists gave away 10-12 Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as 1-2 Good News/kerygma pamphlets.

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.

We love seeing the Lord at work out here. 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).

February 17, 2022

Our weekly witness, and even the weather, speaks of the reality of God and His love for each person we meet. 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!

[The Reality of God] Our weekly presence seems jog old memories in those who grew up around believers. We invite them back into relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

Right off the bat, two teenage women in masks came to the table. They each gladly chose a chain Rosary, and accepted its pamphlet and the encouragement to pray it daily. (May God again bless our generous Rosary Makers!)

“Uwe” passed by again on his afternoon walk. He had noticed the pattern that the weather always seemed to be nice on Sunday afternoon, and teasingly said we were causing it. No, it’s caused for us by Him Who does command the weather (so more people venture outside and encounter us). But to Uwe, we just left it at, “No, ha-ha.”

A man in his early 30s came to the table. He knew the Rosary from his Catholic school days, but admitted he was not attending Mass on a regular basis, if at all. He said he missed being at Mass and had joined a non-Catholic Bible study group. We encouraged him in his desire to pray the Rosary and return to Mass, pointing to the Eucharist as God’s offering of Himself that we don’t want to miss. He objected that he works on Sunday. So, we suggested that he plan on attending a Saturday evening Mass.  We gave him a map to area parishes that lists Mass and Reconciliation times. We also gave him a “Reasons to Return to the Catholic Church” pamphlet bundle, and promised to pray for him. Please help us to pray for his return to being an active Catholic.

A man in his mid-20s sauntered jauntily to the table to accept our offer of a free Rosary. He was dressed in black and wearing jewelry with many alien symbols. He told us, though, that he was familiar with the Rosary. Before he left, he asked for a copy of our Dogma of Hell book. May Our Lord use the reality of hell to convince him that choosing a life of evil has unwanted eternal consequences.

A mother with 3-4 children stopped at the table. The mom and at least two of the children chose Rosaries for themselves. The mom, if I recall aright, thought fondly of the Rosary because of a parent’s or grandparent’s devotion.

A homeless man told us we had given him a Rosary before but he had given it away, and asked if he could have another. We said, of course. As he made his choice, we asked if he had tried praying the Rosary. He said he had not. Pray that he lets the Rosary draw him into a deep relationship with Christ.

As a 20-something couple passed by, the man declined a Rosary but the woman wanted one. She had been raised Catholic, but stayed mum about her current status. The boyfriend still didn’t want a Rosary so we encouraged the woman to teach him how to pray with it. Pray that the prayers of the Rosary will bring her into an active Faith that helps draw her boyfriend to Christ.

Altogether, the two evangelists gave away 7-10 Rosaries and its pamphlet, 1 map to area parishes, 1 Returning Catholics packet (containing pamphlets on the Eucharist, Confession, and Reasons to Return), as well as 1 Dogma of Hell book.

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 effort.

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

https://streetevangelization.com/team-page/?team-chapter=boise&view-blog=true

February 8, 2022

[Angry Young Men] Sometimes we are privileged to actually see the effects of God’s grace! So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A man, whom we’ll call “Tony” (St. Anthony, help this lost one be found again!) and who stopped to argue with the evangelists a few months ago, paused again to tell us he didn’t need the Rosary or religion, that he could just go to God himself. He said many other things, but ended by talking about his father and brother being terrible role models, Catholic in name only, and with no change of heart. Plus, he felt scandalized by the negative history of the colonial Catholic missionaries in his home country. A lot of things had tempted him to leave the Church. He ignored all counter arguments, though, and continually changed the subject until even e. Chuck was beginning to get frustrated. Then another man stopped near the table who, as e. Lucy later perceived, was sent to us through God’s permissive Will. The man was carrying what looked like a twelve-pack of alcoholic beverages and his language was filled with foul words. He declined a Rosary, demanding money for food. “Keep your Rosary,” he yelled, “and give me pizza.” He then started to stomp away, but stopped to yell at e. Chuck and “Tony”: “I don’t need a Rosary, I can go directly to God!” Then he stormed out of earshot. Hearing his own objections repeated by this angry, foul-mouthed man, “Tony’s” tone changed. A moment later, he apologized to e. Chuck and wanted to assure him that he wasn’t angry or making accusations about him personally. His mind was not changed about Catholicism but his mood was, and we parted with smiles. Thank You, Lord, for holding that mirror up for “Tony”. Open our eyes to the mirrors You hold up for us.

While e. Chuck was engaged in conversation with “Tony”, e. Lucy offered Rosaries to a mother with 2 young children (aged perhaps 5 and 2). Catholic, the mother gladly accepted our offer. Each of the three chose a Rosary. They had begun to pray the Rosary together, the older boy enthusiastically confirmed, but it wasn’t yet daily. E. Lucy encouraged the mom to make it so. Please pray that she and/or her sons are granted the grace of the daily Rosary devotion, and the peace and protection which God grants through it!

While e. Chuck continued to be engaged in the seemingly fruitless encounter with “Tony”, two strong-looking city policemen on bicycles went by. E. Lucy greeted them, but didn’t want to slow them down by offering a Rosary. One of them returned the greeting. Incongruously, though, the one who responded had the face of a fine-boned Caucasian woman. A decade and a half later, the above encounter with the “hangry” young man happened.

A woman, attending the Remodeling Show that was going on that day in the convention center, stopped. She was happy to see us out there. She had “plenty of Rosaries at home”, but asked for some of our pamphlets. She chose “Marian Doctrines”, “What About Mary?”, “The Problem of Suffering and Evil”, and “Common Objections”. For a reason she doesn’t now recall, e. Lucy also offered her a copy of our “Confession” pamphlet, showing the “self test” (examination of conscience) inside. That opened the conversation! Our visitor told the story of her marriage and her conversion, and her feeling that she still hasn’t been well catechized. She also asked for our prayers for the apostolate she’s involved in: Rachel’s Vineyard (healing for post-abortion parents). The next retreat is May 21. Please pray?

A man and woman stopped. He was Catholic; she was a non-Catholic Christian. We briefly described the Rosary devotion to each of them separately. They each chose a Rosary and thanked us.

Several Catholics assured us they had “lots of Rosaries”, and one man even gave e. Chuck a fist bump and thanked us for being out there.

A Remodeling Show vendor from a mid-Western state was also glad to see us. Actively Catholic, he happily told us that his brother is a priest. Please pray they both stay loyal to the Faith!

A woman declined the Rosary as she passed by, saying “no English”. But, a few steps later, she turned around and came to our table. “Are you Catholic?” she asked. “Yes!” we said. She explained that she was a from a country where, we understood, Catholicism has to stay very much hidden. She gladly accepted a Rosary, but was going to decline the pamphlet because she didn’t read English or Spanish (the two options we had). We pointed out the pictures to go with the Mysteries and encouraged her to look online for the prayers in her native language. She seemed to be happy to try that. Please pray for her to grow in her Faith despite persecution, and that she will also be granted a sincere and deep love for the Rosary. Thank God, too, that we are able to declare our Faith openly in our city!

Altogether, we gave away 5-10 Rosaries and its pamphlet on how to pray it, as well as 1 “Marian Doctrines”, 1 “What about Mary?”, 1 “Common Objections”, 1 “The Problem of Suffering”, and 1 “Confession” pamphlet.

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

God can touch the hearts of even people poisoned against His Church. 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).

P.S. Space limited us to telling only the one story here. For the rest of stories, including a very important prayer request, please visit our website (where they will be posted within the next day or two).

February 8, 2022

[Patience and Perseverance]  It was a bitterly cold afternoon last week, with very little foot traffic. Our one available evangelist was pretty sure he was being taught patience and perseverance! So thank you for your ongoing prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort!

The woman half of a young couple stopped for a Rosary. All she knew about them is that her grandmother used “to use one”. So e. Chuck explained the prayer and gave her the pamphlet on how to pray it. Then she revealed that her mother had died two months ago and she wanted to hang the Rosary on her urn. May her grief turn her mind to her own mortality and her deep need for Christ in her life.

“John” stopped by to show a video of “Myron” walking in rehab. Thank you again for your prayers for both John and his coworker, Myron. And praise God for His great love and merciful healing power!

A man swung close to the table, but then declined a Rosary, saying, “If I touch anything sacred that isn’t mine, it burns my skin.” Pray for his conversion and salvation.

A large Catholic family who attend a local parish stopped for a Rosary, taking only one for someone whose name the evangelist didn’t catch. Pray that whoever receives the Rosary finds peace and protection in praying it.

One of two women passing by declined a Rosary because she “is not Catholic” but, before e. Chuck could assure her it was a prayer for all Christians, her friend decided she wanted a Rosary. The second woman also wanted to know how to pray it. Mother Mary, pray that her love for your Son deepens through this prayer.

A passing college-aged woman pulled a Rosary out of her pocket to show she didn’t need one. Holy Mother, pray for her protection and perseverance in the Faith.

Two men, named “Zachariah” and “Red”, came to the table, but only Zachariah wanted a Rosary. He listened attentively to how to pray it, then asked if the evangelist would put it over his head. Red declined a Rosary because he had “other spiritualities”, but said he was glad we had the table out to encourage prayer. Pray for Red’s conversion and Zachariah’s faith to grow deeper and truer.

Even with very light foot traffic, e. Chuck gave away 4 Rosaries (two chain, two string) and its pamphlet.

Please pray for us again today? Ask that God prepares people’s heart 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.

Some people still need to encounter believers, so thank you again for your prayers and other support for this apostolate! In turn, may God protect and bless you and all those you love!

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

February 8, 2022

[God Calls] The Rosary calls out, “Catholic!”, even when we are silent. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

Praise God that His voice is louder in people’s hearts than our own, because we gave away two Rosaries to two different groups before we were set up or had started offering Rosaries to passersby. Thank you, Lord, for faithful Catholics.

A dad and young son were heading into the sports arena. The dad declined our offer of a free Rosary, but the son headed to our table anyway. We told him no, he had to do what his father said. We repeated it several times before the father caught up with him and dragged him away. Lord, continue to draw that boy to You and teach him to respect his father and learn how much You value obedience.

“John”, the parking-lot attendant, made a special effort to see us. Please pray for him and his wife, “Linda”? They’ve both been very ill for the last month. After the first week, John was able to work but not much else. Today, he was feeling well enough that, though he still drives between garages, he suddenly realized it was Sunday. So he left his pickup nearby, took out his bicycle, and came to see us. He was pale, and slightly out of breath. Lord, please have mercy on John and Linda. Grant them salvation, safety, and healing!

A local Rosary-maker group gave us some Rosaries, one of which—in the local university’s colors—was the first to be claimed by a passerby.

A man and his adult son happily stopped for a Rosary apiece. The son wanted the Rosary booklet in English, but the dad wanted the Spanish-language version.

Lots of active Catholics were happy to see us out there! So thank you again for your prayers after an unusually negative session last time.

One man peeled away from his group of young adults to come get a Rosary. Both he and the group seemed impatient to move on. So, when our visitor said he wasn’t Christian, e. Lucy gave him our one-page summary of the kerygma and asked him to read it when he got a moment. She also encouraged him to pray the Rosary, even if all he had were questions, such as, “Who are You, Jesus?” and “What do You want of me?”

Two women, in their upper teens, stopped for a Rosary. They said they were familiar with it, but their clothes sported many non-Christian symbols. Pray for them that they find the Way, the Truth, and the Life!

A group of young men stopped for Rosaries. When e. Chuck asked one of them if he were Christian, he named a non-Catholic Christian denomination in a mildly challenging way. So, e. Chuck affirmed our brotherhood in Christ and explained the Rosary, emphasizing the meditations on the life of Christ. He also encouraged our visitor to look at Christ with the loving eyes of His mother, and take to heart His words, actions, and sacrifice. Holy Mother, help him see your Son through your eyes.

A Catholic woman chose a Rosary, and then accepted the pamphlet because she didn’t know what the “new additions” were. Lord Jesus, grant she resumes an active participation in the life of Faith in Your Church.

Altogether, the evangelists gave away 15-20 Rosaries, and 1 copy of the kerygma.

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.

Many people think fondly of the Rosary, and God uses that to call them to Himself. 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).

January 16, 2022

[Despite Hostility] Despite hostility and ridicule directed toward Our Lord and His Church, we calmly offer Rosaries and invite people to pray. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

Before we gave away a single Rosary, a passing man said there was another group “just like us” a block away and that we should “get together.” E. Chuck went to investigate but, first, e. Lucy made sure he took a Rosary and pamphlets with him. The first thing said by the two men, pointing at the Rosary in e. Chuck’s hand, was, “Get that thing away from us!” From the disturbing images on their posters and the conversation, it was apparent these men were part of an anti-Christian group steeped in racial hatred. Later research showed it to be the modern, rejected, fringe-of-a-fringe group born out of a cult that began at the end of the 19th century. Though their words were filled with violence and hate, e. Chuck came away unharmed, thanks to the protection of Mother Mary and her Rosary. When e. Chuck returned, the evangelists together prayed a Hail Mary for the salvation of the two men. [And the sky turned the most brilliant blue seen in decades. Thank you, Blessed Mother!] At the end of our session, e. Chuck checked to see if the duo was still there. They weren’t. Blessed Mother, please obtain conversion for these two men and for all who have been lured by false religions.

A partial family (dad and 3 daughters, teenage and under) stopped by the table so the youngest (perhaps 10-11 years old) could get a Rosary. She had no idea what the Rosary is, but her other family members enthusiastically said that they were Christian. So, e. Lucy described the devotion briefly to the stone-faced girl, with everyone listening in. They each ended up choosing a Rosary and receiving the pamphlet and the encouragement to sit down and pray it. Lord, please awaken in that girl a lively love for You!

A woman chose a Rosary, but then gave it back, saying she had her old one at home and didn’t want “to waste” one of ours. She had left the Catholic Church because of the priest scandals, said she sometimes wished she could return, but did not believe the scandal and cover-up was over. We told her the progress the Church has made in creating a safe environment for everyone, and how our need for the Eucharist outweighs other considerations. But she felt confident that she was just as connected with Our Lord on her own. We encourage her to take up the Rosary prayer again, and she did accept the pamphlet on how to pray it. Blessed Mother, obtain for her the grace to forgive, and call her back to your Son’s Church through your Rosary.

Three teenage boys stopped for a Rosary, but the tone of the tallest one was mocking, causing the other two to smirk. In the end, the two followers politely thanked us for the Rosaries and pamphlets as they left. E. Lucy encouraged the other young man to spend time with the Mysteries, even if all he had were questions. Please pray that later, when they examine their Rosaries, that the sight of the Crucifix, and the Divine sacrificial Love on display there, will turn their joking into believing.

An older teenage girl stopped for a Rosary. Evidently, she was one of the group of regular teen visitors we had a few years back. She said that stopping at our table was something she looked forward to when she came downtown. Lord, please draw her to use the Rosary for prayer.

A homeless-looking woman came to the table. She wanted two Rosaries, one for her husband. E. Lucy told her we were asked to only give one per person. Instantly, she became enraged, said Jesus would have given her one, and stalked away, no longer wanting even a single Rosary. Lord, please heal her and save her!

A woman looking for the entrance to a nearby event center chose a Rosary. When asked if she knew what it was, she said, yes, she had gone to Catholic school, implying that she was not an active Catholic now. Lord, bring her home to You!

Altogether, the two evangelists gave away 12-15 Rosaries and its pamphlet.

Please pray for us again today? Please 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.

Hostility and ridicule are sometimes the reaction to the thought of Our Lord and His Church. But, in His Mercy, He’s kept us safe and calm. 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).

https://streetevangelization.com/team-page/?team-chapter=boise&view-blog=true

December 27, 2021

[Prayer Brings Changes] Thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort. God keeps sending us out there.

Although the weather had been bitingly cold earlier in the day, it warmed up and was relatively pleasant during “our hour” last week. Then, at “closing time”, it got suddenly chilly again. God is good!

A professional hockey game was scheduled to start in the ice arena near “our spot”, and people began to queue early. It gave us lots of new visitors. Some Catholics generously offered donations (which we graciously declined, so as not to inadvertently sell blessed items).

Altogether, lots of people accepted Rosaries, although they showed little interest in receiving more than the most cursory explanation of the devotion.

Praise Report: A big thank you for your prayers for “Kelly” and “Candy” from a few weeks past. As you may recall, he’d had get a restraining order against her because of her violence, which in turn was due to her addiction to a very dangerous street drug. Two of you must have agreed in prayer to get the building cleaned up. Property Management suddenly decided to test the whole building and found so much residue from that drug in the common areas, that they evacuated all the residents until the hazardous waste cleanup crew can make it livable again (estimated to be about 2 weeks). May God grant salvation, safety, and healing for every person affected — residents,  management, and cleanup workers!

Altogether, the two evangelists gave away around 20 Rosaries and its booklet, as well as a Divine Mercy prayer card.

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!

We must have each forgotten to ask our Guardian Angel to remind us of details from last week’s session. Or perhaps our notes this time were limited to leave enough time to compose the “praise report”, which I wasn’t able to do last week. 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).

December 19, 2021

[Introducing Jesus] The Rosary and its Mysteries serve as a good summary of the Christian message. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

“Aaron” stopped again. He had a tale of going to the hospital with a seizure and then losing his wallet and backpack on the way back. When asked what he thought of the Hell booklet he chose last time, he replied, “Scary.” E. Lucy chimed in that the Good News is that he doesn’t have to go there. He then told e. Chuck that he had liked the book and thought more people needed to read it. The evangelist offered him a Rosary, knowing he had declined the last two times we saw him. But this time, he accepted! He still declined, though, receiving a How to Pray the Rosary pamphlet. We prayed for the well being of his body and soul before he left. Pray for Aaron as he mourns and weeps through this valley of tears.

“Tyson” stopped again to talk with e. Chuck, but only small talk. “John” arrived before that conversation closed, then stayed and told tales about technology. Again, only secular topics.

Three young women (in their late teens or early 20s) stopped when one of them wanted a Rosary. The three told us excitedly about the “parade” they’d marched in that morning around the Catholic cathedral (an Our Lady of Guadalupe procession) although they didn’t know what it was about. Then e. Lucy talked with one of the young women separately. She didn’t identify as Christian, though she vaguely remembered being introduced to Christianity as a child. She graciously received a copy of the kerygma to “refresh her memory”, and chose a Rosary. One of the other two happily told e. Chuck they’d been to church that morning at a large non-Catholic liturgical Christian church about a mile away. She didn’t, however, consider herself a Christian but believed in Jesus Christ. She and her other companion also chose Rosaries. Pray that, despite their confusion, they are drawn to your Son, most Holy Mother of God.

A couple, perhaps in their late 20s, stopped when the man said he had a Rosary in his car but wanted another one. E. Chuck talked with the man, who had some kind of ministry title with the armed services. He did not know the Rosary was used for prayer. He said he had a cross hanging in his car and wanted one for his desk, so e. Chuck showed him how to use the pamphlet to seek Christ in prayer through the Rosary. Meanwhile, e. Lucy spoke with the woman, who was unfamiliar with the Rosary. E. Lucy described the devotion to her and urged her to pray it every day. The woman listened politely, then said she wanted it for her car. Help them see past the decorative nature of your Rosary, Mother Mary.

A woman walking by with two boys (perhaps 8 and 3), said no thank you. But then she came back because the older boy wanted a Rosary. After he made his choice, his younger brother wanted one, too. We gave his pamphlet to the mom.

Two men were walking by. One dropped back to choose a Rosary. He took the red one out of e. Lucy’s hand, listened perhaps a bit impatiently to the brief description of the devotion, then left.

A boy called to us from across the square, offering us a half-empty bag of Cheetos. (We declined.) He came to the table a bit later to see what we were about. He didn’t know anything about Jesus. So e. Chuck told him the story about how God came to save us. He ended up taking a Rosary and pamphlet, e. Chuck recommending he read through the Mysteries of the Rosary in order to get to know what God has done for him. His friend joined him and each selected a Rosary. Surround them with your prayers, Our Lady.

A man and woman stopped to receive a Rosary apiece. They chose coordinating chain ones.

One man from a group broke away to select a Rosary and said he knew all about it. As he rejoined his friends he held up the Rosary and said with a laugh, “This will make my mom happy.” May he know he has another Mother praying for him, too!

Altogether, we gave away perhaps 15 Rosaries, and 1 copy of the kerygma pamphlet.

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.

The Rosary neatly summarizes the Christian story and message. 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).

https://streetevangelization.com/team-page/?team-chapter=boise&view-blog=true

December 12, 2021

[A Mixed Lot] God loves all people, and we try to nudge whomever we encounter closer toward Him. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

“Uwe”, the now-amiable agnostic, paused as he briskly walked by, but only to talk about the weather. Please continue to pray he finds Christ.

A woman, all smiles, came to the table and, in broken English, thanked us for being there. A Catholic from a country far to the south of here, she was in town to visit family. She remarked that we were the first Christians she had seen professing their faith out in public in America, and she’s been here five months so far. In her country, she said, you see many Christians out evangelizing on the streets. She chose a Rosary and received a Rosary booklet in Spanish. Lord, fill American Catholics with the fire of Faith, that they may point others to You.

The man whom we first saw nearly a year ago, wearing a green evening dress, went by loosely wrapped in a blanket. On the way to where he was going, he snagged the Rosary out of e. Chuck’s hand. On the way back, a few minutes later, he never made eye contact. Lord, You love wounded souls like this. Please grant him salvation, safety, and healing!

A couple stopped, both Catholic. The woman chose a brightly colored chain Rosary, the man chose the one with smoky colored beads. We encouraged them to pray it daily.

A man passing by accepted a Rosary. A non-Catholic Christian, he listened with interest to the explanation of the devotion as being Christ-centered. He also really appreciated the Bible citations for each Mystery. (E. Chuck also recalls a second, almost identical encounter with another non-Catholic Christian man during the session.)

A homeless-looking man accepted a Rosary, but declined the pamphlet as he hurried away.

A man passing by declined a Rosary somewhat angrily. The following  man might have seen that, for he came and politely accepted one, perhaps out of polite charity. He seemed uninterested, though, in the Rosary’s spiritual aspects. May God bless him for his charity and lead him home to You!

People occasionally make remarks as they walk by without stopping:

One woman going by declined a Rosary because she said she worshipped other gods.

Another woman declined because she “wouldn’t use it.”

Two young men (in their late teens or early 20s) passed by. One of them cried out, “God is dead. Long live [unclear—a cartoon character perhaps?].” But to answer his claim: Yes, God died (to save us). But He didn’t stay dead. He rose again on the third day and is alive today!

Please pray for the conversion of these people for the sake of their everlasting souls.

A Myron follow-up: “John” told us that his coworker “Miron” has been transferred from Boise to a rehab hospital in his hometown in eastern Idaho. Thanks again for your prayers!

The sun was shining, but it was quite breezy so, predictably for Boise, not many people were out. Still, we gave away maybe 10 Rosaries and its pamphlet.

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.

Human beings form a mixed lot, but God loves every single one of us and wants us each saved. 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).

December 5, 2021

[Christian Counterculture] The popular culture deceives us with its message to seek comfort always and at all times. The message of the Cross runs counter to that, and always has. But, despite this season of increased emphasis on self-indulgence, some people stopped to talk with us. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A “Wintry Sale” was going on in the convention center near where we set up. Quite a few people came and went from there, but very few of the attendees stopped at our table.

A group of 4-5 teens stopped after a first girl showed interest in receiving a free Rosary. At least 3 other members of the group then also chose a Rosary and listened attentively to the description of the devotion.

Most of the members of another group of 5 or 6 teens chose a Rosary. Please pray all these young people hear and follow the call to salvation!

A man went by, loudly proclaiming his unbelief. The evangelist called back, “Sorry to hear that!” The man laughed. Please pray for him? His salvation is not a laughing matter.

A man carrying a camera stopped. He gladly told the evangelist that he’d started RCIA at a nearby parish. He said he’d become Catholic after he tried to disprove the doctrine of the papacy but, instead, found that the Church has good grounds for the doctrine. The evangelist described the Rosary devotion and encouraged him to try it. He also asked where to find a Catholic bookstore is in the area, so the evangelist gave directions. Please send up a prayer that he becomes a lifelong faithful Catholic!

A couple of people happily said they were already Catholic and had lots of Rosaries at home. I asked them to pray for us!

Another “Myron” update (and, thank you again for your continued prayers!):

Myron no longer needs the tracheotomy opening for a ventilator. They’ve now placed a bandage over the hole until the skin heals. Also, he is down to 3 liters of oxygen. He was to get a PEG feeding tube last Tuesday. Please  keep prayers coming for him to get restful sleep at night so that he is awake and ready for therapy during the day.

Altogether, the evangelist gave away 15-20 Rosaries and its pamphlet. (Pearlized light-pink Rosaries were especially  popular that day.)

Please pray for us again today? Ask God to prepare people’s hearts 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.

“In season or out of season”, we hope to continue to proclaim the Good News of just how much Our Savior loves us and what He has done to save us! So thank you again for your ongoing 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).

December 5, 2021

[Praying for Unity] Last week, we interacted with several groups of non-Catholic Christians, recognizing that our reunion has not yet happened. So thank you again for your  prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

“Aaron” stopped by as we were setting up. You may recall him as the homeless man, from a few weeks back, who asked us to pray about his hurt rib (broken and otherwise untreated) and declining our offer of a Rosary at that time.  This time, when he came to the table, he was upset about just receiving a ticket from the city police. No, he was no longer attending church, he said, because he had gotten into trouble the last time he went. We encouraged him not to give up on the house of God, and took the opportunity to tell him about how and why the Eucharist draws Catholics each week. We prayed for him again, then suggested he take a Rosary and walk to the nearby cathedral where he could sit in the quiet and pray, but he didn’t want one. His eye was drawn, though, to the booklet “The Dogma of Hell”, so we gave him one. Soften his heart, Lord.

The heavyset homeless woman, in the electric wheelchair, stopped again briefly. She complained about having to carry everything with her or else it’d be thrown out. She still expressed no interest in receiving a Rosary or prayer. Please pray for her?

A small but multi-generational family group stopped, all the men choosing a Rosary.

A college-aged couple stopped for a Rosary apiece, proudly proclaiming their Catholicity and allegiance to the local campus’ Newman Center chapel.

A man went by, saying he is “proud to be Protestant”. May God heal the wounds in the Church and bring him home.

A nonbeliever stopped for a Rosary. E. Chuck proclaimed the Gospel to him. (Was it he who took another of the Hell books?)

Two women who did not speak much English enthusiastically accepted a Rosary apiece, though they did not seem to fully understand our questions or encouragements. Yet, after selecting the Rosaries, they crossed themselves and happily went their way. May their enthusiasm for Our Lord spread to all they meet.

A man with some teenagers declined our offer but then, after they had gone past the table, he stopped the group and came back to select a Rosary. An American citizen, his accent was, he said, from Argentina. We asked him what parish he attended. He hesitated, and then told us what town he lived in. He took the Rosary pamphlet saying he knew the prayer better in Spanish, then went back to the teenagers and stood showing them his new Rosary. May Our Lady help him guide his children in faith.

A 40-something couple declined our offer and it seemed they would keep walking by, but then the man paused long enough to say, “I don’t need anything like that.” We replied that the Rosary was a deep meditation into the life of Christ, and that brought him closer to the table. He still declined a Rosary but wanted the how-to pamphlet. Then he asked what we “hoped to accomplish” by giving out Rosaries. We explained we hoped to draw people into a deeper love relationship with Christ, His Church, and their neighbors through prayer and conversation. He said he attended a non-Catholic Christian church in a neighboring city, then he asked about the other pamphlets on the table. We offered him any he wanted but after looking over the titles he declined and went on his way. Open his heart to Your Mother’s love, Lord.

An older couple on bicycles passed. The man was in the lead and gruffly said he wanted “nothing to do with that stuff” but, as his wife passed by, she said she already had a couple of Rosaries. We said a short prayer for her. Later, the man returned to tell us that Rosaries were useless, and that he identified as a non-Catholic reformation-era Christian. E. Chuck replied that he had converted from that denomination five years ago, but the man identified Catholicism solely with scandals of recent decades. E. Chuck challenged the facticity of his statements, but the man just repeated his accusations and rode away. Lord, fill our hearts with forgiveness and love for our neighbors.

Also, another thank you for your prayers for “Myron”, the hospitalized coworker of “John-the-parking-lot-attendant”. John reports that last week he was trying to sing along with Christmas songs, perhaps tunelessly, but still another step forwards! When Myron is more alert, John plans to shock him with, “Catholics have been praying for you!”

Altogether, the two evangelists gave away perhaps 15 Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as 3 of the Dogma of Hell booklets.

Please pray for us again today? Ask God to send people to us with hearts and minds 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!

Painful rifts still exist within Christianity, and we try to be a healing presence. 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).

November 28, 2021

[Gently Nudging] Last week marked the Feast of Christ the King of the Universe and we tried to nudge people closer to Him. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A large Catholic family was in town for the day to celebrate a daughter’s birthday. They each chose a Rosary, saying they loved it. They did, however, seem unsure of the name of the parish in their hometown. We gave the father a copy of our Rosary booklet in Spanish, and encouraged him to have the family pray the Rosary together.   May Our Lady lead them to seek You in the Eucharist, Lord.

Two women chose chain Rosaries as we were setting up.

A group of 20-somethings stopped. The woman said she might be “kind of Christian” but she couldn’t really remember. While e. Chuck explained the Rosary devotion to the two men, e. Lucy gave the woman a copy of the kerygma, which contains the “basic Christian message” to refresh her memory.

With one dog on a leash and another in a baby stroller, two women responded to our offer of a free Rosary. The woman pushing the stroller said she had grown up in a non-Catholic Christian tradition, but had a grandmother who was Catholic and with whom she prayed when she was a child. She now identifies as a non-Christian who believes all religions are true and lead to God. E Chuck challenged her to meditate on the Mysteries of the Rosary and to see that, in sacrificing His Son, God was pointing to one true way to Him. The other woman took a Catholic Bible as well as our booklet on Hell. Guide them in the way everlasting, Lord.

A group of 2 or 3 men, about 30 years old, stopped when one of them wanted a Rosary, wondering what it was. When we extolled the peace, protection, and the deep call to love found in praying the Rosary, he seemed genuinely interested. Then he asked for the “hell book,” laughingly telling his companions he would read it at bedtime. Open the eyes of his heart, Lord.

A man with his hands full came to the table, told us to choose a Rosary for him, then bent low and asked us to put it over his head. Unfortunately, he had hair like Absalom that was much thicker than it looked, and the Rosary wouldn’t go over. May Our Lady encourage him to instead keep the Rosary in his hand and use it for growing closer to her Son!

Two teen boys stopped but only one wanted a Rosary.  The other showed us his cross on a necklace so we asked what church he attended. He did not attend church.  They were moving off, so we encouraged them to get back to spending time with God’s family. May they know they are called to belong, Lord.

1. Chuck also spoke with a man who worked at the jail. He wanted a Rosary, and said the inmates all wore crosses but that he was skeptical of their faith.

Praying as she walked along, “Shirounda” (pronounced “sh-Rhonda”) was our last visitor. She wanted a Rosary and also a Divine Mercy prayer card, telling us a story of once having been helped by one. Baptized Christian, but not Catholic, she had a strong faith in Our Lord, but was eaten up with regrets over things she’d done in the past. E. Lucy gave her a copy of our Confession pamphlet, which has a good self-test for evaluating one’s walk with the Lord, and letting her know that any baptized Christian can seek the comfort of the confessional. She asked prayers for her 17-year-old daughter “Moriah”, who is battling temptations to suicide. Shirounda also accepted a copy of the map to area parishes and the invitation to attend Mass that very evening. She seemed excited about the possibility of doing so. Lord, cover Shirounda and Moriah in Your peace and protection.

Altogether, the two evangelists gave away about 15 Rosaries and its pamphlet, one Catholic Bible, 2 copies of our book on “The Dogma of Hell”, 1 Good News/kerygma pamphlet, one Confession pamphlet, and one map to area parishes.

Please pray for us again today? Please 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.

With only have a moment to interact with people, we hope our presence and encouragement leads them closer to Our Lord Jesus Christ and salvation. 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).

November 17, 2021

[Always New] Souls who are loved by God are being introduced or re-introduced to the Rosary. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

An economically disadvantaged woman with missing teeth stopped when she learned the Rosaries were free. She said (I think) that she was familiar with the prayer (perhaps from childhood), but accepted a copy of the booklet with the Mysteries in it. Then she asked for a copy of our book “The Dogma of Hell” in order to give it to her husband. May God grant the woman peace and protection, and bring them both back to active participation in the Sacraments.

“Cole”, the homeless man who used to walk laps around downtown equal to the day of the month, greeted e. Lucy as she was arriving. He was doing fine, he said. Good to see him out and about again.

A twenty-something couple stopped, the man did all the talking as his girlfriend held back a little. He was not familiar with the Rosary but was Christian. He was surprised to hear that the Rosary is so focused on the life of Christ. Both he and the evangelists encouraged the woman to choose a Rosary, which she finally did as we assured them that praying it together would be a blessing. Pray for this couple's unity and obedience to Christ.

1. Lucy talked with “Kelly”, a victim of an already bruised and bloody level of domestic violence from “Candy”, the woman he’d taken in to save her from the streets. (He’d already been granted a protection order by the courts.) By the end of the conversation, Kelly accepted a Rosary and the booklet on how to pray it. May God grant him the ability to actually do so, and grant him the peace and protection promised to those who pray it reverently. May God also grant Candy freedom from the dangerous drug(s) she's addicted to.

Several people thanked us for being out there.

A man stopped and said he was “kind of familiar with the Rosary”. When asked if he was Christian replied no, he was raised Catholic. We explained that Catholics are Christians, which seemed to exasperate him. Then he admitted that he was just out of jail, and was hoping to get his life together. E. Lucy recommended daily prayer and Bible reading. He showed us his Bible and chose a Rosary. Pray he perseveres in his desire for reform and conversion.

A teenager on an e-bike said, while choosing a Rosary, that he used to hang out downtown a couple years ago with a bunch of other kids on skateboards and had picked up a Rosary then. He dodged the question of whether he had prayed it when he received the first one and was politely noncommittal as we encouraged him to draw closer to Christ in prayer now. Pray he hears the Holy Spirit’s call to faith, hope, and love.

A woman speeding by on a bike slammed on the brakes and circled back to the table, saying she was in a hurry but was wondering about the rosary. She “knew who Christ is” but said she had been “exploring who God is” for a while, leading us to understand she held to no one religion at this time. We assured her that the Rosary prayer would help her see who God really is. Pray she lets herself be led to the Holy Trinity.

We also kind of remember two preteens stopping, but only one choosing a Rosary. Oh, and the family that passed by, the little girl shouting “Wait! I want one”, but her parents saying no. We had some Catholics stop, too, including the Legion of Mary lady.

Latest update on “Myron”:

Myron is OFF the ventilator. Swallowing exercises and getting the tracheotomy closed up so he can eat and lose the feeding tube. Apparently he had a stroke while out so his left side is weak. Gonna need physical therapy for that. But the team is all talking and planning for his recovery now, unlike a few weeks ago.

Altogether, the two evangelists gave away 10-12 Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as one Dogma of Hell booklet.

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

Over the years, this team has set up perhaps 9000 people with the Rosary and encouraged them to pray it. 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).

November 7, 2021

[Praise Report on Myron, etc.] We’re still trying to connect or reconnect people to the Church, so a big thank you for your ongoing prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort!

A Catholic woman stopped who hadn’t yet gotten connected with a local parish and told e. Lucy that she “practices from home”(?!). She accepted a Rosary and the encouragement to pray it. She also accepted a map and directions to a parish near her and the invitation to get reconnected.

Frequent passerby and now occasional visitor “Uwe” stopped. “John-the-parking-lot-attendant”, who was hanging around as usual, monopolized the conversation and talked a long time about his recovery-group pseudo-religion. E. Lucy tried to clarify the Catholic teaching on various subjects. “Uwe” had a problem with the Dogma of Hell booklets we had on the table and accused us of trying to control people through fear. The conversation veered in other directions before e. Lucy could address the issue. Please pray that e. Lucy be granted the backbone and sense of authority to steer the conversations in the direction the Lord wills? And may the Lord continue to draw Uwe and John all the way into His Catholic Church!

A group of 3 young adult men stopped. They seemed to be only nominally Catholic, one of them vaguely remembering his First Communion but then immediately confusing it with Baptism. They each chose a Rosary and received the encouragement to actually sit down and pray it.

A homeless-looking family of three stopped: father, mother, early-teen daughter. They decided to each select a Rosary. The girl chose the black chain Rosary, then the father decided he wanted that one and took it from her, leaving her to choose another. E. Lucy encouraged them to pray it.

Two teenage boys stopped, wanting a Rosary. One wasn’t sure what it was, and wasn’t really sure if he were Christian. E. Lucy gave him a copy of the kerygma as well as describing the Rosary devotion, explaining that when people sit down and try to pray it—even if all they have is questions—they find an unexplained sense of peace and protection. The other boy also received Rosary, kerygma, and Rosary pamphlet.

Regarding “Myron”, the coworker of “John the parking lot attendant” and who is in a long-term hospital due to Covid: John reported that, during the week before last, they expected Myron to be in the long-term hospital for “months and months”. As of last Sunday, though, his need for oxygen has decreased and he was expected to go home in “a month or two”. Then, the day after our last session, John reported the following:

Myron is off the ventilator for hours at a time. Case managers admitted to his wife that he was transferred [to the long-term hospital]  for end-of-life care. Doctors are amazed and cautiously optimistic.

Praise God for His great Love and Mercy! Thank you again for your prayers! Please keep praying for “Myron”?

A man wearing the costume of a totally black carrion bird gave e. Lucy an embarrassed-sounding “no” to the offer of a Rosary, evidently because it wouldn’t suit his costume character. Please pray for him?

Finally, someone with a dog stopped! A man who was wrestling two large dogs came to the table and hurriedly selected a Rosary. He paused just long enough to receive a brief description of the devotion and the encouragement to pray it.

Another Catholic man paused briefly to say that he still “attends Mass online”. Surprised, the evangelist didn’t think to tell him that there’s no longer a dispensation in this diocese from Sunday Mass.

A man dropped back from his two companions to receive a Rosary. When e. Lucy asked if he were Christian, he volunteered that, no, he belonged to a religion that believed in many gods. But Jesus, he said, was one of them and he was okay with that. E. Lucy gave him a copy of the kerygma so he could see the true Christian message, then briefly described the Rosary devotion and gave him the pamphlet to go with it.

Surprisingly, few people were in costume. And, though most of those declined the offer of a Rosary, they were all polite about it! Altogether, the evangelist gave away 12-15 Rosaries and its pamphlet, 2-3 copies of the kerygma, and 2 maps to area parishes.

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.

God is real and He still loves us! 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).

October 17, 2021

[Jesus is Worthy] Some people still don’t know what Jesus offers. We try to let them know. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A group of 13-14 year-old teenage boys zoomed by on skateboards. Then one of them peeled out of formation and came to the table for a Rosary. As e. Lucy was explaining the devotion to the first teen, the rest of the seven came to the table, too. They each received a Rosary and the encouragement to “sit down and try it.”

A heavyset man in an electric wheelchair had accumulated more than 40 years of sobriety. He told e. Lucy that he identified as a non-Catholic liturgical Christian and therefore didn’t use the Rosary. The evangelist explained the Rosary as a tool for growing closer to Christ, and showed him the list of Mysteries and where in the Bible he could find each one. He accepted a Rosary and the encouragement to “sit down and try it.” He also thought all children should be taught the steps of the program that had helped him. E. Lucy countered that teaching them morality in general would be an improvement! He agreed.

At least 4 Catholics, within different groups of passersby, thanked us for being out there. The last ones to stop were a couple in their early 30s. He was new to town, and gladly received a copy of our map to area parishes, and the invitation to attend Mass that evening. The woman stood quietly by.

An older teen, part of a trio of young men his age, stopped for a Rosary. Not sure whether he was Christian, he accepted a copy of the kerygma. The other two teens came to the table, too, to each choose a Rosary. They said they would all read the Good News pamphlet together. Please pray they do so, and are moved to enter a relationship with Jesus Christ, their Savior.

A woman stopped who was accompanying a 6-7 year-old girl. The woman smiled as she passed us the first time, then stopped on her way back. She was already practicing the Rosary devotion daily, but wanted a chance for the girl, who attends a local Catholic school, to visit with us. Neither accepted a Rosary but the girl, excited to see the Divine Mercy prayer cards, told me the story of St. Faustina. May God bless her and keep her faithful to Jesus Christ and His Church. St. Faustina, pray for her!

A 20-something man wearing a large Hawaiian flower in his hair stopped as another couple was finishing up choosing Rosaries for themselves. Our latest visitor wondered aloud if Catholics were “kinda like Christians”. Yes, we’re the oldest form of Christianity, the evangelist replied. He identified as a non-Catholic Christian, but didn’t seem to attend any services. All he knew about Christianity was that “he loved Jesus.” The evangelist quickly explained the Rosary devotion and how it helps people grow closer to Christ. He then not only chose a Rosary, but also received a copy of the kerygma which contains the basic Christian message, a copy of our “Why Be Catholic?” pamphlet, and a map to area parishes. The evangelist then gave him directions to the nearby cathedral and invited him to attend Mass that very evening. It sounded like he considered doing so. Please pray for him?

“John” the parking lot attendant asked for prayers for “Myron”, a coworker in the hospital on a ventilator, and for “Sandy”, the mother-in-law of another coworker, who is also very ill and for whom the medical people have little hope. Lord, show Your great Love and Mercy for Myron and Sandy! Save them, and lead John home to Your Church!

Altogether, the evangelist gave away 15-18 Rosaries, 3-5 copies of the kerygma, 1 “Why Be Catholic?”, and 2 maps.

Please pray for us again today? Ask God to prepare people’s hearts 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.

Jesus Christ is worthy of all our love. So thank you again for your support for this apostolate. In turn, may God protect and greatly bless you and everyone for whom you care!

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

October 10, 2021

[Faithful Catholic Parents]  God offers grace to each soul [cf. CCC 678]. God wants every soul to turn from evil and be saved [cf. Ezek 33:11]. So, we encourage our fellow Catholics to keep praying for their lost or lukewarm loved ones.

A woman, a devout Catholic, dropped back out of a group of three other adults to talk to the evangelist. The woman confided that the college student, who came from a country south of here and is staying with her husband and herself, is only nominally Catholic. He has shown no interest in the Faith. His girlfriend, also with the group, was raised without religion, the mother reported. She had invited the two of them to attend Mass with them that morning, and they did, but their hearts didn’t seem to be in it. Lord, please hear that mother’s prayer and bring both young adults to Faith and salvation!

A man stopped for a Rosary, saying he was familiar with it from his past. He tried to give us a donation but, since we do not accept donations on the street, the evangelist suggested he give it to the poor. “Who?” he asked, looking around the plaza. I suggested the woman in the wheelchair around the northwest corner. He found her, and smiled again as he went past the table, continuing on his way.  Later, the woman passed by several times.  She was the one the evangelist had referred to SVdP the previous week. The woman, though, hadn’t contacted the Society, but said she would “keep them in mind” if she needed help. She again declined the offer of a free Rosary.

A nicely dressed Catholic man, in his 40s or 50s, let the small group with him continue on while came to our table to select a Rosary. Surprisingly, he chose the light pink chain one.

A woman from another Catholic family group also dropped back to visit our table. She wanted a Rosary for her daughter, and chose one that was in the school colors of her college. Blessed Mother, please keep the young woman safe and close to your Son!

Our team member on the street heard “no thank you” more times than not last week. In the resulting lull between visitors, she offered the prayer taught the Fatima children by the Angel of Portugal: “O Jesus, I believe, I adore, I hope in, and I love You. And I ask pardon of You for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope in, and do not love You.” Lord, have mercy on us all!

The evangelist gave away perhaps a dozen Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as one copy of the kerygma.

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

In answer to the prayers of Catholic parents, God may grant the grace of salvation to their children and grandchildren. We’re there to encourage them, 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).

October 3, 2021

[Faith Gained and/or Attacked] The used-to-be-annual rock music festival was taking place in the area surrounding “our business park”. The festival headquarters and check-in point were in the convention center, but the park itself was quiet. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A man walked briskly by, a slight frown on his face. Offered a Rosary, the frown deepened. “No. I attended seminary at one time, but now I’ve grown up.” Lord, heal him and bring him back to his First Love!

A group of three teenage girls stopped because one wanted a Rosary. She listened politely to the brief explanation and accepted Rosary and pamphlet. She seemed unsure whether she was a Christian, so e. Lucy gave her a copy of the kerygma and encouraged her to read it. “It may be the most important thing you’ve ever read.” The other two girls declined receiving Rosaries.

Later on, the same girl came back with two different teenagers. Both of these young women said they were Christian. Each accepted a Rosary and its brochure, as well as the encouragement to pray it. May God bless our young evangelist. Lord, save her and bring her all the way to You and Your Church!

A man stopped to choose a Rosary. He was Catholic, he said, and already familiar with the Rosary, but didn’t have one handy at home. Now he does.

A woman stopped briefly to tell us she’d heard our PSA on the local Catholic radio station in which we asked for extra Rosaries to be donated. She said she had lots for us. We asked her to bring them with her some Sunday.

A woman heading into the music festival’s headquarters in the nearby conference center stopped when e. Lucy offered her a Rosary. “No,” she said, “but thank you for bringing the Light out here”. May God bless her.

A non-Catholic Christian man stopped because, he said, his Catholic wife was always trying to get him to pray the Rosary. Once he discovered the Rosary was a tool for deepening our relationship with Christ, he chose one. Then he paused and asked for a second one for his wife, who was a block or so away at the music festival. “Have her pray it with you”, e. Lucy suggested. “I was just thinking of that!” the man replied. May Our Blessed Mother draw him all the way home in the Catholic Church!

”Matthew”, a 20-something, non-Catholic Christian, who was recently assigned to a nearby military base, asked us to pray for him. Lord, grant him Faith, salvation, safety throughout his tour of duty, and a safe return home afterwards.

A woman with an overseas accent stopped (possibly there for the music festival). She was an unbeliever, but left with both Rosary and pamphlet and a copy of the kerygma. E. Lucy still encouraged her to pray the Rosary, even if all she had were questions such as, “Are you real, Jesus?” and “What do You want of me?”

A man with an accent from the eastern coast of our country stopped. He was Catholic, but needed a Rosary because he’d been feeling called to start praying it again.

Please pray for e. Chuck’s friend “Shawn”, who has a heart condition and who is on a two-week hunting trip.

A college-aged man broke away from his group to choose a Rosary. He is  Catholic but admitted he didn’t make time to pray the Rosary. He hoped that having an extra one in his car would remind him to pray. May the Spirit continue to call him into a deeper prayer life.

A passing couple declined a Rosary and the woman, without making eye contact, said she didn’t believe in God’s existance. They did not stop for conversation. Open the eyes of her heart, Lord.

“John” the parking lot maintenance man stopped for some conversation and told stories of his difficult recovery from addiction. No follow-up on last week’s conversation about Truth. May his knowledge of his brokenness lead him to Christ Jesus.

A man on a bicycle passed us, then made a U-turn and came back to the table. He is a non-Catholic Christian and was open to praying the Rosary. When we wished him God’s blessings, he responded, “I have been blessed and He continues to bless me.” Thank You, Lord, for his confidence in Your love.

A greater than usual percentage of passersby were not interested in, or even vaguely hostile toward, Christianity – perhaps as a result of the music at the festival. Still, the evangelists gave away perhaps a dozen Rosaries and several copies of the kerygma.

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.

Faith can come through hearing; but faith can also be stolen. “Take care how you hear!” (Luke 8:18).  The stakes are high. So thank you again for your prayers and other support for this apostolate! In turn, may God protect and bless you and all those you love!

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

September 28, 2021

[Countering “Spiritual, not Religious”] Foot traffic was light, but that gave us opportunity for several extended conversations. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

As we were setting up the table, two men in their 20s asked what we were doing. “Sage” and “Hunter” were interested in religion though Hunter was agnostic and Sage was “spiritual, not religious.”  Sage believed “religions form a barrier to God” because, he said, they were merely manmade. He believed his own pantheism was the real thing. When e. Chuck gently pointed out that his own professed belief was manmade, he broke off from our conversation and went over to talk to “John”, the parking lot attendant, who had been listening in and making occasional wry comments. Hunter, though, then kept e. Chuck engaged with lots of questions. He was shocked to learn of the Incarnation, had never heard of the Triune God, and could not wrap his mind around the reality that God was not just another part of the universe. When he admitted that he was “a little drunk”, it explained his difficulty holding onto any single thought. We don’t know what John and Sage were talking about but, as you will hear, it seems their conversation emboldened John to later share his own “spiritual but not religious” beliefs. Both young men chose a Rosary. We also gave Hunter an “Existence of God” pamphlet and Sage a “Good News”/kerygma pamphlet . We told them we are there each Sunday, and invited them to come back and talk anytime. Please keep these young men in your prayers.

After Sage and Hunter left, “John” drove his motorized chair around to face e. Chuck and express his belief that all the world’s religions point to the same goal and simply represent different paths to heaven, and any disagreement between religions just discourages others from seeking God. He even told us a lengthy allegorical story that he’d made up to illustrate his beliefs . E. Chuck countered John’s assertions by sharing his own allegorical story: Imagine a family in which the parents taught each child separately how to do the dishes. The first was taught to load the dishes in the dishwasher unrinsed, and heaped randomly. Another was told to pre-rinse and load them precisely. Yet another was told to avoid the dishwasher and wash everything by hand. And the last child was told to simply let the dog lick everything clean. But each child was also privately instructed that their way was the ONLY right way, and there would be dire consequences if they tried to wash dishes any other way. Now, when all four kids are sent to clean up after a large meal, imagine the fight that happens. But the conflict is not their fault. The blame lies with the parents who, displaying no love at all, merely used the children for their own amusement. One may claim that all four ways lead to the same thing, clean dishes, just by different paths. Yet, the existence of different paths reveals unloving, cruel parents who are not the least interested in family unity. Such is the god of the “all religions are the same” school of thought: an evil trickster god whose creation is merely a plaything. This is not the God of Christianity, Who is a loving parent, Who entrusted to His children a single and glorious path to Himself, Who sealed His promise with the sacrifice of His own Son, and Who shares His very Spirit with us. All other claims of another way to God do not find their source in Him. May John know he has a loving Father who wants to draw him into the unity of His family, the Church.

A very heavy-set woman in a wheelchair asked for help with her homeless situation. E. Lucy referred her to SVdP, described how their process works, and encouraged her to be patient for the day or two it would take for them to begin helping her. She wondered where a warm place was to hang out during the daytime, when shelters are closed. The evangelist showed her a map  of area parishes and encouraged her to go to the cathedral a few blocks away, since its doors are open on Sunday. She declined receiving a Rosary.

A man stopped for a Rosary. Perhaps he did so simply out of charity, since several whole groups of people in front of him had all told e. Lucy no. He said he was familiar with the Rosary, so she encouraged him to pray it daily.

A man pushing a toddler in a stroller told us he had gotten a Rosary from us previously. When e. Lucy asked if he had learned to pray it yet, he said no. So, she encouraged him to find a video on the internet and follow along, in order to get the rhythm of it. He said he would.

As we were all leaving, “John” came back by, and told e. Chuck he couldn’t quite believe there could possibly be “a Truth with a Big T”. But when e. Chuck pointed out the logical fallacy of categorically saying, “there’s only truths with a small t”, he danced around the issue. His belief is based on feelings. E. Chuck encouraged him to bring it up next week.

The weather was gray and mostly overcast, although it stopped drizzling during our session. (Thank You, God!) Predictably for Boise, then, foot traffic was very light.

Still, we gave away 10-12 Rosaries and its pamphlet, 1 Good News/kerygma pamphlet, and 1 Existence of God pamphlet.

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.

God makes times for extended conversations when needed. 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).

September 19, 2021

[God Save our Culture] From the midst of the Chaldeans, God called Abraham.  So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort. One evangelist was available.

The name of the former-atheist-turned- nature-worshipper is “Uwe” (pronounced, “OO-vay”). Please continue to pray for him to find the One True God?

There was an alternate-lifestyle-affirming event at the statehouse a couple of blocks northeast of us, as well as a big (formerly annual) art fair in a city park a few blocks south. So, lots and lots of foot traffic passed by “our spot”. Concerning the first event, I saw very few public displays of affection compared to other times. Plus, only one person seemed to be suffering from gender confusion, as compared to numbers from even last Spring. I pray the fad is passing. Still, lots of people were carrying colorful striped flags, as well as a few who carried one composed of a confusion of gray stripes. I made sure our Rosaries weren’t in strict rainbow order.

A group of 6 or 7 older teens stopped at the word “free”. Between them, they claimed my entire week’s allotment of chain Rosaries (of which I had been planning to lay two or three on the table). They hurried off before I could describe the Rosary devotion or give them the pamphlet on how to pray it. I did hand a handful of the pamphlets to the last teen and ask him to give one to each of the others. Seeing them move away, I don’t think he did. Perhaps his position was too low in the group’s pecking order. Please pray for him?

A “used to be Catholic” man and accompanying woman stopped when I asked what special event was going on. He explained the lifestyle-affirming gathering and even chose a Rosary, for old times’ sake. He still identifies as Christian and agreed that our culture needs prayer. The woman, a nonbeliever, declined receiving even the one-page kerygma. Lord, grant they find the fullness of Faith in the Catholic Church.

A group of about 4 women, late teens or early 20s, stopped. None identified as Christian. One said she didn’t really believe in God anymore, but showed interest in our “Existence of God” pamphlet, once I suggested she might want to read some of the ancient arguments on that subject. She also accepted our one-page summary of the kerygma. Three of the women chose a Rosary.

A woman paused long enough to ask if we “believe in <an alternative form of> marriage”. When she received a negative response, she moved on without accepting a Rosary. Wish I had thought faster and offered her our pamphlet on, or had at least summarized, the Catholic teaching on the issue. Another woman went by, calling out that she “couldn’t be Catholic” because she identified with her disordered inclinations.

A seemingly financially down-and-out couple stopped for a free Rosary apiece. She also snagged our only copy of a Catholic Bible. I suggested she start reading with the Gospel of Mark. She sat in her wheelchair across the walkway from me, holding up a cardboard sign (“homeless and pregnant, anything helps”). I didn’t notice anyone stopping. The man sat at a picnic table near her. As the couple closed up shop over there, they came and asked for Rosaries for two other people they knew. I told them we’re here every Sunday afternoon and suggested they send them to us. Please pray for them?

A man, also carrying a panhandling sign, passed our table. In response to my offer of a free Rosary, he shook his fist at the sky and cursed. Please ask God, in His Mercy, to grant the man repentance, forgiveness, and salvation.

Altogether, the evangelist gave away 25-30 Rosaries and its pamphlet, 5-6 kerygma, 1 “Existence of God” pamphlet, and 1 Catholic Bible.

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.

Lord, have Mercy! Thank you again for your prayers and other support for this much-needed apostolate. In turn, may God protect and greatly bless you and all those you love!

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

September 12, 2021

Although Catholics and other believers feel encouraged when they see us, there are still many who have completely lost their way. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

As we were setting up, a man on a bicycle, “Tony”, stopped to look over the few Rosaries we were beginning to set out. He had just been to (a non-Catholic Christian) church for the first time since his recent “fall off the wagon”. At the service, the sermon was on forgiveness and spoke to his situation. He acknowledged he got in trouble again shortly after his life started going well, he became overconfident, and then broke his habit of regular prayer. Soon, he was “making bad choices” again, and ended up “homeless and riding around on a bike.” He was receptive to our encouragement to find a quiet place and pray the Rosary. He also wanted a copy of our pamphlet on Suffering. Pray for  Tony, that he will persevere in living out his faith in Jesus.

An extended Catholic family had rented one of the convention centers in the business park for a wedding, which included Mass. At least 10 of the out-of-town family members (in groups of three or four) came to our table. A few of them chose a Rosary, since they didn’t have one with them, but all of them thanked us for being there. May God bless their entire family and keep them close to Our Lord!

A man and teenage daughter stopped, who were non-Catholic Christians. E. Chuck explained the Rosary devotion to the father, while e. Lucy talked to the daughter. The daughters’ face froze into a polite smile at the mention of Jesus Christ, and she stepped back and away as soon as possible. May God touch her heart!

All but one member of a large family group refused our offer of a free Rosary. The exception was a pre-teen girl at the end of the crowd who wanted one. Her mother gave her permission to choose a Rosary. The girl wanted us to know that her church had presented her with her first Bible the previous week, news her mother was unaware of. We encouraged her to read a little bit every day, maybe starting with the Gospel of Mark. Fill her heart with your Word, Lord!

Several other family groups went by, each having four or more children as well as both parents. We always see that as a sign of the Holy Spirit at work! A couple of the families allowed one of the children to come get a Rosary. May that Rosary in the household serve to bring the whole family to Jesus Christ and salvation!

A man went by. When offered a Rosary, he paused long enough to show us the one he carries in his front pocket! May God bless him and keep him faithful!

A monk from a vibrant local community walked by, accompanied by another man. Offered a Rosary by e. Chuck, he laughed and showed him the 20-decade one he wears on his belt.

The man who was once an atheist and is now a theist (need to find out that guy’s name) stopped to tell us that God is a woman and that the writers of the New Testament changed Jesus’ words to reflect their male-dominated culture. E. Chuck countered that there was no historical evidence for this theory, that women are not pushed aside in the Bible and, in fact, held important roles, and that the most revered human in the Church is a woman named Mary. He merely repeated his assertion and moved on. Thank you for drawing him out of unbelief and into belief, Lord. We trust You to guide him to the Truth. May he follow Your lead.

As we were packing up at the end of the session, a man on a homemade motorized bicycle stopped and asked if we remembered who he was. Thanks be to God, e. Chuck got a nudge from On High and remembered his name is “Tyson”. He was dressed better and looked healthier than the last two times we’ve talked to him. Tyson still wanted to promote his theories about the perfectibility of humanity through mere material improvement. E. Chuck agreed that humans can indeed grow in virtue and holiness but only as a gift from God, and only by cooperating with God and in imitation of his Son. What a human is meant to be is only realized in relationship with God and is not a self-made project. Pray that Tyson has an encounter with the living God!

Altogether, the evangelists gave away 35-45 Rosaries, 2 copies of the kerygma, 2 maps to area parishes, and one copy of our “Problem of Evil and Suffering” pamphlet.

Please pray for us 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.

Jesus Christ is the true way to human flourishing and holiness! 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).

September 5, 2021

[Surprised by God's Grace] Sometimes, we feel surprise when certain people respond positively to the Rosary. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort!

A young man, late teens or early 20s, stopped by, still dressed in his fast food uniform. Offered a Rosary, he replied that he didn’t know anything about it and volunteered that he identified as a member of a major non-Christian theistic religion. E. Lucy pointed out that his holy book spoke respectfully of both Jesus and Mary. That seemed to open him up to hear what else we had to say. She asked him to read our one-page summary of the Christian Faith (so he would know what we believe about Jesus when we pray the Rosary), and then she went on to describe the Rosary devotion to him. Borrowing from the promises received by Bl. Alan de la Roche, she told him that many people find peace and protection when they sit down and use the Rosary, if only to ask questions about Jesus. He then gladly accepted a Rosary and the pamphlet on how to pray it. Pray he has an encounter with the Son of God!

A group of four young Christian women in their late teens stopped. When we explained the Rosary to them, they expressed a (somewhat incredible) amount of enthusiasm. Then they each chose a Rosary. As they left, one of them asked God to bless us. They again enthusiastically greeted us a bit later as we headed to our respective cars. Lord, keep them safe in You!

Two pairs of homeless women stopped. One group of two seemed as if they had been down and out for a long time. The younger of them, not practicing any faith, listened attentively as e. Lucy described the Rosary and told her how people had gotten their lives back on track after committing to pray the Rosary every day for a month. Her eyes suddenly showed some hope! Meanwhile, e. Chuck chatted with the older woman, who also took a Rosary as well as a map to local parishes. The other pair of women didn't look so financially down, but e. Lucy got the sense that they were on the street, too – perhaps among Boise’s “working poor”, since the cost of housing has gotten so out of hand here. These women also chose a Rosary apiece and indicated they would try to pray it. Please pray for God’s grace and healing for all four of them? Homeless women are especially vulnerable!

A bearded homeless man stopped when offered a Rosary. After choosing one, he opened the top of his duffel bag and asked the evangelist if she knew any women who would like a dress. (No.) He'd been dumpster diving, he told her. Lord, renew his life in Your Son!

A little girl on a scooter watched us with curiosity as we set up the table. Her eyes taking in all the colorful beads, but she did not come to ask about them. As she rode around, she kept getting closer and closer. So finally, e. Chuck asked if she wanted a Rosary. She shrugged, so he asked if she knew who Jesus was. She shook her head no and rode away, not coming near the table again. Lead her to your Son, Mother Mary!

Altogether, the two evangelists gave away 12-15 Rosaries and its pamphlet, 1 copy of the kerygma, and 1 map to local 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 efforts.

We pray we invite each person who passes by to develop their relationship with Jesus Christ through the Rosary. Some people say they will! 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).

September 1, 2021

[God Runs to Meet Us] We’ll offer a Rosary to anyone, even if they seem to have lifestyle barriers between them and Christianity. We trust Our Lady to lead each priceless soul to her Son and salvation. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A man and woman came to the table. She identified as Catholic and chose a Rosary. E. Chuck set her up with the Rosary pamphlet. Meanwhile, e. Lucy offered a Rosary to the man, who finally chose the pink cloisonné one. When the evangelist asked if he were Christian, he hesitated, then said he didn't want to talk about religion. So e. Lucy described the Rosary devotion, telling him that people have experienced an unexplained sense of peace when they try to pray it, even if all they have is questions, such as, “Are you for real, Jesus?” and “What does it mean when they say You love me?” Surprisingly, the man agreed to try it.  Blessed Mother, bring him safely to your Son!

An extended family, 3 adults and 7-10 children (they gained 3 more members between the first and second time we saw them). The man said he “used to be Catholic”, but now attended a non-Catholic Christian denomination. Still, he thanked us for “being out here”. E. Chuck told the family a story about his brother. During that time, two of the younger children became more and more fascinated with the Rosaries. The father had said no a couple of times, but he finally relented and they each chose a colorful Rosary. On their behalf, the father accepted the pamphlet with its colorful pictures of the Mysteries. Lord, may Your Mother  soften his heart toward the Church and let the little children lead him back into Your fold!

A couple, perhaps 30 years old, stopped. The woman was Christian, but the man was not. E. Chuck explained the Rosary devotion to the woman and she accepted a Rosary. E. Lucy told the man some of the Rosary promises published by Bl. Alan de le Roche, and he chose a Rosary as well. E. Chuck then made sure he received a copy of the kerygma.

A 20-something man on a skateboard zoomed straight across the business park to our table in order to receive a Rosary. We tried to explain the devotion briefly, but he seemed impatient to leave.

Two Catholic women went by, claiming to have “lots of Rosaries”. When we asked if they'd be willing to let us have some of their extras, they said they were from out of town and didn't have them with them.

May God bless all of you who are hearing our Public Service Announcement on our local Catholic radio station and sending e. Chuck your extra Rosaries!

Two young adults and their mother stopped when the 20-somethings wanted a Rosary. They each chose one, listened to a brief explanation of the devotion and the encouragement to pray it, and accepted the pamphlet. Then we urged the mom to choose one, too, to lead the others in prayer, since she already prayed it. She happened to choose the one with the blessed St. Benedict medal and was thrilled when e. Lucy pointed that out to her! I guess she was the one who was supposed to receive it, since we'd had it on the table for several weeks with no takers, plus she understood what she had received. God is good!!!

A man accompanied by his preteen son stopped. He wanted a Rosary to hang in his car. He paused impatiently while we urged him to actually pray it, but didn't seem interested in doing so.

The man from a passing couple came to the table, while she stayed back. He was not familiar with the Rosary, was not Christian, and yet he chose a Rosary. E. Chuck gave him a quick explanation of Who Christ is and of the power of prayer, as well as copies of the Good News/kerygma  and Rosary pamphlets. May they have an encounter with their Savior!

A young man who had been sitting at a nearby picnic table with a friend ran up to us unbidden (no doubt having heard our repeated offers to passersby). He was a Christian but didn't know about praying with the Rosary, so e. Chuck explained its power. He returned to his friend carrying Rosary and pamphlet. May the peace and protection of praying the Rosary surround him.

A couple, late 20s or early 30s, stopped. They were not religious (or not Christian?) and were in town to look for housing, since he had a job offer in the area. As they were leaving, the woman revealed that she had breast cancer, and we promised to pray for her. She picked out a Rosary (not sure he did) and took Good News/kerygma and Rosary pamphlets. God, please grant them faith and healing!

A large, two-family group declined the free Rosary, but later some of them came back to each choose one. E. Chuck joked around with the ones standing at a distance hoping to draw them closer, while e. Lucy busily handed out Rosaries and pamphlets.

Altogether, we gave away 20-25 Rosaries, at least 3 copies of the kerygma,  and 1 map to area parishes.

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

Even people who seem far from a devout life seem attracted to the Rosary! So thank you again for your prayers and other support for this apostolate! In turn, may God protect and bless you and all those you love!

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

August 22, 2021

[Evangelizing through Relationship] Most of our encounters last for less than a minute, but sometimes God grants us the opportunity to evangelize through a developing relationship. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort. One evangelist was available.

Frequent visitor “John” came and stayed the whole session. His stepdaughter, “Tara”, for whom you have been praying, has now been released from the hospital. John says that she was euphoric from her newfound sobriety, but wasn't yet connected with an ongoing support group. Please pray for her? John and e. Lucy talked a bit about the universal challenge of discerning God’s will. E. Lucy also had a chance to explain how common it is, even for people who’ve had very clear experiences of God’s intervention, to forget and go back to their old way of life. She explained that it is one of the main reasons the Catholic Church requires weekly Mass attendance: we forget. This was the most God-based discussion I’ve had with John. Please continue to pray for his conversion?

Do you remember homeless “Michael”, who asked me to repair a very old Rosary, and who joined us in a recent prayer novena? John says he was around only another 2 days (coinciding with the end of novena), then hasn’t seen him since.

A group of teens came by. One was worried about treating the Rosary respectfully. Others, not so much. About 4 out of the 7 accepted a Rosary and the pamphlet on praying it. May they be drawn to the devotion and be converted fully to Jesus Christ, their Savior.

Two women stopped. One chose a Rosary, already familiar with it, but acknowledged she needed to start praying it.

Another repeat visitor, homeless “Josh” (but more or less sober this time), stopped for a Rosary. He wanted 5 or 6 of them, indicating a family sitting nearby at a picnic table. “Have them come and choose their own,” was e. Lucy's suggestion. He simply chose one Rosary for himself, then walked off. As he passed the family, neither acknowledged the other. Pray for him? I don’t know what it is about the homeless wanting multiple Rosaries these last few weeks – hope they aren’t using them as trade goods again.

Altogether, I gave away 7-10 Rosaries and its pamphlet.

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

Instant conversions are not often trustworthy because, should a person quickly and unthinkingly choose Christ, the same person often just as quickly turns to something else. So thank you again for your prayers and other support for this apostolate, and its sometimes slow progress. In turn, may God protect and greatly bless you and all those you love!

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

August 22, 2021

[More than Mere Appearance] We had three separate visitors from the same look-alike non-Catholic denomination. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A man with very broken English came to ask for a Rosary. As he was making his choice and receiving the pamphlet on how to pray it, a man who looked and dressed very much the same came and also wanted a Rosary. They left together. Later in the session, the first man came back and wanted another one, "for Madame", but the rest of what he spoke didn't seem to be either English or French. E. Lucy decided no, so he ended up changing his first-choice Rosary for one with slightly fancier beads.

A large family came by, already Catholic, and each chose a Rosary. E. Lucy encouraged them to pray it together as a family.

A non-Catholic liturgical Christian doctor and his wife, from a state east of here, at first declined receiving a Rosary, but then the man came to the table to thank us for being there. He bemoaned the lack of faith to be found in the United States. (They had come through Boise on their way to/from a small town west of here to purchase a descendent of their prize dog that had suddenly died.) After we spoke awhile, he said they were non-Catholic liturgical Christians, but had "nothing against Catholics". Finally, he chose a Rosary after being surprised to hear the prayer is Christ-centered. E. Lucy urged him to get his church group to pray for his city where he saw so little faith. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers.

“Jackson”, a 20-something man on a bike, carrying a half consumed bottle of alcohol, and who attends a local university, came to the table unbidden. He asked about the Rosary. He is a non-Catholic Christian  and accepted e. Chuck’s explanation and encouragement to pray the Rosary. But then he asked the difference is between Catholics and his liturgical denomination. E. Chuck explained his journey from that denomination into Catholicism, then handed him a "Why Be Catholic" pamphlet. He asked some questions about sin before moving on. Pray that his friendship with God is repaired.

Too soon to tell if the recovery program is going to stick this time with "Tara", John's stepdaughter. No sign of Michael, the homeless man who wanted his Rosary repaired.

Two men came to the table, interested in our FAQ pamphlets. One is a strong Catholic and is trying to lead his non-Catholic Christian friend into the Catholic Church. They had already sought out the RCIA program at the nearby cathedral. They ended up taking "Common Objections", "Praying to the Saints", "What About Mary?", and the "Good News"/kerygma pamphlet. They also accepted our last copy of our map to area parishes. They each also accepted a Rosary, its booklet, and the encouragement to begin praying it.

Several people stopped only for a Divine Mercy bookmark/holy card. This was unusual, but welcome.

A 26-yea-old man named “Chris” had just skateboarded 20 miles to get to downtown Boise. He came to the table to receive a Rosary and hear what it was about. He had not been to church or thought about God in years, but had recently felt an urge to figure out the "faith thing".  Just two days prior to his visit to our table, he had prayed for the first time in years. He wanted to just study things for a while and not go to church, so we offered him a Catechism but he had nowhere to carry it for the long trip back home. So we returned to encouraging him to explore the life of Christ through the Rosary. Pray that Chris will continue to listen the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

A woman with a little girl declined our offer with an emphatic, "no, I would not". But the little girl held back, looking at the table. So, the woman relented and brought the girl over. As the little girl looked over the Rosaries, e. Lucy asked if they were Christian. No. E. Chuck talked with the adult, who said her mother had been a devout Catholic but had passed away some years ago. The woman said she had her mother's Rosary still, but it was only as a keepsake. E. Lucy gave the little girl a Good News/kerygma pamphlet. Pray that the little girl's attraction to the Rosary turns into a growing faith that pulls the adults in her family along as well.

Altogether, we gave away 15-20 Rosaries and its pamphlet, 3-4 copies of the kerygma , one copy each of “Common Objections”, “What About Mary?”, “Why Be Catholic?”, and “Praying to the Saints”, as well as 4-5 Divine Mercy bookmarks, and a map to area parishes.

Please pray for us today? Ask that God prepare people’s hearts 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.

Appearances can be deceiving, but the Catholic Church has remained true to the Traditions handed down from the Apostles. We invite people to take a closer look. So thank you again for your ongoing 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).

https://streetevangelization.com/team-page/?team-chapter=boise&view-blog=true

August 9, 2021

The Holy Spirit leads into all Truth. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A woman, perhaps late 20s to early 30s, came directly to our table with a question. Raised Catholic, she had not been practicing her Faith since her teens. But now suddenly interested in religion, she is a seeker. She asked why we use the masculine pronoun for God. Evidently e. Lucy’s sharing the basic Catholic teaching on that satisfied her because she took a copy of the Catechism with her. She prefers audio books, but e. Lucy showed her the exhaustive index and told her how to load the relevant section onto her computer and have it read aloud. She also pointed out the footnotes, where she can do as much in-depth research as she likes to find out why the Church teaches one thing and rejects alternatives. E. Lucy may also have given her a map to area parishes and invited her to get reconnected.

A rather thin, older man on a bicycle, who always wears a helmet, slowed down and stopped at our table. E. Lucy hadn't offered him a Rosary because she thought he was one of those who always angrily declined. But he volunteered, "I would like to get a Rosary today." She set  him up with Rosary and pamphlet, but was too surprised to carry the conversation further.

An argumentative man, who has come by before, stopped to confront e. Lucy. He had a problem with both the very concept of history and with the title "Christ", perhaps confused by too much modern “scholarship”. When e. Lucy declared the historicity of Jesus Christ and that He is risen from the dead and is alive today, the man pointed out that she’d used the words "history" and "Christ". Then he said something else that might as well have been word salad. He asked her if she understood. "No." He kicked his bicycle into gear and said, "Then I hope someday you do." May God forbid! Pray for him, please? He seems to have been poisoned against the proper use of all reason.

Three older teens stopped. One was Christian. E. Lucy gave a copy of the kerygma to the other two and encouraged them to sit down and read it. Then they each chose a Rosary and accepted its pamphlet. They left snickering. Blessed Mother, lead them to your Son!

Two 20-something women passed, declining to receive a Rosary. As they passed in one direction, a nicely dressed 40-ish man was coming from the opposite way. Offered a Rosary, he smiled broadly and said he had lots of Rosaries!

A woman of non-Catholic liturgical Christian background stopped. She was curious about the Rosary, and when e. Lucy assured her that some members of her denomination pray it, she accepted one and its pamphlet. As she was leaving, she said her boyfriend was Catholic but was in prison. Wouldn't he be surprised, she said, to find out she was praying the Rosary for him?

A Catholic woman stopped. She didn't accept a Rosary because she already had many of them. E. Lucy took the opportunity to ask, if she could possibly spare some, that she bring some of her extras to us.

Homeless "Michael" did not come by to get his repaired Rosary, but "John" the parking lot maintenance man escorted e. Lucy to where he was sitting. He casually accepted the Rosary and e. Lucy ducked his proffered hug, backed up by John. John then towed our wagonload of supplies with his electric vehicle to her car. As a parting comment, e. Lucy let John know we were praying for his family. He brightened up and was very grateful. Then he asked for prayers especially for "Tara", the problem child. She evidently made a suicidal gesture last week and has ended up in a mental health facility. May God grant the treatment protocol "takes" this time, and that peace and health is granted to John’s entire family!

Altogether, the evangelist gave away 15-20 Rosaries, 2 copies of the kerygma, 1 copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and 1-2 maps of area parishes that list Reconciliation and Mass times.

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

After repeatedly declining the Faith, sometimes for years, hearts can still be opened by the Holy Spirit and given another chance. 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).

August 1, 2021

Still introducing the Rosary as a way to grow closer to Jesus Christ. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

“Michael”, the homeless man who wants to evangelize with us, stopped by. He dropped off his “grandmother's old Rosary” for e. Lucy to repair. It was missing a lot of beads. He said he had attended Mass at the nearby cathedral that morning. Another homeless man, “Josh”, staggered by, evidently very much “under the influence”. Michael hailed him, and he gratefully came over and gave Michael a big hug. They headed off to find a place to sit and chat. God, grant healing and salvation to them both!

The little boy who gladly took a bright orange Rosary last week, made a beeline to our table to get another one. His mother said they still had the one from last week. We gave the boy another copy of the Rosary pamphlet with its colored pictures, and encouraged his mom to pray the Rosary together with him.

A couple came to the table led by the woman. She was Christian; he was not so sure. Both chose a Rosary and accepted the pamphlet but, as we talked about faith and prayer, the man laid the Rosary and pamphlet back on the table and said something like, “I don't have what it takes for this.” We tried to help him see that faith and prayer are not something one achieves or grabs for themselves or earns, but he still declined the Rosary. Pray his heart is opened to the love of Christ.

An older woman walked quickly by, declining our offer of a free Rosary and saying, “I had too much trouble getting rid of my other ones.” She was gone before we could ask her anything. Lord, please draw her back to You and Your Church!

A flock of about six young adults stopped at our table, each choosing a Rosary and then quickly leaving. The woman who was last to choose a Rosary received several extra copies of the how-to pamphlet to give to some of her faster companions.

Two 20-something men stopped. One was Christian, the other had at least heard of Christianity. E. Chuck explained the Rosary, and they both chose one. E. Lucy then gave a copy of the kerygma to the nonbeliever, pointing out that it was only one page and encouraging him to read it.

A Catholic family stopped, glad to see us out there. They had plenty of Rosaries at home, but the mom asked for a copy of our Divine Mercy bookmark.

Another Catholic family, with a baby and two other small children, had evidently stopped to visit us another time. This time, they wanted to simply say hi and encourage us in our apostolate.

A 20-something couple stopped for a Rosary. They said they had just been baptized at a local non-Catholic Christian church. Only the woman chose a Rosary, and we encouraged them to pray together and grow in their newfound faith.

A teen on a bicycle accepted our offer of a Rosary, saying he had grown up in a pseudo-Christian cult, no longer believed in it, and was exploring other religions. His mother did not oppose his faith exploration. We explained the Incarnation and Christ's loving sacrifice on the Cross, His Resurrection, and pointed him to the Sacraments of the Catholic Church. We also encouraged him to draw closer to Jesus Christ through the Rosary. (We may also have given him a Good News/kerygma pamphlet.) Pray the light of Christ shines in his life and shows him the way.

Altogether, the two evangelists gave away 20-25 Rosaries, 2-3 copies of the kerygma, and 1 Divine Mercy holy card. Oddly, about half the Rosaries we gave away were small wooden-beaded mission Rosaries, although I didn’t think we had anywhere near that number of them in our pack. Evidently, Jesus multiplies Rosaries as well as bread! Praise God!

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

We encourage everyone who will listen to actually pray the Rosary! 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).

July 28, 2021

More people are finding us. So thank you again for your continued prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

“Taylor”, in his late teens or early 20s, was carrying a fishing rod and box of lures. He stopped to ask what the Rosary was. He knew and loved Jesus, but he also dabbled in a vague non-Christian spirituality. He wasn't baptized and was apprehensive about it. We affirmed that Baptism had great meaning and would mean a real change in his life, and that the glory of being reborn a beloved child of God should outweigh all worries. We gave him our pamphlet on Baptism. He chose a Rosary and seemed willing to actually try praying it. Pray Taylor hears the call to Baptism in the name of the Triune God.

Several groups of 2-3 young adults stopped. Usually one in the group admitted to not being Christian. We gave each of those a copy of the , told them how important it was, and encouraged them to read it.

A homeless man stopped for a Rosary. He seemed to have trouble reading, but appreciated the pictures in the Rosary pamphlet.

A group of 3-4 young adults stopped, 3 women and 1 man. The women each chose a Rosary. The man chose one for his “girlfriend's mother-in-law”. Wait. What? Maybe it was “grandmother”.

A 20-something man stopped for a Rosary because his grandfather prayed it.

Two children (perhaps 10 and 8 years old) came over to choose Rosaries. E. Chuck gave them a brief explanation.

A very young boy, perhaps not even 4, came for a Rosary. His family followed and said it was okay. Several of them had already visited us and were wearing a Rosary or carrying the Rosary pamphlet. Our young visitor chose the bright orange one.

We are all out of pink Rosaries, I think.

Two young men stopped who were in town to play baseball in an intercollegiate game. The one e. Chuck spoke with did not consider himself a Christian, but knew about Christianity because his grandpa had talked about it and showed him a Rosary. Plus, in high school, our visitor considered his coach an extraordinary man because of his Christian faith. We gave him a Good News pamphlet, and he chose a Rosary and took the how-to pamphlet. We encouraged him to meditate on the life of Christ as revealed in the Rosary, and to consider the faithful examples of his grandfather and high school coach as he thought about his own faith or lack thereof. Pray for his conversion.

Two young men enthusiastically accepted Rosaries but were convinced Jesus was just a “cool guy, really chill.” As we presented Christ as God become man, His authority, His sacrifice, etc., their enthusiasm waned and they became merely polite. Pray a true picture of Christ grows in their minds and hearts.

The wives from two couples came to the table to choose Rosaries. One man walked on and waited in the shade. The other asked what we thought of the reports of supposed mass graves they were finding near Catholic schools in a nearby country. We said we didn't have any information about them and hoped the investigations would figure it out. Pray that such sensational headlines don't weaken the faith of Catholics.

Continue to pray for John, the parking lot employee, and the conflicts within his family. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayers.

Altogether, the two evangelists gave away 15-20 Rosaries, 3-4 copies of the kerygma, and one copy of our pamphlet on Baptism.

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

In answer to your prayers, God is sending people to us. So thank you again for your prayers and other support for this apostolate. In return, may God protect and greatly bless you and all those you love!

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

July 11, 2021

On the national holiday celebrating our country becoming an independent republic, the intrepid evangelists you follow were demonstrating our dependence on Our Lord. So thank you again for your continued prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort!

A family went by, consisting of a man, his wife, and a child in a stroller. The man dropped back to ask e. Lucy about our apostolate. Catholic, he was pleased with what he heard, and said he would pray for us. E. Chuck ran into them again as he was returning to his vehicle, and they asked what sort of people stopped at the table, etc. They seemed very intrigued by SPSE (St. Paul Street Evangelization), so Chuck invited them to join us. Fill them with Your Spirit, Lord, that their faith may overflow into their children and the people around them.

A man in his mid-20s accepted our offer of a Rosary and said he knew about them because he had grown up Catholic. But he admitted he had not been practicing for a long time. While we affirmed that praying the Rosary was a great place to start, we emphasized  that getting back to Mass and the glory of the Eucharist, and the promise of Reconciliation, were where he really needed. He admitted this was so, and e. Chuck gave him the “Reasons to Return to the Catholic Church” packet as he was leaving. Pray for his re-conversion!

Two college-age men from the far eastern part of the country stopped. They were in town to visit the local university. Since they were Catholic, they asked about nearby parishes, and seemed surprised at the number of parishes in the area to choose from. Each selected a Rosary, and e. Lucy gave them a map that listed Mass times so they could find an evening Mass to attend. Pray that they, and all young Catholics, may be filled with perseverance in faith.

Lots of people told us they had already received a Rosary from us. We asked for their prayers.

A Catholic family of five (adult children) heard our offer and alerted their mother who hurried to the table to choose a Rosary. She became emotional at the sight of all the Rosaries and shed tears after choosing one. Then she motioned to her daughters to get one, too. Then they all encouraged the son to come to the table, which he did. The father told us they prayed the Rosary daily. As they were about to leave, the daughters insisted their father choose a Rosary, too, so he did. They were very thankful, and the mother remained too emotional to speak. May the love of this faithful family be an example to us all.

A homeless man stopped and claimed a Rosary, since it was free. He couldn't remember the prayers, so welcomed the booklet with them in it.

A man, who had been riding scooters around the square with his 8- or 10-year-old son, stopped behind us to retrieve his bicycle. He turned down the offer of a free Rosary, but his son was intrigued. He asked us what the Rosary was for, and e. Chuck told him it was for praying and growing closer to Jesus. He accepted one and its booklet.

Three men stopped for Rosaries, then each changed their mind several times about the color. But eventually they each had one, its booklet on how to pray it, and the encouragement to sit down and actually try it.

A boy on a scooter stopped to see what we were giving away but, after looking at the Rosaries, he changed his mind. When e. Lucy asked if he were Christian, he said he was not. So we had him stuff a Good News/kerygma pamphlet in his pocket just as his father called him away. Keep planting seeds in his life, Lord.

“John”, the parking lot maintenance man, stopped to talk a long time about mundane things. But then he added that his adult daughter and grandchild had moved in with them, and he was worried because his 40-something daughter had no purpose in life and he didn't know how to help her. Pray that John, and all parents, find the words to speak to their children.

Altogether, the two evangelists gave away 10-15 Rosaries and its booklet , one copy of the kerygma, one map to area parishes, and one “Returning Catholics” packet.

Please pray for us again today? Please 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!

As people in the US celebrated “Independence Day”, we gladly proclaim our dependence on God! 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).

July 4, 2021

People are happy to find that the Rosary is simply a tool to help them grow closer in their walk with Christ. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A woman, "Erica", stopped when she recognized e. Lucy from her mother's prayer community. A group of 4 other women were with her. The funeral for Erica's dad ("Art") was coming up the next day. The other women were some of Erica's out-of-town relatives on her dad's side. One claimed to not be religious at all, so e. Lucy gave her a copy of the kerygma and encouraged her to read it. Another woman told e. Chuck she belonged to a pseudo-Christian cult, and declined the Rosary but took the pamphlet. "Erica", though not Catholic herself, had her friends help her choose the pastel chain Rosary with square beads for her mom, "Donna". Please pray for the happy repose of Art's soul and for consolation for his family.

The "man with a backpack" from last week went by again. He declined receiving another Rosary from e. Chuck, but acknowledged e. Lucy when she recognized him. Please pray for him? She didn't mention it, but when he stopped last week, she felt a growing fear such as she’s felt only once before when talking with someone during this apostolate. That other time, the man was visibly shaking with anger; this time, she doesn't know why. Please pray for his salvation? God knows his name.

A 20-something couple stopped. Non-Catholic Christian, they each chose a Rosary after learning that the devotion helps people grow closer to Jesus Christ.

A man broke away from a family group to come get a Rosary and its pamphlet.

A multi-generational family declined receiving Rosaries when they passed us by. On their return trip, though, the father encouraged the two girls (perhaps 6 and 10 years old) to get themselves a Rosary. The older girl, when asked if they were Christian, replied equivocally. So, besides Rosary and pamphlet, e. Lucy gave her a copy of the kerygma.

A homeless-looking man stopped for a Rosary when he found out they were free. Although raised Catholic, he was not too familiar with the devotion. E. Lucy explained it briefly and gave him the pamphlet with which to pray along.

Another man stopped for a Rosary. He also claimed to be familiar with it, but welcomed the pamphlet with pictures for each of the Mysteries.

Two older, non-Catholic Christians stopped when we offered them a free Rosary. E. Chuck explained the devotion to the mother, while e. Lucy explained it to the son. They were happy to receive a tool to help them grow closer to Jesus Christ.

Two teenage girls stopped. One was Christian, the other was not. E. Lucy explained how people who sit down and pray the Rosary experience an unexplained sense of peace and protection. She also briefly explained the devotion, and gave the non-Christian a copy of the kerygma, asking her to take a moment to read the one-page pamphlet. Each girl chose a Rosary for herself and took the pamphlet on how to pray it.

A man on a bike stopped but did not come right up to the table and didn't really respond to our offer of a Rosary or our explanation of the prayer. He told us about a free barbeque he was trying to find and his intent to ride the bicycle to a town about 30 miles away. Finally e. Lucy got him to pick a Rosary and she walked around the table and put it and a pamphlet into his hand. May he seek Christ in prayer.

A man replied to our offer that he wasn't Catholic. We explained the Christ focus of the prayer and showed him the Mysteries in the pamphlet. He studied the pamphlet for a moment, noticing the "spiritual fruit" listed with each mystery and said, "Humility, I've learned that. Poverty of spirit, I've done that." Then he handed the pamphlet back and put the Rosary around his neck, saying he just wanted the reminder of the Cross. May the Crucifix draw him into the fullness of Faith.

One of a trio of men came to the table to choose a Rosary, the other two slowly approached. E. Lucy helped the first man choose a Rosary.  E. Chuck offered one of the other men a Rosary also, and he replied that he wasn't Catholic but he was Christian. After they talked about the Rosary for a bit he chose one and took the pamphlet with thanks. The third man finally also chose one. May this trio of friends draw closer in friendship with the blessed Trinity.

Altogether, the two evangelists gave away another 10-15 Rosaries  and 2-3 copies of the kerygma.

Please pray for us 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.

People are glad the find a way to grow closer to Jesus Christ that the Rosary offers. So thank you again for your prayers 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).

June 27, 2021

Last week marked the US holiday called “Father’s Day”. The weather was hot but a constant breeze was blowing, so quite a few families, or partial families, were out and about. Due to the holiday, only one evangelist was available that day.

A family went by, the parents declining the Rosaries. Later, they passed by again. This time they let their two children, under 5 years old, each choose a Rosary. E. Lucy gave a brief explanation of the devotion to the mom, gave her the pamphlet on how to pray it, and encouraged her to have her family pray it together. May Our Blessed Mother bless and protect that whole family!

Two teenagers on skateboards stopped. One said that, some time ago, we’d given him a pamphlet on battling the enemy of mankind. That didn't sound familiar to the evangelist, but she set him up with a Rosary and its pamphlet on how to pray it. She also gave him a copy of the kerygma, pointing out that it's only one page and urging him to take a moment to read it. The other teen claimed to be a Christian and also accepted a Rosary. May they both be drawn into a deep and living relationship with Our Lord!

A man carrying a backpack stopped for a free Rosary. He claimed to be "Roman Catholic", but didn't seem to have a regular prayer life. He gladly chose a brown Rosary from e. Lucy's hand and accepted the pamphlet. May Our Lord heal the man and bring him to holiness.

A Catholic man stopped for a Rosary, asking if they were blessed. He also accepted the pamphlet when he saw it contained the "new" Luminous Mysteries, which he correctly attributed to Pope St John Paul II. May he develop a love of the Rosary that draws him even deeper into the Church!

“John” the parking lot attendant came by several times, and stayed an extra few minutes to help e. Lucy pack up. He also gave her directions to a gas station with "free air" for her flat tire (discovered when setting out for downtown). Access to tire air needed to be free  since Jesus had said, "Take nothing for the journey" (cf. Matt 10:9-10).

Altogether, the evangelist with the perhaps too quiet voice, still gave away 7-10 Rosaries and its pamphlet, plus a copy of the kerygma.

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

God is indeed the most loving of all Fathers! So thank you again for your prayers and other support for this apostolate. In turn, may God protect and bless you and all those you love!

June 20, 2021

People still need God! So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A teen, from a group of four or five at a nearby picnic table, came over for a Rosary. Soon, three other members of his group each came over to get one. E. Lucy talked with the last girl, asking if she were Christian. “Not really,” she responded. So e. Lucy gave her a copy of the kerygma, telling her it was important, was only one page, and encouraged her to sit down and read it. Pray they remember they are children of God.

Several 20-somethings stopped, in ones and twos. E. Lucy explained the Rosary devotion and set each of them up with a Rosary, mentioning  that many people experience an unexplained sense of peace and protection when they sit down and try it. They each thanked her. In turn, she thanks our dedicated Rosary makers!

A man carrying a sandwich board offering an occult service said he wouldn’t be a part of a group that promotes abuse of children. Good! Neither would we.

Frequent passerby “Cole” stopped by several times to talk with Chuck and was very animated. He wasn’t wearing a shirt so they talked about some of his tattoos. He brought up a local news event, then abruptly left to stand at the road and wave at cars. He returned and tried to have a conversation again, circling back to the same news event before leaving again. Pray for God’s peace to fill Cole and heal him!

A pair of Police officers rode by. E. Lucy smiled and greeted them, but they just looked intently at us. Must be new on the assignment.

Repeat visitor “Michael” stopped again and wanted to talk about faith. He asked e. Chuck if he could “hang out” with us. As we offered Rosaries, and God’s blessing when our offer was refused, he would add, “Jesus is real, hallelujah!” Other than that, though, he didn’t seem very familiar with Catholic teaching, though he identified as Catholic. Eventually, he sat on his duffle bag and just watched. He stays in a homeless shelter and is in a God-centered addiction recovery program. He took one of our last chain Rosaries. Lord, heal him as he meditates on Your life!

“John”, the parking lot attendant, stopped on his new electric scooter. He was relieved to say that his tests showed that he had no cancer and that his infection is much reduced. As he was chatting, he said to a man who had just picked up a Rosary that he’d “better be sure to get the right prayers with the right beads”. We assured the man that it was not so rigid a prayer. John then told several stories of his recovery from addiction and even accompanied us as we packed and left so he could finish a story. May Your healing hand draw John closer to You, Lord.

Some people took a Rosary from e. Lucy’s hand, accepted the pamphlet, but didn’t stop long enough for even a brief explanation.

A teen/preteen young man accepted a Rosary and explanation. He knew who Jesus is and seemed on the verge of speaking but just stood looking at the Rosary and the pamphlet on how to pray it. So, e. Chuck continued talking about Christ and the Good News. He did say he attended a church and would try the Rosary prayer. Pray for his perseverance in faith.

Altogether, the two evangelists gave away 20-25 Rosaries and the pamphlet on how to pray it, as well as at least one copy of the kerygma.

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

Weather was fair, and lots of people were out. A few responded to their need for a closer relationship with God. 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).

June 20, 2021

The first 100 people to whom we offered Rosaries said no, although two said they already had one. So your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort were most welcome, and needed! Thank you!

This was an unusually high rejection rate, even for us. Eventually, e. Lucy thought to send a silent prayer of trust to Jesus, "Jesus, will You take care of it?" Immediately, a family of 3 (mom, 2 children) stopped for a Rosary apiece. The mom is not Catholic, but her children go to the Catholic school in e. Lucy's parish. They talked briefly about the new priests being assigned there. E. Lucy showed how the Rosary helps people grow closer to Jesus Christ and encouraged the mom to have the whole family pray the Rosary together.

A man stopped for a Rosary. Christian, but not Catholic, he was pleased to find out that the Rosary is centered on Christ and on deepening our relationship with Him.

A short stocky man, who also identified as a non-Catholic Christian, stopped and talked with e. Chuck. He told Chuck that he prayed many different prayers through the day (implying he thought Catholics only prayed the Rosary). Chuck assured him that Catholics did, too, and that, with the Rosary in hand, he could add another powerful prayer to his day.

Many of our other encounters were of people choosing a Rosary from our hand and leaving, pausing barely long enough to receive the pamphlet on how to pray it. The weather had just turned hot, so people may have been in a hurry, perhaps to get someplace cool.

Even with no takers for half the session, the two evangelists still gave away about 15 Rosaries and its pamphlet. Bright blue Rosaries were most popular, followed by white, and then ones with wooden beads.

Please pray for us again today? Please 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.

We rely on your prayers for this, God’s apostolate. So thank you again for your prayers and other support! In turn, may God protect and greatly bless you and all those you love!

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

June 6, 2021

Trinity Sunday this year was also the US Holiday called Memorial Day. Lots of families were out enjoying the pleasant weather, and some of them stopped to visit us. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

Repeat visitor, teenager "Jax", stopped briefly. He told us he had attended a (non-Catholic, Christian?) church in a nearby state, but could remember neither name of church nor town. He asked for another Rosary for his mom. E. Lucy encouraged him to pray it together with her. Lord, draw them to You through this devotion!

"John”, the parking lot attendant, stopped and talked for an extended time with e. Chuck. He never mentioned his recent life-threatening illness to Chuck, but proudly told us that the following Friday marked his 42nd anniversary of sobriety.

A man stopped, asking, "Catholic truth? What about Jesus' truth?". He was trying to distinguish between Catholic and Christian mission. “John”, who was still talking with E. Chuck, interjected that the word "catholic" means universal. E. Lucy took the ball and clarified that the Catholic mission is precisely to spread the news of Jesus Christ universally, that is, throughout the world. She then showed our newest visitor how the Rosary is a series of meditations on the life of Christ. He accepted a Rosary and the pamphlet on how to pray it. May Our Blessed Lady lead him all the way home to the Catholic Church!

A group of teenagers stopped. Each chose a Rosary and accepted its booklet, but hurried off before we could engage any of them in conversation.

A man went by, calling out, "It's not the truth!" He didn't stop to explain.

Another man went by, saying something about vaccination. We couldn't tell whether he was for or against.

A homeless-looking man, who was nearly toothless, declined our offer of a Rosary and kept talking, perhaps angrily. Neither evangelist could understand a word he said, and he didn't slow down or stop.

A Catholic man pulled his Rosary out of his pocket to show us. It featured a large St. Michael medal. I don't think he heard our plea to pray it once for us.

Yet another man paused just long enough to take a Rosary from e. Lucy's hand. She didn't get a chance to explain the devotion.

A devoutly Catholic man stopped. He was in town for his nephew's Confirmation this weekend.

A somewhat overweight woman declined our offer of a free Rosary, hurrying by. She yelled. "I don't believe in God." "I'm sorry," was e. Lucy's response. "That's okay. I'm happy!" she said. "May God bless you," said e. Lucy. Soften her heart, Lord, and give us the words she needs if she passes again.

A young couple, who did not know what the Rosary was but believed in Jesus, chose a Rosary each. E. Chuck talked to the woman, who was intrigued by the prayer's deep look into Christ's life as seen through his Mother's loving eyes, and by the invitation of the Rosary to love Jesus with the love of a mother. May Mother Mary strengthen their walk with her Son.

A young family enthusiastically came to the table. The father said he knew what the Rosary was because he was baptized Catholic. Unfortunately, he now identified as a non-Catholic Christian. E. Lucy then engaged the man in conversation about the Rosary. E. Chuck tried to get the wife interested, but she was turned her attention to the child, smiled, and said one Rosary was enough for them. May that one Rosary, indeed, be the mustard seed of the Church in their lives.

The fountain was going for the first time this season. Several families with very small children were playing in it. A greater percentage than typical of passersby declined receiving a Rosary, but the evangelists still gave away 15-20 Rosaries and its pamphlet on how to pray it.

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

Nothing is impossible with God, who clearly understands the human heart. 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!

May 31, 2021

The man we prayed with a couple of weeks ago stood side by side with us for a while last week. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort!

"John", the parking lot attendant and our frequent visitor, was back after a few weeks’ absence! He had been hospitalized for several days with an infection that had spread to several organs throughout his body. He was grateful to be alive! He not only met e. Lucy when she arrived and helped set up our table, but also started offering free Rosaries to passersby while she and e. Pam filled our display boxes.

A Catholic man stopped for a Rosary, promising to pray it for us.

A teenage girl with brightly colored hair and black markings on her face stopped. She wanted a free Rosary. No, she wasn't Christian but graciously accepted our one-page summary of the kerygma.

The same girl came by again, a short time later, accompanied by another teenage girl, who also accepted Rosary, pamphlet, and kerygma. This repeated a couple of more times, until a total of 5 teenagers had been set up with a Rosary. May God bring this natural evangelist home to His Church, where she can lead many people to the Light and salvation!

A woman walked by, accompanied by a man. She refused a Rosary with a smile, telling us it was because of the denomination she identified with, nominally Christian but overtly anti-Catholic. She didn't stop for an explanation of the Rosary.

A Chesterton-shaped man with a gray beard stopped for a Rosary. Asked if he were Christian, he responded that he was not. E. Pam asked for details, and he replied that he followed a modern religion with multiple deities. E. Lucy offered him a copy of the one-page kerygma, asking him to take the time to read it. He said he would.

A heavyset, 20-something woman stopped. She accepted a Rosary, then asked for an extra one for a woman friend. She came back later, wearing both Rosaries, this time accompanied by the stout man who had accepted a Rosary from us a few minutes earlier. But now she had a new story. She said she had come to Boise with friends, got stranded, and was begging money for a one-way ticket back to the other side of the country. We referred her to the St Vincent de Paul society. May the Lord heal her and save her (as well as a chronically homeless woman named "Andrea")!

A lone woman stopped, 20-something, possibly down-and-out, and with very short hair. She wanted a Rosary, and said she was familiar with it because she had been raised Catholic. She was newly arrived in Boise and hadn't connected with a faith community, but was beginning to feel the need for one. E. Lucy gave her a copy of our map to area parishes and encouraged her to attend Mass that very evening at the nearby cathedral.

The two evangelists gave away 15-20 Rosaries and its pamphlet, 3-4 Good News/kerygma leaflets, and 1 map.

Please pray for us again today? In past years, this has been the weekend that a convention occurs in “our business park”, attended by many costumed people sporting horns and tails. Please pray that God sends people to us with hearts prepared to perceive their need for Jesus Christ and His Holy Catholic Church, and that much good fruit for His Kingdom comes of today’s efforts.

God changes hearts! 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).

May 23, 2021

There are still lost sheep to be found! So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization apostolate.

A repeat visitor in his upper teens, "Jax", stopped when e. Chuck recognized him and hailed him over. He said his mother loved Rosaries and hung them in their house. We gave him another, and encouraged him to use this one for prayer, though he admitted he is currently enthralled by a non-Christian meditation video. Then he wanted to take the Crucifix off the Rosary and wear just that. We asked him not to, and gave him a plain cross on a chain. The cross kept falling off the chain, but Jax said he made jewelry, too, and could fix it. Mother Mary, pray for him?

An older man on a bicycle told us we should not be giving out crosses, since they were a symbol of murder. He rambled on with his beliefs which ranged from agnostic to pantheistic, not seeming to notice that his beliefs contradicted one another. He had no patience for hearing about the divinity of Jesus Christ or that there was anything beyond the material world. Pray his eyes are opened to the reality of the triune God?

"Dominic", from the eastern part of the country, came unbidden behind our table. He told e. Lucy that he does a similar apostolate in his hometown, only he gives away a whole bagful of Catholic sacramentals to each visitor. Since that seems to work in his predominantly Catholic community, e. Lucy didn't bother to explain the rationale behind our approach. He said he forgot to bring his Rosary pamphlets with him when he came to Boise, so asked for some of ours, which we gladly gave him. He also didn't have a Rosary with him, so accepted one of ours. (Perhaps he is inspired him to start his apostolate up again, even when he's out of town.)

A couple stopped when the man turned toward our table in answer to our offer of a free Rosary. She was Catholic and familiar with the Rosary. They each chose one, and we encouraged the woman to teach it to the man and for them to pray it together.

An older couple, accompanying a girl about 10 years old, stopped. The man, very large, was belonged to pseudo-religious cult and was not interested in Christianity. The daughter and mom stayed in the background. Pray God’s mercy calls the father all the way into the Church, and that his family follows him into the safe harbor of the Faith?

A very tall young man accepted a Rosary and its pamphlet. Then he asked us where the nearest Catholic church was, but not to give him any more paper. E. Chuck gave directions to the nearby cathedral, while e. Lucy showed him a thumbnail of the building.

A family stopped that consisted of mother, father, and a preteen. They wanted the girl to choose a Rosary, but we gave one to each of the parents, too, and encouraged them to pray it together.

A man stopped to tell us that he appreciated our faith and the fact that we were willing to share it, but he was not religious at all and didn't see the point for himself. He declined a Good News pamphlet and, as we shared our faith with him, he just smiled and repeated that religion was not for him. Pray he has a personal encounter with the living God?

A young couple stopped who knew nothing about the Rosary but knew who Christ is (she sported a Bible verse tattoo). We showed them how praying the Rosary can help us grow closer to Him, and encouraged them to learn it and practice the prayer together.

A man asked us in passing, “Are you guys Christian or Catholic?" We replied, “BOTH!”

We received an email from first-time evangelist “Pam”, who had stood with us a couple of weeks ago. She said, “It was a great first time experience. I was thankful it was a little quiet so that I could talk with you and learn more. I am humbled by your prayerful approach to this apostolate. There was much peace and joy, even though it was quiet. I did enjoy being there. It ‘filled my cup.’” She’s hoping to join us again today. Please pray for her?

Altogether, the two evangelists last week gave away 12-15 Rosaries and its pamphlet on how to pray it, as well as 20-30 additional Rosary pamphlets.

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

God continues to call people to Himself, and blesses us with the opportunity to be His instrument in this. So thank you again for your prayers and support for this apostolate! In turn, may God protect and bless you and all those you love!

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

May 16, 2021

On the US Holiday called Mother’s Day, many family groups were out. So thank you for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort. Two evangelists were available.

“Michael”, the homeless man who had talked with us for so long last week stopped as e. Chuck arrived. He had read all the pamphlets and found them helpful, but had not tried praying the Rosary. They talked about the devotion and Michael agreed he should give it a try. He stayed a few moments longer to talk and ask questions, while e. Chuck set up. Pray Michael dives deep into Christ's life in the Rosary.

Two 20-something women went by, holding hands. One had 5-pointed stars all down the sleeve of her shirt and sported bizarre, red and black makeup. They both politely declined receiving a Rosary. Pray for them?

A mother and 3 children, all under the age of 10, stopped. They each accepted a Rosary.

A family with 4-5 small children went by, the parents definitively declining a Rosary. The children, however, got permission to receive one, so they all came running back to choose one.

Another family went by, also declining receiving a Rosary. Then the father came back and requested the booklet.

Yet another passing family refused our offer and, when their little daughter wanted one, the father said, "You don't want one of those." But as they walked away, the little girl started crying, so the father returned to let her pick one out. She requested pink (of which we have no more), but settled for red-and-silver. May Our Lady draw the whole family to Christ and His Church.

A man on a bicycle stopped and accepted a Rosary. Then he questioned e. Chuck a bit about praying to the Saints, wanting to know why Catholics couldn't go directly to God in prayer and confession. We assured him Catholics do pray directly to God and tried to show him the Church as a communion of saints limited by neither time nor place. He had already ridden 20 miles to get downtown. Pray that he exercises his prayer muscles with the Rosary.

Altogether, we gave away 15-20 Rosaries and its pamphlet.

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

Children are drawn to the Rosary. When they have their parents’ permission, we let them have them and pray it draws their entire family to Jesus Christ and salvation. 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).

May 9, 2021

Just as we started getting set up, "Michael" [who first said his name was "Drew"] approached us saying he loved Jesus and wondered what we were up to. It seems he had some Catholic background, but he didn't know the difference between the Catholic and a non-Catholic liturgical denomination. He appeared to be part of the homeless community but offered us money for the Rosary, which we declined. He was very interested in how to pray the Rosary and also took the pamphlets on Suffering and on the Good News/kerygma. Then he sat at a nearby table to read the pamphlets. May Mother Mary surround Michael with protection and peace.

A family stopped, consisting of mother, father, and a child under 7. The mother and child each chose a Rosary. The father was Catholic and had a Rosary at home. The mom and child were not Christian, so e. Lucy gave them a copy of the kerygma. She also encouraged the dad to teach the other two how to pray the Rosary, and to pray it with them regularly for the protection it provides.

“John”, the parking lot attendant, stopped by. We haven't seen him in a couple weeks because his electric wheelchair had been broken down. Usually he’s been only interested in telling stories and talking about current events, but this time he started by admitting he was feeling defeated by his chronic back pain and he wondered how we handled feeling down. He also admitted he hadn't been praying or attending  recovery support meetings. E. Chuck talked with him for some time and then offered to pray for him, which he accepted. Please include John in your prayers.

A non-Catholic Christian man stopped, his wife stopping a few steps further on. From a populous state south of here, he said he had felt prompted by the Holy Spirit to pray inside the State capitol building. The building was locked, but they walked all the way around it and found an open door on the far side. The went in and prayed on each of the four floors, until a security guard intercepted them. The guard evidently welcomed the prayers, but ended their visit. After that, they found us. He asked e. Chuck what he thought about the Rosary, and e. Chuck explained the devotion. The man then accepted a Rosary and the booklet on how to pray it. Then he prayed for the two evangelists and their apostolate.

A man who had recently gotten out of prison stopped for a Rosary. He was talking to his wife (girlfriend?) on a video call. He told us he had accidently broken his wife's Rosary when he got his arm tangled in it, and felt bad about it. He saw a Rosary on our table similar in style. We showed him how to pray the Rosary and when he said his favorite story was when the boy Jesus was found in the temple, e. Chuck showed him that Joyful Mystery. She's due in Boise within the next week or ten days, so we encouraged him to learn to pray it before then, and then to pray it together with her. Pray he seeks Jesus in the Church.

A man came by and we exchanged pleasantries. He offered his belief that all religions were equally right in the basics, with which beliefwe respectfully disagreed. He then shared his theory that God has humans in (e. Chuck couldn’t remember his word: time out? or detention? or parole?) and we found a certain common ground there, e. Lucy explaining Catholic teaching on our cooperation with grace. Pray that his journey from atheist to theist continues on to Christ.

A couple stopped. The man had been raised Catholic but had "become Christian". E. Chuck showed him that Catholics were Christian, and that he had made the opposite journey from into Catholicism and why. He agreed that Catholics were Christians and said he would try praying the Rosary again. May the seed that is the Rosary grow into his return to Catholicism.

Two men in their late teens, possibly brothers, stopped. One said he did believe in Jesus but it had been awhile. The other said he wasn't Christian until his brother/friend reminded him that they used to be. They chose Rosaries and accepted a Good News/kerygma pamphlet and our encouragement to return to active faith in Christ. May they hear Christ's loving call.

The two evangelists gave away 20-25 Rosaries and its pamphlet, a few copies of the kerygma, a copy of the Confession pamphlet (which has a self-test for how one’s walk with God is going) and the pamphlet on Suffering.

Things haven’t been going smoothly. So, please pray for us again today? Ask God to send people to us with hearts prepared to perceive their need for Jesus Christ and His Holy Catholic Church, and that much good fruit for His Kingdom comes of today’s efforts.

In turn, may God protect and greatly bless you and all those you love!

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

May 3, 2021

Feeling called to try street evangelization, first-time evangelist "e. Pam" joined us. People responded well to her! So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A man stopped who was not Catholic. He declined receiving the Catechism, but accepted a Rosary and its pamphlet, as well as encouragement from e. Chuck to use it to grow closer to Christ.

A 20-something man stopped to say he wasn't interested in Catholic things because he had a bad breakup with a Catholic girlfriend. He was, however, somewhat curious about the Catholic Church, since noticed he had a pattern of picking girlfriends who are Catholic. His idea of the difference between Catholics and non-Catholic Christians is that we have to pray to Saints and he can just go directly to God. E. Lucy explained the reality of prayer, but he still declined any pamphlets that would help him understand further. Then e. Pam stepped forward and put a Rosary and the Mysteries in his hand, which he awkwardly accepted. May Our Lady help him see the true Church past his emotional pain.

Another man came to the table wanting pamphlets, as many as we would give him, in order to help him understand what Catholics believe. He described himself as mostly a follower of an early heretical break-off from Christianity. He appreciated that the Catholic Bible was bigger than non-Catholic Christian ones, but he thought it should include all the apocryphal writings. We tried to help him see that we need the authority of the Church and the guidance of the Holy Spirit rather than our own curiosity to decide what is necessary and true. He accepted the stack of pamphlets and a Rosary, he said his girlfriend is Catholic. Please pray the Holy Spirit guides him from his personal theories to Catholic truth.

One teenage girl out of a group of three circled back on her scooter to accept a Rosary and brief explanation of the devotion. Somewhat later, her two companions came back. Each claimed a Rosary of her own. The girl e. Chuck talked to knew Jesus, and was thankful to hear the Rosary prayers draw us closer to Christ. Meanwhile, e. Lucy gave a copy of the kerygma to the other girl, who was unsure whether she followed Christ. Mother Mary, guide their young hearts to your Son.

Two girls in their early teens were among the first to accept a Rosary from us after e. Chuck explained how to use it to grow closer to Christ. Later in the session, e. Chuck thought they were passing by us again. But it turns out that one was the older sister of the first girls. These two girls also accepted a Rosary apiece.

A man went by. When e. Chuck offered him a Rosary, he patted his pocket to let him know he already had one. E. Chuck asked him to pray it for us.

An older man accepted a Rosary and its pamphlet. After we explained how and why to pray it, he replied, "Well, I have some reading material now." May the Mysteries draw him into the union with Christ that is prayer.

Altogether, the three evangelists gave away 15-20 Rosaries and its pamphlet, "one each, please" of all of our pamphlets on the table, and an additional copy of the Good New/kerygma pamphlet.

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

God is still calling people to spread the Good News of Salvation in His Son! 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).

April 25, 2021

Seeing past the glamour, some souls noticed our table. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A cheerleader competition was going on, with large teams competing from all over the northwest. Participants, dressed in sparkles, ranged from 6-18 years old.

A family stopped: mom, 2 teens, and the much younger girl, who was a contestant. Not Christian, the mom still had a Rosary in her car. She didn't know about praying it, but when she needed comfort, she would touch it. We told of the advantages of actually praying the Rosary and set everyone up with one. E. Lucy also gave a copy of the kerygma to the mom.

A group of three teenage contestants stopped at our table. The boy chose a pink Rosary, and one of the two girls chose a black one.

A woman and teenage son went by, not part of the competition. She abruptly refused a Rosary, saying, "I'm ex-Catholic." Pray for healing for her and her return to the Church?

A woman politely refused our offer of a Rosary. Then, several minutes later, she came back. "I suddenly realized you were Catholic, and so, yes, I want a Rosary."

A family group from a neighboring state stopped for Rosaries. The fires there last summer came within a mile or two of their home, but they remained safe.

A man with children stopped. A non-Catholic Christian, he appreciated that the Rosary focuses on Christ. He also lamented that he hadn't been in a church in a year, saying his State was more strict on health rules. May Mary's Rosary keep him close to her Son.

A group of young people stopped to choose Rosaries. They seemed unsure how to answer when asked if they were Christian, until the oldest reminded them they all used to go to church a lot. Besides the Rosaries and pamphlet, they took a “Good News”/kerygma pamphlet. May they remember their Savior.

We had at least two, maybe three, Catholic families stop, as well as a group of Catholic teens, and the Catholic woman from a nearby picnic table. They each chose a Rosary.

"Ezekiel", a repeat visitor and who is homeless and nigh toothless, stopped for a Rosary. Not Catholic, he told us of the dream that had led him to Christianity. On the face of a big cliff, he had seen the words, "your debt has been paid". When he woke up, he looked into what that might mean, and discovered the good news about Jesus paying our debt for sin. He gladly took a Rosary and its pamphlet on how to pray it. Lay your protection on him, Lord Jesus.

The two evangelists gave away at least 15-20 Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as 1-2 copies of the kerygma.

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

Despite glamour and sparkles, and the lure of fleeting fame, some people were drawn to the weightier things offered by Our Savior. 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).

P.S.  A heart-felt shoutout to Joanne, and to the Rosary Makers of Holy Apostles parish, for the much-needed Rosaries they each donated to this apostolate!!! May God abundantly bless you!

April 11, 2021

He is Risen! Last week was Easter Sunday and most people seemed to be in a good mood.

The convention center in “our” business park was open again, at long last. The group meeting there was a multi-state gathering of a group that calls itself "apostolic". The group originated south of the border, and e. Chuck encountered them during his youth ministry days when leading mission trips there. The group is very anti-Catholic at heart. Yet, at least three of them (including one father of a family) accepted Rosaries from us! May Our Blessed Mother lead them and their families home to the Church that her Son founded!

A 30-something woman responded to our offer of a free Rosary. E. Lucy spotted the handle of a handgun sticking out of her purse. But the woman seemed friendly, and accepted a Rosary and a brief explanation of the devotion. E. Chuck didn't noticed the gun at all until she said, "This is not a real gun. It's a nerf pistol." "What are you doing with the nerf pistol?" "My younger siblings and I were out earlier today, when there weren't many people about, and we were [using it to play]". Pray she and her siblings find greater joy in spending Sunday mornings at Mass!

A(nother?) woman stopped for a Rosary because her mother is Catholic. Asked if she were Christian, she demurred and said she believed "it was all good." E. Lucy handed her a copy of the kerygma, introducing it as a one-page presentation of the basic Christian message, and encouraging her to use it to refresh her memory. She said she planned to read it at home where she has reading glasses.

Only a few people did not respond happily to our wishing them “Happy Easter”. But one of those few was a woman to whom the words seemed to cause actual pain. Pray for her, please?

A family went by on electric scooters. The dad heard our offer of a free Rosary and, after calling to his daughter if she wanted one, chose a pretty Rosary for her.  None of the other family members came near.

Two teens, possibly brother and sister, were walking a well-behaved shaggy little dog. They came to the table for a Rosary apiece, and gladly received e. Chuck's encouragement to use the prayer as a way to grow closer to Christ.

A woman stopped, very excited that she'd been able to go to Mass at the cathedral that morning. "The cardinal was there," she said. "Do you mean the bishop?" "Yes, that's probably right. It was very nice, with trumpets and other musical instruments." Welcome back!

Our pink Rosaries were very popular. We gave away all but two of our dwindling supply. Counting the pink ones, the two evangelists gave away at least 20 Rosaries and its booklet, as well as 1 map to area parishes, and 1 copy of the kerygma.

Please pray for us again today? Please 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 He brings much good fruit for His Kingdom out of today’s efforts.

He is risen indeed!!!!  So thanks again so much 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).

April 4, 2021

Perhaps people who think churches are still closed are "Chr-Easters" (Christmas-Easter-only), who haven't tried to attend since last Easter. We welcome them. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A man stopped on his way out of the hockey rink. Already Catholic, he had “plenty of Rosaries”, but said his parish was shut down and he was tired of watching Mass on the internet. Learning that area churches are indeed open, he then expressed his concern for taking his immunodeficient wife. E. Chuck let him know that his parish has Masses where exposure can be minimized. E. Lucy gave him our map with contact info. He gladly accepted. May they come home for Easter!

A non-Catholic Christian stopped. The woman stood at a distance as the man came to talk to us. He said he didn’t know what a Rosary was, but wanted one because his “girlfriend prays it". Once he got an explanation of the devotion, he became willing to try it himself. He then asked for a matching Rosary for his girlfriend. May they draw closer to Christ in prayer!

A man who slowed but didn’t stop told us he had grown up Catholic, but gave it all up, and was now “just spiritual”. In fact, he had put together his own religion based on being just spiritual.

Then a couple with a small dog went by. The man said he didn’t need a Rosary because they all (including the dog) believed in a pantheist/atheist religion. May they and the previous man turn from themselves and choose You, Lord, the Author of Life.

A man smugly flashed a horned hand sign at us as he and his group went by. Pray for him?

A couple, with a baby in the stroller. went by. The father hung back to get a Rosary. He listened to the explanation, then asked for one for his son. E. Lucy asked if he thought his wife would like one, too, gesturing to the woman waiting with the stroller. “Yes.” E. Lucy then urged him to get the whole family praying it together daily.

A 20-something, heavily tattooed woman stopped, while the man accompanying her stood at a distance. She accepted a Rosary, but evaded answering whether she was Christian. Pray for them?

A perhaps 30-year-old man stopped. He said he had gotten a Rosary from us before, but would like one to pray. We gave him one.

Three college-aged men declined a Rosary. But, a few paces later, one of them changed his mind. Not familiar with the Rosary but knowing Christ, he accepted a Rosary, its pamphlet, and our encouragement to pray. May he follow the Holy Spirit's call.

A college-aged couple, who were Christian but didn't know about the Rosary, each chose one and agreed the approach of Easter was an important time to get closer to Christ. Mother Mary, pray for them.

Our “acceptance rate” was about half typical, but we gave away about 10 Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as a map to area parishes.

Please pray for us again today? Ask God to send people to us prepared to perceive their need for Jesus Christ Our Savior and His Holy Catholic Church, and to bring much good fruit for His Kingdom from today’s effort.

Even nominal Catholics are feeling the call to return! So thank you again for your prayers and other support for this apostolate. In turn, may God protect and greatly bless you and those you love!

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

March 28, 2021

The Rosary brings people closer to Jesus Christ through Mary’s intercession. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A Catholic family, consisting of mom and four children, ranging in ages from about 2 to 16, stopped. They each (except the toddler) chose a Rosary, and we encouraged them to pray it as a family.

Another family of about 6 people, including 3 adults, stopped. Likewise, they each chose a Rosary.

Three junior high girls stopped. Each gladly choosing a Rosary.

Three 20-somethings stopped. Not familiar with the Rosary, they listened to e. Todd's explanation. Then they all three declined receiving one. May Our Blessed Mother draw them to her Son!

Two men were zipping by on their electric scooters. One heard e. Todd say, “free Rosary”, braked hard, and circled back to take the one he was holding. He didn't pause long enough for an explanation or to receive the Rosary pamphlet.

Three teenage ladies seemed really excited about their new Rosaries.

One elderly gentleman seemed emotionally touched after e. Lucy told him the Rosary is a great way to get closer to Jesus.

"Denise", who is suffering from cancer and who also seems to have lifestyle issues, is still attracted to the Catholic Church. May God grant her healing, physical and spiritual, and bring her home to Your Church before it’s too late.

“Laura” is battling stage iv uterine cancer, although her uterus was removed 30 years ago. She is a devoted follower of Jesus Christ, practicing our Catholic Faith since birth, 65 years ago. She underwent her third chemotherapy treatment last Thursday. May God eradicate all three tumors and grant her patience, strength, and holiness.

A large family stopped. E. Chuck spoke with the teenager, who said they belonged to a parish in another town but couldn't remember its name. When the evangelist said the parish name, he agreed. He chose a Rosary and accepted the pamphlet, then listened politely as e. Chuck spoke about the Eucharist and spending time with Jesus in prayer. The rest of his family also received Rosaries. May they pray their new Rosaries together.

Two guys, who looked like they were down on their luck, stopped. One was carrying a guitar and wanted a Rosary, but he didn't know what it was for. E. Chuck explained the prayer and how the beads help you time your meditation. Our visitor replied that it sounded like music, the beads being like the musical notes. We agreed that there is indeed a tempo in the Rosary that changes us. May he let the Rosary and the life of Christ play in his heart.

Lots of people were out in the sunny Spring weather. Fewer dogs than last week were being walked but, still, none of the dog owners stopped for a Rosary. Yet, the three evangelists gave away 25 or so Rosaries and its pamphlets, as well as one "Problem of Suffering and Evil" pamphlet, and one pamphlet on the "Four Last Things".

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

Spending time with Jesus, by delving deeply into the Mysteries, greatly changes things. 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).

March 21, 2021

Many people are delighted to learn that the Rosary is all about Jesus Christ! So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort. Two evangelists were available.

Two teenage women went by our table many times. The first time, they each chose a Rosary that, though not exactly matching, were the same color. The last time was after they had finally met up with their group of 6 or 7 more teens. One member of the group, a man in his upper teens, chose the pink Rosary from e. Lucy's hand.

Three college-aged women stopped. They were Christian, but did not know about the Rosary. They seemed excited to learn that the prayers of the Rosary focus on the life of Christ. They thanked us for the Rosaries and the booklet to guide them through it. Holy Mary, pray for them.

Another  group of 3 college-aged people stopped for a Rosary. One man was wearing a cross with Eccl 4:13 engraved upon it. They each received a brief explanation of the Rosary, then chose one and accepted its booklet.

A 20-something couple came to the table, the man saying he already had a Rosary but that a second one couldn't hurt. Then he showed us his cross on a necklace. We explained that the Rosary was a tool for prayer. It could be carried around the neck, but was best used when taken in hand for prayer. Pray, Mother, that he will see past the symbol to the real connection to your Son that the Rosary offers.

A man, loaded down with music equipment, gladly accepted a Rosary, but declined the pamphlet.

The last woman to visit us, 30-something and nicely dressed, told e. Chuck that she was Christian, but leaning toward the Catholic Church. However, she lamented, all the Catholic churches were shut down. We assured her that, here, all the Catholic churches are open. E. Lucy gave her a map of area parishes with contact info, showing her how she could attend Mass that very evening in one of several different parishes. Pray she gets connected.

Last Sunday was another beautiful day, but foot traffic was fairly light. Still, the two evangelists gave away 15-20 Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as 1-2 maps to area parishes.

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

Our Blessed Mother leads people to her Son, and the Rosary is her special tool for doing so. 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).

March 14, 2021

Many people seemed distracted by the spring weather, but we still connected with a few. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A woman, on a shamrock-and-Easter-egg-bedecked  bicycle with trailer, stopped for a Rosary. She chose one, then asked for one for her granddaughter. “Bring her by to get one,” we suggested. She said the cathedral website said it was closed, but we said no, despite construction inside, the Mass schedule hasn’t changed. We gave her a map with the Mass times, and encouraged her to get reconnected. Pray for her return.

A group of about 6 children, all but one under the age of 12, sat at a picnic table near us. When two large pizzas arrived, they polished off both of them in just a few minutes. After listening to us offer free Rosaries for a long time, the older girl came to choose a Rosary. Not Christian, she accepted a copy of the kerygma pamphlet, too. She returned to the picnic table and sat reading the Rosary pamphlet. One by one, most of the other children asked for a Rosary, though one boy ended up throwing away his pamphlet. Pray especially for the girl, that she will draw closer to Christ through His Mother's prayer.

A boy, 5-7 years old, came to us and very politely asked for a Rosary. While he was making his selection, his father pulled up on his bike, pulling a toddler-aged girl in the trailer. The dad said he knew all about the Rosary because he had attended Catholic school for 13 years. E. Chuck asked him to think about returning, while e. Lucy encouraged him to pray the Rosary together with his son. The boy politely thanked us again as they left.

A group, consisting of a middle-aged man and a college-aged couple, stopped.  The woman chose a Rosary made out of heart-shaped beads. The young man chose the identical Rosary next to it. The woman is Catholic and promised to show the man beside her how to pray it. I don't think the older man took one.

A mother and two preteens came, each choosing a special chain Rosary.

A group of 3 college-aged people, two men and a woman, stopped. They wanted Rosaries and seemed familiar with them. The woman wished churches were open again for Mass, so we assured them that they were, and e. Lucy gave them a map of area parishes that also showed Mass times and contact info.  After each had chosen a Rosary, the man asked us to pray for him because he is seeking happiness. We prayed, asking Jesus to grant him the wisdom to know what he needs to do. May they all seek the only true happiness, in God.

It was a beautiful spring day at last, so lots of people were out. Few, however, (maybe 3% or fewer) were interested in what we offered. Still, the two evangelists gave away 10-12 Rosaries and its booklet, as well as 1-3 copies of the kerygma, and 1-2 maps.

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.

Seasons change, but the Gospel message is still needed. 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).

March 13, 2021

A dismaying number of people, mostly under the age of 20, display contempt for the saving message of Jesus Christ. So we are needed more than ever. Thank you again so much for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort! Three evangelists were available.

A group of 3 homeless-looking people came by, a heavyset woman in a motorized wheelchair, a frail-looking older woman also in a wheelchair, and a thin older man on foot. They each chose a Rosary. E. Lucy talked with the frail-looking woman, who refused the pamphlet, claiming she didn't have room for it. We encouraged them all to pray the Rosary every day, for peace and for protection. The first wheelchair user then asked for a second Rosary for her husband, who was in jail and needed prayer. Holy Mother, please intercede for them that their lives come into line with Our Lord’s will.

Two or three large groups of teenage boys (5-6 in each group) stopped, most of them wanting a Rosary. Many said they knew Who Jesus is. One teen on the fringe was smirking and whispering to his friend, so e. Chuck spoke directly to him about what Christ has done for us and how important it is to get to know Him better through praying the Rosary. He nodded, continued to smirk, but chose a Rosary anyway. Meanwhile, e. Lucy gave another of the young men a copy of the kerygma and encouraged him to read it when he got a moment. Mother Mary, pray especially  for the doubters and scoffers.

A 20-something woman, accompanied by a perhaps 30-something man, stopped. Not Christian, the woman was very interested in religions. E. Lucy gave her a copy of the kerygma and encouraged her to pray the Rosary, even if all she had was questions about Who Jesus is, and what His actions in the Mysteries mean in her life. She gladly accepted.

A group of high school- or college-aged people stopped . The man with whom e. Chuck spoke said he knew Who Jesus was but, as Chuck spoke with him about how to pray the Rosary and what it was about, he got quiet and stopped responding. When others in his group left the table, he just nodded to the evangelist and joined them. Only You know what's in his heart Lord, give him the ears to hear.

A woman in the same group, in her late teens or early 20s, chose a Rosary and had a pleasant conversation with e. Chuck and e. Todd. In stark contrast to her friendly demeanor, her mask displayed a rude phrase meaning “leave me alone”.

A 40-something woman walked by, accompanied by a man of about the same age. She called to us in a friendly way that she “used to be” Catholic. Please pray for her?

A non-Catholic man walked by. He politely declined a Rosary, but asked a blessing on us. After he was out of earshot, e. Lucy explained to second-time evangelist Todd that we only conditionally accept blessings, especially when we don't know who or what the giver worships. Good to know.

“Mr. Silver Umbrella” walked by without his umbrella (possibly because the sky was so heavily overcast). He declined a Rosary, but he also didn't start singing loudly this time. I consider that progress.  Lord, bring him all the way home to Your Church!

A very thin blond woman, accompanied by a stocky man, accepted a Rosary and brief explanation of the devotion. On her way past, a second time, she greeted us warmly.

1. Lucy assured a nonbelieving 20-something woman that Jesus is a real historical person and that the Resurrection, the central tenet of our Faith, actually happened. The woman was encouraged to check into the authentic historical record.

A passing man said he had picked up a Rosary from us some time ago. When asked if he had prayed with it, he said no but he kept it on his microwave oven and looked at it every day. When encouraged to give prayer a try, he replied that he figured he had ten, maybe twenty, years of life left, and so had plenty of time to learn to pray. When e. Chuck offered that there was nothing stopping him right now, he just smiled and kept walking. May the sight of the little Crucifix in his kitchen spur him to seek a relationship with the living God!

Altogether, the three evangelists gave away 25-30 Rosaries and its booklet, as well as at least two copies of the kerygma.

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

Though taught to scoff at the thought of Jesus Christ, some people still listen when the Truth is spoken to with earnestness and conviction. So thank you again for your prayers and other support for this apostolate. In turn, may God protect and bless you and all those you love!

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

February 28, 2021

When you pay close attention, you see the Holy Spirit at work. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort!

The wind was chilly, it was heavily overcast, and it started drizzling just about closing time. So, as you can imagine, foot traffic was sparse and people were in a hurry.

Early on, a mother and two girls, both under 10, stopped. The mother was at one time a Christian, but was not familiar with the Rosary. E. Lucy explained the devotion briefly, and they each chose a Rosary and accepted the booklet on how to pray it. The mom indicated that they'd try it.

Two college-aged men stopped. One was Christian, but didn't know about the Rosary. E. Lucy explained it as a meditation to help them grow closer to Christ, saying that many people found protection and an unexplained sense of peace when they prayed it. They then each selected a Rosary, and took a copy of the booklet as well.

About mid-session, a homeless-looking woman walked past, very slowly. She didn't respond to the offer of a Rosary. Later, she painstakingly made her way back this way. This time, she heard the word "free", and chose the Rosary that e. Lucy was in the middle of praying. She also took a copy of the booklet on how to pray it. Please pray for her?

A man (possibly the same one who was wearing the evening gown a week or so ago) walked toward our set up. This time, he was dressed more normally. When e. Lucy offered him a Rosary, he turned his back and started talking loudly to no one visible. So Lucy turned back toward the table. A moment or so later, he started to move off, shouting profanities (at which sound, e. Lucy recognized him). He soon quieted, though, and left the square peacefully. So thank you for your prayers! Perhaps grace is already touching him.

A somewhat heavyset middle-aged man came toward the table. E. Lucy offered him a Rosary. "What?" he asked, and removed his earpiece. She repeated the offer. "Oh," he said. “No.” He started walking past, but his eye was caught by our sign. He studied one side, then went around and studied the other. E. Lucy told him we had other information, if he'd like. He came back to the table and said he would like a Rosary. He chose the one that e. Lucy was praying. She gave him a copy of its booklet, too. Please pray for him? He seemed to be caught in lifestyle issues.

An older Catholic couple went by, twice. The first time, the woman cheerfully called that they had dozens of Rosaries at home. I asked them to pray it once for us. When they went by the second time, the woman asked God to bless us and our effort. May God bless them, too, and reward their faithfulness!

I thought we’d go the whole session with having given away only 3 Rosaries. But we did have a few more takers near the end, so the final number was 7 or 8 Rosaries and its booklet.

Please pray for us again today? Ask God to prepare people’s heart to perceive their need for Jesus Christ and His Holy Catholic Church, and that much good fruit for His Kingdom comes of today’s effort.

This is God’s work, and the Holy Spirit is there. 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).

February 22, 2021

Last week marked a Saint’s Day that had been turned into an unrecognizable secular holiday. It had snowed a record amount in Boise the previous day, and a very light snow was still drifting down. So, foot traffic was light. Interest was low, but not absent.A mom broke away from her husband and teenage son to claim a Rosary. She said her son attended Catholic school. When e. Chuck tried to get the father and son to take a Rosary, the father made a face and shook his head, while the son ignored us and played with his phone. Please  pray for faith for the men in that family.

A man in his late teens or early 20s broke away from his group and came for a Rosary when the other two declined. I think he was being polite. Still, he chose one and received a brief explanation of the devotion and the encouragement to pray it. He is a non-Catholic Christian. Pray that God rewards his charity with Faith?

A college-age man stopped for a Rosary and its pamphlet.

A man approached the table to better hear what we were offering . When he heard it was a Rosary, he replied, "Oh, no thanks, I'm not Catholic." But he stayed to listen as e. Chuck explained how the Rosary helps us get closer to Christ. He changed his mind and accepted a Rosary and its pamphlet.

While e. Chuck talked with that man about the Rosary, e. Lucy offered one to a man passing by. He smiled, and then pulled up two layers of shirt to show one that proclaimed his disbelief in God. "I'm sorry", e. Lucy said, and then used e. Mike's quip: "But that's only a temporary condition." The man laughed and walked on.  A few minutes later he came back this way, giving us a friendly wave. E. Chuck asked him why he didn't believe in God. He stayed to talk. While his reasons were not well thought out, he listened as we tried to show him who God really is and what His Church is about. He changed the subject frequently and finally said he had to visit his aged mother. We parted amiably. Pray he hears God's call and heeds it!

Another man refused a Rosary, said he was a former Catholic, and hated the Church. We offered that the Rosary is still a good way to get closer to Christ. He replied that he thought it was all a bunch of nonsense and kept walking. Pray for healing and patience for this man?

In contrast to last week, about 90% of passersby said no thankyou. Still, we gave away perhaps 5 Rosaries and its pamphlet.

Please pray for us again today? One evangelist is available. Please ask God to send people to us prepared to perceive their need for Jesus Christ and His Holy Catholic Church, and that much good fruit for His Kingdom comes of today’s efforts.

Some were still interested in Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church! 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).

February 14, 2021

Soul after soul approached us, interested in Jesus Christ! So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

Two bushy-haired teens were our first visitors. One claimed to be Christian, the other no longer did. They each accepted a chain Rosary and its booklet. The one who had turned away from Christianity accepted a Good News/kerygma pamphlet and the encouragement to spend some time with it as soon as he got a quiet moment.

Almost immediately afterward, two more youths stopped, each wearing a large, dangly, cross earring. They also each accepted a Rosary and its pamphlet. They were Christian, but did not know about the Rosary. They heard out our encouragement to dive deep into the life of Christ through prayer and thanked us.

Then, moments later, two college men made a beeline to our table. They told us they had been friends in high school and had met again in college. They had been delighted to see us because they had just been talking about how they needed to get back to church. They belong to a non-Catholic Christian denomination, but gladly accepted the Rosary and its pamphlet as a way to grow closer to Christ. Pray they heed the Holy Spirit's call.

Next, a group of 3 youths stopped, each accepting a Rosary and its pamphlet.

Two men on bicycles stopped. One reminded us that he had received a Rosary from us in the past, but did not answer when asked if he had tried praying with it. He then hung the Rosary on his bike. The other man listened patiently as we explained how to pray it and also hung his Rosary on his bike. Pray they find that the Rosary is a link to Our Savior and not a mere decoration.

A bit later, a father with two children, perhaps 8 and 4 years old, stopped. All three chose a Rosary, the big sister helping her younger brother to make his selection (which, coincidentally, coordinated with the one she had chosen for herself). We encouraged them to pray it as a family.

A group of three 20-somethings stopped to accept a Rosary apiece. They laughed when we suggested they pray it together. But let's pray they do!

A man, sporting a pointy black beard and mustache, and wearing a green velvet evening dress, asked us for free food. We instead offered him a free Rosary, which he declined, proclaiming how much he hated Jesus Christ. He continued to spout blasphemies as he staggered on past. May Your love and mercy turn his heart to You, O Lord, the true Bread of Life.

A passing man hollered that he had picked up a Rosary from us recently, but admitted he had not tried praying it. When entreated to try it at least once, he answered that yes, he should. Lord Jesus, fill him with the courage to approach You in prayer.

A college-aged couple stopped. She chose a Rosary and promised to try it. He stood back and didn't want one.

A 40-something couple, hauling hockey equipment, passed by. Shaking their heads no, the man said he's "a recovering Catholic". Please pray for them?

Although foot traffic was still fairly light, we had 50-90% acceptance rate overall (compared to our historical 10% average). Altogether, we gave away 20-25 Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as a copy of the kerygma.

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

The Lord heard your prayer last week to send people to us! 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).

February 7, 2021

Things may be heating up spiritually in this era of ongoing crises, and some people are becoming more open to the Catholic Church. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

An older woman, accompanied by a man, came to the table. She gladly accepted a Rosary. Evidently Catholic, she asked about Masses at the local cathedral parish. There is a parish in her home town, an hour’s drive north of here, but she seems to have issues with the assigned priest. She also asked for copies of our Confession pamphlet, which includes a good examination of conscience, our "Returning Catholics" packet, which contains several pamphlets, and our Good News/kerygma pamphlet. The man was almost hostile about not accepting a Rosary. Please pray for our sister in Christ, who doesn't seem to have much support at home to practice her Faith.

Three tall, dark-haired youths stopped. One claimed to be very familiar with the Rosary. They each chose one of our fanciest Rosaries, accepted the pamphlet, and were encouraged to pray it regularly.

One teenage boy from a group of youths on skateboards came to the table. He said he was not Christian and didn't know what the Rosary was. Though he was showing off for his friends, he listened soberly as we explained who Jesus is and what He has done for us. Then he accepted a Rosary, its how-to pamphlet, and Good News/kerygma pamphlet. Please pray he hears the call of the Holy Spirit.

A woman came directly to us, wanting a Rosary. She said her grandmother, who is a “strong Catholic”, would be so thrilled to see her with one. Our visitor admitted she had not been to Mass or prayed the Rosary in a long time. We suggested that, if she wanted to make her grandmother really happy, she’d pray the Rosary with her. She smiled and said it would make her happy, and "Who knows? Maybe this is what will bring me back." Please pray that it does.

Two boys, in their early teens, broke away from their family group to quickly visit our table. They were Christians, but didn't know about the Rosary. As we explained that it helped us draw closer to Jesus Christ, one boy made a face and left the table. His brother stayed a moment, confused, then followed. The father tried to get them to come back, then shrugged and declined a Rosary for himself since they identified as non-Catholic Christians. Please pray for them, especially for healing for the boy with the apparent aversion to Jesus Christ.

Three adult men came to the table, the one e. Chuck talked to said he knew all about the Rosary. We extolled the benefits of praying it on a regular basis. They listened, all the while staring at the Crucifixes in their hands. E. Chuck then told them that the world needs men deep in prayer; it needs men with a close connection to Christ. Pray that our people grow in faith, hope, and love.

Altogether, the two evangelists gave away 12-15 Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as a copy of our Confession pamphlet, our Returning Catholics packet, a map to area parishes, and 2 Good News/kerygma pamphlets.

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

During the ongoing social changes and limitations, God is calling people to grow closer to Him. Some people hear. 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).

February 1, 2021

We’re seeing more families with young children. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort. Two evangelists were available.

“Meredith” was accompanied by her children, “Henry” (6 years old), and twins “Mary Margaret” and “William” (3 years old). She told us she had the children out for their first outing since March 2020. Seriously? Yes, the two younger ones have serious medical issues, but had just received clearance from their doctor to go out, as long as they wore masks. Catholic, they belong to e. Chuck's parish (but remain unable to attend Mass). Meredith allowed each child to choose a Rosary. She said she'd try again to pray it nightly with them. She has already made a routine of reading the new Word on Fire devotional Bible to them. Please pray for this family?

"Michael", 30 years old, told e. Lucy that he'd been raised Catholic, but left at the age of 15 for non-Catholic Christian denomination where the services were more "fun." Now that he's older, he realizes that standing and waving hands in the air is not the most important part of worship. He gladly received a Rosary, its booklet, and a mini-refresher course on how to pray it. Please pray he comes back home to the Church?

Another family with at least three children stopped. The children and the dad each received a Rosary. The mom already had one at home, she said. We encouraged especially the dad to pray it daily for protection for his family.

Two women, late teens or early 20s, stopped. They each chose a pink Rosary. They paused long enough for a brief explanation of the devotion.

Two men in their 20s stopped for a Rosary apiece. We encouraged them to pray it daily.

A man stopped to ask if we remembered him from two years ago when he picked up a Rosary just before he went on his travels. It was early in e. Chuck’s street evangelism career, but he remembered that our visitor had been riding a fat-tire bike and was leaving for Spain the next day. He said he did carry the cross (he did not refer to it as a Rosary) through three countries, as well as on a short section of the Camino de Santiago, and that he still had the cross at home. E. Lucy offered him another Rosary he could pray with, but he declined. Pray that he begins to see the Cross as more than a mere symbol.

The two evangelist gave away at least 12 Rosaries and the pamphlet on how to pray it.

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

Still trying to connect people with Jesus through Mary. 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).

January 18, 2021

Some hearts were noticeably less peaceful last week, but we still  introduced others to the Rosary as a way to grow closer to Jesus Christ. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A man with small girl in tow, who was maybe 4 years old, gestured angrily toward the Rosaries and, without stopping, told us to “send that stuff back to Europe”. A few steps further on, he turned and shouted at us, blaming us for military abuses in a small country south of here, the recent riot in our country’s capital, and perhaps other things. He never slowed down enough for us to reply or ask for clarification. As he stormed away, we said a Hail Mary for him and hope you, too, will keep him in your prayers this week.

A passing trio of well-dressed 30-somethings declined a Rosary. Then one man of the group said he’d like to argue with us a bit and came to the table, asking if he could ask some questions. He believed there is no God and was firmly convinced that Christianity (and theism in general) is based on fiction. E. Lucy recommended an author, a respected historian who has demonstrated the historicity of the Bible. Our visitor then rejected Christianity in particular because its followers do not live it to perfection. We told him of the fallen nature of mankind and of our need for a Savior. He was not moved, but said he would look into the author. Pray that he will hear the voice of his Creator and that Our Lady leads him to Faith in her Son!

A group of 3 homeless-looking people stopped. The woman approached us first, but became skittish and left before we could get her a Rosary. The men each claimed a Rosary for himself. Then one, "Ezekiel" (a past visitor), also took one for the woman, who was standing a short distance away. We encouraged them to pray it together.

A multi-family group stopped. Each of the children (all under the age of 5) and one of the adults accepted Rosaries.

The woman of a young couple, in their late teens or early 20s, wanted a Rosary and came to the table. When asked if they were Christian, she said that she was, the man did not reply. She was receptive to learning about the Rosary, and seemed interested in learning the benefits of praying it. In the end, the man also chose a Rosary for himself and we encouraged them to pray it together.

A man in a large family group accepted a Rosary, telling us he was Catholic. His children picked out a Rosary apiece. The man’s son then held it up and asked, "What's this for?" The father merely replied that it was a Rosary, so e. Chuck let the boy know it was for prayer. Please pray the boy continues to ask his father about it, and that he will teach his children how to pray.

There was thin sunlight, but not much foot traffic. Still, the two evangelists gave away 15-20 Rosaries and its pamphlet.

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

Usually only one or two visitors a year confront us in a negative way. Last week, we had two in one session. Still, we pray that hearts are changed. 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).

January 10, 2021

Charity opens doors we may not even notice. So thank you again for your ongoing prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort. Two evangelists were available.

One teen, perhaps 14 or 15, stopped with a much taller friend. After his friend jokingly accepted a Rosary, the young man told e. Lucy that he was ready to get back to God. His best friend had died two years earlier, he said, and he'd been battling depression. He was very glad to receive the Rosary and the booklet on how to pray it. He'd been a member of a pseudo-Christian religion, but didn't want to go back.

A large, extended family walked by, perhaps 10 or 12 people. One member dropped back to choose a Rosary.

A nominally non-Catholic Christian woman, in her late teens or early 20s, stopped. She listened with interest to the explanation of the Rosary, then accepted one and its booklet.

A woman, minding a toddler in a stroller, stopped for a Rosary. She was very happy to receive one.

Two women stopped. One is the niece of a local priest who died a few years ago. E. Lucy told her that she not only remembered the priest, but also says a prayer by his graveside from time to time. The mention of that tiny act of charity seemed to affect our visitors in a more than a sentimental way, since they immediately began talking about how much they missed going to Mass, especially their elderly mother. E. Chuck let them know about the "parking lot" Mass at his parish, where they can stay safely in the car, but still attend and receive the Eucharist. Both women left happy.

As a young couple walked by, hand in hand, the woman broke free and came to our table. She asked, in smiling curiosity, "What is the Rosary all about?" She seemed open and interested in what e. Lucy was telling her. Meanwhile, E. Chuck talked to the man, who stood several feet off, wanted nothing to do with the Rosary, and barely wanted to talk about the weather. The woman did say that had been raised in a pseudo-Christian religion, but now “didn't believe all that stuff”. We encouraged her to get closer to Jesus Christ by meditating on the Mysteries. Pray that she does.

You may recall a man, “Manny”, who has had some lengthy conversations with the evangelists over the last couple of years. He still struggles with his and his family’s dealings with the occult as well as the belief that he has been hexed. He showed up again at Mass last week, late, and in an agitated state. After changing his mind and starting to leave several times, he finally sat down. He left in a rush after Mass so e. Chuck was not able to talk with him. Pray that Manny keeps answering the Holy Spirit's call.

Two of three older teens on skateboards, with enthusiasm and much profanity, accepted our offer of a free Rosary. The teen e. Chuck talked to didn't know anything about the Rosary but saw that it had a cross on it. He said over and over that he loved Jesus. He went on to say how awesome it was that God loved everybody no matter who they were or what they did. While it's true God loves all, e. Chuck replied, He wants us to become more like his Son. The teen was not listening, resumed vaping, and jumped on his skateboard to catch up with the friend who bypassed the table. Mother those boys, Holy Mary, and point them to the way to everlasting life.

A tall man with a southern drawl accepted a Rosary. He said he knew a lot about it because some of his family were Catholic, although he was a non-Catholic Christian. Part of his family had immigrated from a Catholic country, but lost their Catholicism when they settled in the southern US and conformed to the anti-Catholic culture around them. But our visitor’s grandmother, sister, and perhaps another family member had come back to the Catholic Church. Please pray for all Catholics who struggle to hold onto their Faith amid hostile surroundings.

Altogether, we gave away 10-15 Rosaries and its booklet.

Please pray for us again today? Please ask that God sends 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.

God is love, and He is calling His children. 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).

January 3, 2021

Some people carry a lot of pain, and only Jesus can bring full healing. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

We gave a "What About Mary?" pamphlet went to regular visitor “John”, the parking lot attendant. He may not have wanted the pamphlet, but had pointed it out, and graciously accepted a copy.

A large family group stopped. The teenage girl that e. Chuck talked to said she was "very Catholic" and knew all about the Rosary. The father/uncle said he knew all about the Rosary, too, because when he was a kid the nuns at his school used it as punishment. He chose a Rosary and accepted a pamphlet on how to pray it, but his focus stayed on his resentment over his time in Catholic school. May Mother Mary and her Rosary help him forgive and draw him back to her Son's Church.

A family group of 3 adult women stopped. The mother and one of the adult daughters each accepted a Rosary.

One man from a group accepted the pink Rosary that e. Lucy was holding. Another man from the same group wanted a black Rosary.

A homeless-looking man stopped. He asked e. Lucy to choose a Rosary for him. She gave him a black one. He was disappointed that it was too small to fit over his head, but readily accepted the suggestion to use a belt loop to secure it.

A 20-something man came alone to our table. He requested a pure white Rosary.

A teenage girl requested an all-tan Rosary.

Another family went by, happily claiming to be Catholic. We asked them to pray for us.

“Mr. Steel Crewcut” and “Mr. Angry Atheist” both went by, in fairly close succession. They each exchanged pleasantries with e. Chuck about the (penetratingly cold and damp) weather.

A young couple stopped. When asked if they were Christian, she responded that she was, but he claimed membership in a pseudo-Christian cult, which he described as "pretty much Christian". We encouraged them to spend time meditating on the life of Christ in the Rosary.

A man accepted a Rosary and said he prayed all the time. He then revealed he had just gotten out of jail and needed money. Pray he does not fall into old habits.

Altogether, the two evangelists gave away 10-12 Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as a copy of our “What About Mary?” pamphlet.

Please pray for us again today? Please ask that God send people to us 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.

May God use our presence to lead his beloved children to reconciliation with him. So thank you again for your prayers 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).

December 29, 2020

Despite the occasional vocal enemy of the Church, the Bride of Christ still appeals to those called to salvation. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A mom (grandma?), accompanied by two preteen girls, stopped to allow the girls to each have a Rosary. E. Lucy asked the older girl if she and her family were Christian. “Sometimes” was the probably all-too-honest answer. Besides Rosary and pamphlet on how to pray it, e. Lucy gave her a copy of the kerygma.

A man rode by twice, each time shouting at us as if we approved and supported the priest sex-abuse scandal. He didn’t slow down enough to reply but, the second time, a family who looked like they were approaching our table evidently changed their minds and didn’t stop. Please pray for all involved?

Two 40-something women stopped, each accepting a Rosary. One said she had been raised Catholic. Please pray she returns to the Faith?

Two men stopped. One chose a miniature black Rosary with hot-pink spacers around the Our Father beads. Then he was disappointed it wouldn’t fit over his head. E. Lucy suggested he carry it in his pocket. We encouraged both men to start praying the Rosary daily.

A 20-something couple stopped. One was familiar with the Rosary. E. Chuck encouraged them to pray it together.

A man and college-age son went by. They didn’t stop, but the man said he always carried his Rosary in his pocket, except that he’d forgotten it this trip. He didn’t slow down long enough for us to offer him a temporary replacement.

A man, hastening to make a delivery, asked if we took donations. When we said no, he hurried away. A couple of steps later, though, he turned around and asked, “Then, how much are your Rosaries?” “Free,” we said. “I’ll be back,” he replied. A few minutes later, he indeed returned, selected a Rosary, and received the pamphlet on how to pray it. He didn’t engage in any further conversation.

Altogether, the two evangelists gave away about 10 Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as 1 copy of the kerygma.

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

God does not want the sinner to perish, but that he turn from evil and be saved (cf. Ezek 33:11). So thank you again for your prayers and other support for this apostolate. In turn, may God protect and bless you as you worship our newborn Lord!

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

P.S. After this forum closes, please continue to see our stories on our SPSE team page: https://streetevangelization.com/team-page/?team-chapter=boise&view-blog=true.

December 20, 2020

Our Lord loves us all: hot, cold, or merely curious. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort. Two evangelists were available.

Several passersby declined receiving a Rosary, claiming loyalty to the enemy of all that is good. Lord, have mercy on their souls!

Three 20-somethings with a baby stopped, led by the woman. She and her husband accepted a Rosary, saying they knew all about it. The third man declined a Rosary, jokingly saying, “I might burst into flames if I touch it.” E. Chuck replied that just the opposite would happen. May his heart become open to salvation in Christ, Who is the cure for that worry.

Two men, late teens or early 20s, almost said no. Then one of them decided it’d make a great present for his mother, and chose a Rosary. May your prayers join hers in praying her son back into the Faith!

A homeless-looking man asked for a replacement Rosary for the one he’d received from us some time ago. He declined the booklet, saying he already knew the prayers.

Another homeless-looking man was heading toward the lone bike in the bike rack in the corner of the business park near us. When e. Chuck called out an offer of a free Rosary, he came and chose one. Then he went and just stood in the corner, perhaps because it had some protection from the wind and snow. May God bless him and heal him!

A young woman, raised Catholic, accepted a Rosary. When she passed us again later, she asked if it had been blessed. May she continue to seek a deeper union with Christ through his mother in prayer.

A young couple approached the table led by the man. He said he knew all about the Rosary. The woman seemed reluctant, but chose a Rosary anyway. When asked, she admitted that she was raised Catholic but did not now attend Mass. When offered a map to area parishes. Both declined. Then, when e. Chuck reminded them of the many graces of the Eucharist, they merely smiled and moved on . Mother Mary, pray for them.

A young woman came back to the table after initially declining a Rosary. She had no idea what the Rosary was all about. E. Chuck began describing the Rosary devotion. E. Lucy then asked her if she was a Christian. She was not, but she accepted a Good News/kerygma pamphlet. Pray for her conversion.

It was cold, snowy, and blowy last week. So, there was not much foot traffic. However, the two evangelists still gave away about 10 Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as 1 kerygma.

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.

God can save souls, and we are amazed at how the Rosary appeals to even inactive Catholics. So thank you again for your prayers and other support for this apostolate! In turn, may God protect and bless you and all those you love!

“Pray … also for me, that speech may be given me … to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel” (Eph 6:19-20).

December 16, 2020

A plethora of evangelists last week! So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

Two first-time evangelists joined us: “Connor” and “Todd”. Connor had driven about 100 miles from his new hometown, east of here. He’s interested in starting a team there. People responded well to him. Todd has been following our “adventures” for a couple of years, giving us much-needed prayer support. He also donated several nice Rosaries, which had been gathering dust around the house. They found new homes quickly!

A 20-something man accepted a Rosary. While e. Chuck explained it to him, e. Lucy ask him, “Are you Christian?” He labeled himself as undecided, so we gave him a Good News/kerygma pamphlet. He promised to read it. May Our Lord call him to Himself!

Two women, who might have a lifestyle conflict with being actively Catholic, stopped. One enthusiastically accepted the Rosary that e. Lucy was holding, declaring she “knew all about it” since she was Confirmed. Lord, give them Light!

A homeless-looking man on a bicycle stopped. He had received a Rosary from e. Chuck a couple of weeks ago, but had lost the pamphlet. He received a new one today.

Another homeless-looking man stopped. He had belonged to e. Lucy’s parish as a child, recounting to us his first time serving as an altar boy. She encouraged him to get reconnected with the Church.

A tall youth in a ski suit bantered with us a couple of times. The first time, he and a companion stopped together. The friend enthusiastically received a Rosary, telling us he had been confirmed Catholic. The tall youth, though, proclaimed service to the enemy. The second time, he came alone, and mocked us by trivializing the gifts of conversion and Baptism. That young man is in a terrible place and really needs our prayers. Lord, have mercy!

An older Catholic man stopped. He lost his wife of 30 years and three months ago. To e. Chuck, he seemed evasive about whether he was going to Mass now. He wanted prayers for his son “Samuel” (?), who was going on his fourth tour of duty in an active war zone. Blessed are those who mourn.

A young couple came to the table. The man led, and the woman was teasing him about it. They didn’t know anything about the Rosary and, upon receiving an explanation, each accepted a pamphlet and chose a Rosary. May they contemplate the Mysteries together.

A woman on a bike said no thank you, but then circled back and accepted a Rosary and pamphlet. She told us she had gone to Catholic school in another part of the country. The Rosary she chose was in her hometown team’s colors.

A man on a bike wanted a Rosary. We set him up with one, but could not understand his mumbled speech. He seemed thankful.

Foot traffic was very light again. However, the four evangelists were able to give away about 15 Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as 1 kerygma.

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

The Rosary still attracts, and we entrust all those who receive one to Our Blessed Mother, and ask that she lead each one to her Son! So thank you again for your prayers for this apostolate! In return, may God protect and bless you and all those you love!

“Pray … also for me, that speech may be given me … to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel” (Eph 6:19-20).

November 29, 2020

The foot traffic was very light today (11/29/20) in downtown Boise so I only gave away four rosaries. There are a lot of ex-Catholics out there. Mother Mary, draw them back to your son's Church.

A woman accepted a rosary and pamphlet, she is an ex-Catholic and attends no church now confident that God is in her heart and that's all she needs. She was adamant that no one should argue about religion, that all religions are good as long as you believe in God (god?). When I pointed to the necessity of communion and the Eucharist she quickly agreed but said the Church had too many other things she disagreed with ("some good but a lot I can do without") so she was done with it. She would not elaborate. She was thankful for the rosary and said it was one of the "good things". I expressed the wish that she would come back to the Church and she said, "you never know." For the sake of Your sorrowful passion, Lord, have mercy on us and the whole world.

A man accepted a Rosary and pamphlet and said his teenage daughter had received one a week or two ago and kept it on her dresser. She and some friends were nearby though they did not come to the table. The man said his in-laws were Catholic but he was Protestant but he had "no problem" with Catholics and was glad to have his own rosary. He promised to read the how-to-pray-the-rosary pamphlet and I encouraged him to come back with his questions. May Our Lady's prayer draw him closer to her son.

A teenage boy I recognized stopped and said he still had his rosary though he had not prayed it. But he wanted me to know he had read through the pamphlet though he seemed unmoved by it. May the Holy Spirit move him to study the pamphlet again and dare him to pray.

Thank you for all your prayers of support.

November 22, 2020

It was chilly but sunny today (11/22/20) which brought the crowds out downtown. Only evangelist Chuck was present again but this time I had the signs, table, brochures and a wide variety of Rosaries. I lost count but we gave away at least a dozen Rosaries.

As I was setting up the table a man leaned over the display and declined a rosary because, he said, "I don't believe in it." I asked why not and he replied "because I'm a Christian." He stormed away as I tried to engage him more. Pray he is willing to engage in a deeper conversation next time.

Tyson also declined a Rosary but stayed to talk for ten minutes. A former Catholic he wanted to know what my favorite "tenet" was. I extolled the Eucharist but it seems that was not what he was after. He said he was a physicist working on a unifying theory (not string theory) that took into account the spiritual. He believed the golden rule was the unifying principle God gave us and espoused a universalist view. Though he was not moved by our discussion pray that he will hear the Holy Spirit calling him back to Christ.

A man who was a former Catholic took a Rosary and pamphlet but hurried off because he was looking for someone. Later he came by with the friend who received a Rosary but said he was Christian, not Catholic, because he didn't pray to saints. To my explanation he just replied that he was an evangelical. Later these two men brought three more men who all wanted rosary's. One was a Catholic and another was fascinated by the idea of praying the mysteries. May Mary draw them closer to Christ.

A young man, non-Catholic, accepted a Rosary and said he had given up on church because he had questions about science that he couldn't get answered. I assured him that Catholicism loved the sciences and could answer his questions but he only grew quiet, thanked me for the Rosary and moved on. Pray he returns to ask his questions, pray he seeks out the true Church.

A man and wife on bikes stopped and I recognized his bike and remembered he got a rosary in the past. He had not prayed with it but it hung on the rear view mirror in his car. He said that even though he was a "doubter" the sight of the cross gave him a "weird" good feeling. I suggested he try praying it as it was wrong to doubt something you've never tried. Pray he reaches for the Rosary in prayer and has an encounter with the living God.

An elderly Catholic couple chose a Rosary to replace their broken one. They prayed it everyday and she related her encounter with Our Lady in a church in Mexico seeing Mary, smiling, wrap her arms around her sick grandson. The grandson is still struggling with his health but is, due to this story, devoted to Our Lady. Pray for the young man's health and thank God for this example of faith, hope and love.

November 15, 2020

There was one evangelist today (11/15/20) with a minimal display (Rosaries on the fingers of one hand, how-to-pray the Rosary pamphlets in the other). Foot traffic was very light at the Grove with the wet weather but I gave away six Rosaries.

Spenser was the first to stop, he declined a rosary but wanted to know about praying to Mary verses praying directly to Jesus. We talked about how it wasn't an either/or question and he acknowledged it made sense to ask others to pray for you especially if it was someone as close to Jesus as His mother. He then prayed for me, the people downtown, the city and the country and at the end of his prayer he asked "Jesus's mamma" to pray for all those people too. May the mother of our Lord draw Spenser closer to Christ.

Three college roommates accepted Rosaries, they were non-Catholic Christians and unfamiliar with the rosary. They seemed enthusiastic about spending time meditating on the life of Christ in prayer and how that calls us to change and seek a deeper relationship to Him. May they have the courage and persistence to encounter Christ and His mother in prayer.

A man with a broken foot and a fuzzy pink hat wanted a rosary but became less enthusiastic when he found out it was for prayer. Call him to you Lord Jesus!

The other two rosaries went to people who had been "raised Catholic" but were no longer practicing. May these prayers call them back to the Church.

Pray also for the hostile man who shouted the word "evil!" at me and the young lady who bragged that she was drunk. May God shower them with mercy, grace and love.

Thank you for your prayers!

October 26, 2020

Is there a growing hunger for prayer? Thank you for your ongoing prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort. Two evangelists were available.

A 20-something couple stopped. She wanted the light-purple Rosary e. Lucy was holding. He declined receiving one, because “they start burning”. Lord, have mercy! Christ, save them!

A group of 3 or 4 young women stopped. They each received a Rosary. One woman, lingered an extra few moments to receive an explanation of the devotion and the encouragement to “sit down and try it.”

A Catholic man, walking past, pulled his well-used wooden Rosary out of his pocket to show us. Several other groups of people going by also happily claimed their Catholicism and devotion to the Rosary. May God bless them and keep them faithful!

A group of college-aged women stopped. They each accepted a Rosary, except one who had picked one up from us a few weeks ago. The woman e. Chuck talked to was Catholic, but said she was always confused about how to pray the Rosary. So he showed her how to use the pamphlet as a guide. Then she admitted that it was hard for her to find time to pray. E. Chuck then suggested she start out with just the three Hail Marys at the beginning of the Rosary and to make that a habit. Then e. Lucy told the group of all the blessings of praying the Rosary.

Four young men stopped, laden with food bags and on their way to spend the afternoon watching a sporting event. None of them were Catholic , but were interested in prayer. Even after three of them walked away, one stayed talking with e. Lucy for another minute.

A young man with a lunch bag stopped. He was unfamiliar with the Rosary, so e. Chuck started telling him about it. E. Lucy asked if he were a Christian. He was not, so we fixed him up with our Good News/kerygma pamphlet. He sat at a nearby picnic table to eat, and examine his Rosary.

A man on a bike passed. Then he came back to say that he had left the Church because he thought it was getting too political, and that it favored a candidate he did not like. We tried to explain that the Sacraments were much more important than politics, but he was adamant. He did, though, leave open the possibility that he would come back after the election. Please pray for him?

Altogether, the two evangelists gave away 15-20 Rosaries and its booklet, 1 kerygma, and 1 Divine Mercy bookmark.

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

Greater numbers of people seem to be willing to give prayer a try. 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).

October 12, 2020

Plenty of work in the Vineyard! So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort!

A non-Catholic Christian couple, perhaps in their early 30s, passed us by. But the second time they came through the square, they stopped for a free Rosary. The woman chose one, and we began explaining the devotion. Then the man said, “Yes, I’ve become very curious about Catholicism.” That alerted e. Chuck, and he briefly shared with our visitor what brought him to conversion a few years ago. He lamented that we normally had a Catechism to give out but didn’t have room on our table anymore. E. Lucy, however, quickly produced our last copy out of our bag and gave it to him. By the time they left, they each had a Rosary, as well as a copy to share of the Catechism, and 3 basic FAQ pamphlets: “What About Mary?”, “Marian Doctrines”, and “Common Objections”. Please pray for them?

Three men stopped, who might have lifestyle issues that could make it difficult to embrace Catholicism. Two men stood back, while the third responded to our offer of a free Rosary. As we explained the merits of praying the Rosary, he asked if he could have the pamphlet called, “What About Mary?” The other two men declined a Rosary.

A family group walked by and a boy (?), almost a teen, edged toward the table. But the parents declined, so the whole group walked on. A few seconds later, the boy came running back, while the family waited at a distance. When e. Lucy asked if his family was Christian, he said no. So, besides a rapid-fire introduction to the Rosary devotion, she had e. Chuck grab a copy of the “Good News”/kerygma pamphlet to give him.

“John”, the parking lot attendant, stopped again to chat. E. Chuck offered him a Rosary, and he said he already received one from us, and had it hanging up somewhere at home. We encouraged him to get it out and use it for prayer.

A woman, displaying pictures of bat-winged creatures on her tattoos and clothes, left a group of two other people, one of them wearing a pointy, wide-brimmed hat. The woman wanted a free Rosary. E. Lucy got one out for her, and asked if she knew anything about Christianity. When she said no, e. Chuck got a “Good News”/kerygma pamphlet out for her, too. Neither of her companions came over. Please pray for them all? This stuff is hard to break away from. May Our Lady help them!

A couple went by, the woman saying they were Catholic and already prayed the Rosary every day. E. Chuck asked her to pray it once for us! She said she would, and then thanked us for being out there.

A man named “Denver” reminded us that he had stopped for a Rosary a couple years ago, and had played us a song. He was grateful for the Rosary, said it was meaningful, and had given it to his grandmother. He was now back in town to help his parents. He chose another Rosary and played us another song, this time on his harmonica.

Altogether, the two evangelists gave away 15-20 Rosaries, 1 copy of the Catechism, 2 copies of the kerygma, 2 copies of “What About Mary?”, and 1 copy each of “Marian Doctrines” and “Common Objections”.

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

Our work continues, 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).

P.S. Thank you again for your prayers, and your words of encouragement: Katie777, CajunJoy65, Katherine438, Barb, and Randy!

October 4, 2020

Significant encounters awaited our lone evangelist last week. So thank you again for your ongoing prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

Here is our evangelist’s report:

With a couple Rosaries hanging from each finger of my left hand and pamphlets in my right, I gave away 6 Rosaries: three to people who were raised Catholic, and three to non-Catholic Christians who were curious. One went to a young couple who were very interested in how the Mysteries were prayed. The bulk of my time, though, was spent in conversation with the following two people.

“Manny” had stopped at the table a year or so ago, and even showed up at Mass once afterwards. This time, he stopped to talk. You may recall that Manny had been raised Catholic in Germany, and that a great number of his family members are enslaved to the enemy of all humankind. He emigrated to America more than twenty years ago to get away from that influence, with which he was becoming increasingly enthralled. He still struggles, still believes himself possessed, but has given up on prayer and the Church. Instead, he relies on himself and his own strength, and claims that it is working. I pointed out, over and over, that the one he is fascinated with is the father of lies, and that Manny’s lack of confidence in prayer and the Church is the result of his believing some of those lies. This made him angry and he stormed away. Ten minutes later, though, he came back. But, the more I pointed out that obedience, humility, and the Church were what he needed, and that the one he served was lying to him, the more angry Manny became. He left, saying he had “given up on the Church”. Please pray for Manny’s soul!

A young woman named “Crystal” stopped. Her parents had no faith but had sent her to Catholic schools for the education, and in the hope that she wouldn’t get in trouble. In college, Crystal gave up what faith she had. Then, in her late 20s, she felt she had an encounter with Christ and became a non-Catholic Christian. She shared a couple of her objections to the Catholic Church. We discussed them at length but without resolution, and parted amicably. Pray that her heart softens toward the Church.

Please pray for us again today? We expect our team to be back to full strength this week, God willing! So, please ask God to prepare people’s heart to perceive and accept 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.

Building trust and establishing relationships takes time, but worth every minute. 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).

September 20, 2020

The Rosary draws Catholics, active or inactive. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

Two women stopped. One wanted a Rosary, the other was a non-Catholic Christian. While e. Chuck helped the first woman choose a Rosary, e. Lucy explained the devotion to the second, and how it was a way of growing closer to Jesus Christ. She still declined receiving a Rosary, but accepted the booklet and the encouragement to use it to deepen her relationship with Christ.

An elderly-looking homeless woman came to us for a Rosary. Her speech was slightly slurred, and she started rehearsing the troubles she blamed on others. Then we got swamped with back-to-back visitors, and so she took her leave. May God bless her!

A big family group was enjoying the fountain. One of the adults, a man wearing a “Funcle” t-shirt, came over to choose a Rosary, saying “I haven’t unpacked mine yet”. A young girl from the group came to pick out a Rosary with her uncle as well. Then, after the group had started walking away, another man from the family came back to ask for prayers. “Josh” has lost the hearing in one ear and it makes him dizzy sometimes, so we prayed for him for healing.

A man walked by, making a bizarre claim. With a smile, he told us, “Catholics killed Jesus”. He didn’t stop walking as we asked him to explain. He just repeated the same charge, over and over, and then told us to look it up. May the Holy Spirit enlighten him with the Truth!

A mom and two children (under 7 years old) sat at a picnic table not far from us. After a while, the oldest of the two boys came to the table. He did not know what the Rosary was, nor did he think he was a Christian. He took a pamphlet, Rosary, and a copy of the kerygma for his mother. Later, his little brother came toward the table, but then he just made a circle around us and returned to his family without stopping.

My impression of Sunday’s session was that the vast majority of people who stopped were Catholics!

Last week was the US holiday called “Labor Day”, and there were more people out than there has been. Altogether, we gave away 25-30 Rosaries and its booklet, as well as at least one copy of the kerygma.

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

Even inactive Catholics think fondly of the Rosary. 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).

P.S. Thank you for your prayers for “Fr. Rob.” Although he is still in the hospital, his health is slowly improving. Thank you, Jesus!

P.P.S. Again, a thank you for all your prayers and words of encouragement.

September 11, 2020

Evangelization: Always an adventure. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

“I want to kill you guys,” said a somewhat heavyset, homeless-looking woman as she walked by. Then she went and sat at a picnic table in the middle distance, muttering to herself. E. Lucy noticed that looking her way seemed to trigger a fresh outburst from the woman, so avoided doing so. After a few minutes, the woman passed by our table again, saying nothing quite audible. Pray for her?

A group of 3 people went by, declining Rosaries. E. Lucy experienced a sudden, sharp headache when trying to read the back of the man’s t-shirt. But the pain went away again when she asked Jesus to free her.

A man responded, “Yes, I would like a Rosary,” and came over to our table. He started asking about the process to become Catholic. We explained the RCIA process and said, if he started now, he could come into the Church next Easter. We gave him a map with contact information for area parishes and encouraged him to join the classes now forming.

Another man came over to our table. “Brandon” was Catholic, from across the country, and was interested in connecting with a local parish. E. Lucy handed him a map of area parishes and then asked if he’d also like a copy of the Confession brochure. He gave a sigh, quickly followed by “yes, I’d better do that.” May his enthusiasm to get to Mass again through Reconciliation come to fruition in action.

A woman, perhaps 30 years old, stopped to receive a Rosary. She had been raised in a pseudo-Christian tradition in foster care, but hadn’t been active in any faith for a long time. We encouraged her to dig deeply into the life of Christ in the Mysteries of the Rosary. E. Lucy gave her a copy of the kerygma, to refresh her memory about Christianity.

A pair of 40-something sisters stopped, after one expressed a desire to receive a Rosary. E. Chuck explained the devotion to her. Her sister declined the Rosary, but accepted the pamphlet describing the devotion.

A 20-something man declared his non-belief in Jesus as his reason for declining a Rosary. As E. Mike would have said, “You’ll believe when you meet Him!”

A man on a mission bicycle stopped to ask if we were going to pray for him. He accepted a Rosary and a brief explanation of the prayer. When asked how he was doing, he said cryptically that his life had too much reality.

A 20-something woman stopped and, when she learned what the Rosary was about, said she was not a believer. She accepted one anyway, as well as a Good News/kerygma pamphlet.

While we were talking to her, a man came to the table unbidden, wanting a Rosary. He wondered if RCIA classes were starting any time soon. He also wondered why he couldn’t receive the bread and wine now. E. Lucy explained the purpose of the classes and why he must wait to participate in the Eucharist. He accepted a map of area parishes.

Two women refused a Rosary but the little boy riding on the shoulders on one of the women wanted one. So the adults allowed him to get one and heard about the merits of praying the Rosary.

A woman interested in a Rosary apologized for not knowing what it was. But we said that was good because we got to tell her what we loved about it, which we proceeded to do at length. I don’t know if we overwhelmed her since she was very quiet and stood very still as we talked, but ultimately she thanked us before leaving.

Altogether, we gave away perhaps 20 Rosaries and its pamphlet, 2 maps of area parishes, 2 copies of the kerygma, and 1 Confession brochure.

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

Last week was an unusually lively session for us, 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).

P.S. Please pray for my pastor, “Fr. Rob”? He has come down with a serious case of the dread virus.

September 11, 2020

Always a need for prayer! So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

“John”, the homeless man awaiting biopsy results from last week, passed by again. His lymph node did have cancer, and he faces more tests to see how far it’s spread. Prayers, please? May he be drawn closer to Christ in his illness.

“John, the parking lot attendant” stopped by again. He told us how a fire in central Idaho got started. A woman had filled her wood stove with coal (not good). Then, as she did every night with wood, she banked the fire so it wouldn’t go out overnight (another bad idea). Since the burning coal was now not properly vented, gases built up on the floor of the house, until the inflammable layer grew deep enough to reach the pilot light on her stove. And -boom-. One of her windows, frame and all, was found 1/4 mile away. The woman survived the blast, but died of a heart attack getting away. Please pray for the happy repose of her soul?

A young couple stopped, sporting anti-Christian symbols all over. She cheerfully accepted a Rosary and the encouragement to pray it. May Our Lady obtain freedom for them from their enemy, and lead them to her Son and salvation!

A commercial was being filmed on the major street forming the south end of the business park. Many policemen were on duty, controlling traffic on all the major streets around the area. The vehicle being filmed, and the camera truck, went by many times before they were satisfied. The policemen were not allowed to say who the commercial was for.

A man stopped for a Rosary for his mother. He asked for a Divine Mercy card for himself.

A group of four pre-teens, dripping wet from the fountain, each accepted a Rosary and its pamphlet, and the encouragement to pray it.

A father and child stopped, the father had a Happy Birthday balloon floating behind his shoulder, since they were out celebrating his birthday. He is Catholic, said he had finally begun to take his Faith seriously, and was reading the Bible. May the Holy Spirit guide his reading and draw him closer to his Lord.

“James”, the developmentally delayed homeless man, stopped by again. He said he had given last week’s Rosary to his mother. We gave him a pamphlet, so he could continue practicing the prayers. At the mention of his mother, e. Lucy remembered our first encounter with him, years ago. At that time, and occasionally during the ensuing years, he had asked prayers for her. She struggled with addiction, James had said, and sometimes he’d had no idea where she was. This time, though, he told us she was “doing fine.” Praise God!

As we were walking back to our vehicles, we ran into two of the teenage skateboarders and one of the girls who had received Rosaries a few weeks before. We greeted them and asked if they had tried praying the Rosary. Like a kid who forgot his homework, one boy replied with a nervous yes that meant no, while the other boy gave us a sarcastic “of course”. The young lady just smiled. We encouraged them to keep trying.

Foot traffic was fairly light. Traffic was more congested than usual, due to the filming project, and the air was hazy from other states’ forest fires. Still, people seemed to be in a fairly good mood. Altogether, we gave away 10-15 Rosaries and its booklet, and 1 Divine Mercy prayer card.

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

Your prayers make a positive difference! 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).

P.S. Another few particular thank yous, for continued assurance of your prayers, your encouraging words, and other support : especially from Randy, Barbara, Michael, Joanne, and Alice!

August 23, 2020

God loves us, rich or poor, and we try to reach each one! So thank you for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization apostolate!

A man was sleeping in the corner near us as we set up. A similar-looking man woke him, then crossed the park to a picnic table. The first man got up, accepted a Rosary and its pamphlet from us, then went to join the other man. They sat at the table, and we continued to offer Rosaries. Near the end of the session, the second man came back over and requested a Rosary for himself. He had just had a biopsy (the results to have come a couple of days later) and asked us to pray. May the Lord’s will be done, and may He grant salvation!

A man stopped, his shirt displaying non-Christian symbols. He knew Christ, though, and became interested when e. Chuck described the Rosary’s focus on Him. Then he asked, “Do you guys have any food vouchers?” E. Lucy encouraged him, if he wanted his luck to change for the better, to sit down and learn the Rosary.

“James”, a repeat visitor from many years ago, came and stayed awhile. He was glad to see us again. He had lost his Rosary, but tried to remember the Hail Mary. Evangelist Lucy helped him with it, then let him have another Rosary and its pamphlet. Unfortunately, James didn’t seem exactly sober, and nearly frightened a family away when they wanted a Rosary for their 4-year-old girl. The dad brought the girl to our table anyway, and she received her Rosary, but the family didn’t linger. James then moved closer to the center of the square, rolled out his sleeping bag, and tried to sleep. Toward the end of the session, a few drops of rain fell, and James, now more subdued, gathered his stuff and moved on.

Meanwhile, another family passed by, saying a polite no thank you to our offer of a Rosary. On their way back, somewhat later, the dad dropped back and presented e. Chuck with a tract (about heaven and hell, and choosing heaven by inviting Jesus into one’s heart). He told us to pray only directly to God. Of course, he didn’t pause long enough to let us explain the much richer Catholic understanding of prayer. Pray he hears Christ, from the Cross, offering His beloved Mother to us all!

A large family group passed, then a father and young son broke away and came for a Rosary. The boy chose his Rosary and rejoined the family. But the father, who is Catholic, stayed as e. Lucy showed him how to use the pamphlet and learn to pray the Rosary.

Altogether, the two evangelists gave away 10-12 Rosaries and its pamphlet.

Please pray for us again today? Ask God to send people to us prepared to perceive their need for Our Savior Jesus Christ and His Holy Catholic Church!

Rich or poor, God loves us all. 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).

August 16, 2020

Young people are out and about, and we try to reach them. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A group of 4-5 teenage boys zoomed by on noisy skateboards. They ignored our offer of a Rosary until the last and smallest member of the pack stopped. He accepted Rosary and pamphlet, then sped off to rejoin the group. Minutes later, they all came riding back, wanting a Rosary. As we handed them out, explaining the devotion, a tall teen asked, “What religion is this?” We started telling him about Christ, when a long-haired young man interrupted and asked how to actually pray the Rosary. Another boy then started asking if this and that (e.g., using nicotine, illegal drugs) was a sin. E. Chuck fielded the questions, while e. Lucy handed one of the boys a copy of the “Confession” pamphlet, with its self-test on their relationship with God and what can harm it. The tall boy then took up the questioning and, with an almost joking manner, asked e. Chuck very pointed questions about sins against purity. When e. Chuck said that one such activity was indeed sinful, the teen crowed, “That’s a deal breaker!” and he sped off (but still wearing the Rosary). But then, another few minutes later, they came back again, this time with two girls added to the group. The girls each accepted a Rosary. Another girl was following the group, but probably wasn’t part of it, since we saw her by herself again later. She also accepted a Rosary. Altogether? 10 Rosaries and its booklet, and a copy of the Confession pamphlet.

A two-family group stopped, interested in the Rosaries. The mom told us they were “church shopping”, attending a different denomination’s service every weekend. They had started saying to each other, “We need to go to the Catholic Church,” but hadn’t yet. E. Lucy gave the mom a map of area parishes, and encouraged her to check the parish website before going, because Mass times have been changing frequently. That group accounted for another 10 Rosaries and its booklet, plus a map.

The woman, a previous visitor who has and uses all sorts of prayer beads, had received a Rosary from us recently. She stopped to thank us for it. When e. Lucy suggested that if she wanted to “take it to the next level”, she might try praying all 4 sets of Mysteries. “Funny thing,” the woman said, “just the other night I did that. I stayed up all night praying it, and couldn’t stop crying.” Her grasp on spiritual truths is still very confused, but we encouraged her to continue praying the Rosary, confident in our Blessed Mother. May Mary help the woman sort out her religious confusion.

A woman on a bicycle stopped, a toddler in the bicycle’s baby trailer. She accepted a Rosary, but said it was for her child. E. Lucy encouraged her to begin praying it, for peace and protection.

Two men stopped. One made a point of choosing a pink Rosary. We encouraged them each to pray it.

Two 20-something women, one raised Catholic and the other not, each took a Rosary. As e. Lucy explained to the non-Catholic how to pray it, e. Chuck encouraged the Catholic to pray the Rosary with her friend.

We had a similar encounter with a young couple. She was Catholic and he was not, so we encouraged her to pray the Rosary with him.

Altogether, we gave away better than 30 Rosaries and its pamphlets, 2 maps at least, and 1 Confession pamphlet.

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

Young people may be careless, but God is calling them. 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).

August 16, 2020

Attracted by the Rosary, people find a means to grow closer to Jesus Christ. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort!

A mother with two children (8-10 years old) stopped. Since they were visiting in town, she asked where the nearest Catholic church was. Evangelist Lucy gave her directions, and showed her a thumbnail photo of the church on our map. The evangelist then suggested the mom check the parish website, listed on the map, to see if they had started offering Sunday evening Masses again and/or their Sunday afternoon docent tours.

Two men, each carrying a new-style longboard, stopped. One talked with e. Chuck, while e. Lucy fixed the other one up with Rosary and brochure. When the latter admitted he wasn’t “Christian or anything”, she also offered him a copy of the kerygma.

A passing man did not stop, at first giving an emphatic “no thank you” to our offer of a Rosary. But then he slowed down long enough to ask us to pray for our country, “as it is in desperate need of prayer”. We agreed. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Two teenage boys stopped. Each gladly accepted a Rosary and its pamphlet. A short time later, one of them came back to the table, showing us the little silver cross necklace he had on. He said he had taken it off to do something a couple hours earlier and had forgotten about it, until he picked up a Rosary. He had then run back to where he had left it … and found it still there!

One of a pair of women stopped. She had been looking for a cross to hang on her rear view mirror, she said. So we explained the power of actually praying with the Rosary.

A man stopped, wanting a Rosary. He was not Catholic, so we began explaining the prayers. But he stopped us, saying he knew all about it because he had gone to Catholic school. May the Lord grant his return to the Rosary and to the Sacraments!

A woman passed by, saying she only prayed her grandmother’s old Rosary. May we all shine so much with the Faith that it inspires the next generation to seek God in prayer and Sacrament.

A couple who were riding electric scooters stopped. He was dressed in a flamboyantly floral matching top and shorts. He enthusiastically accepted our offer of a free Rosary, and called his partner over. The man told e. Chuck that he did not know what the Rosary was for. Then he thanked him for explaining how to pray it, and wrapped the Rosary on his wrist. The woman also accepted Rosary, pamphlet, and encouragement to pray it.

A man was gathering signatures on a petition to get someone onto the ballet for US President (but who had no experience at all in politics, even at a local level). We declined, but our visitor accepted a Rosary, its pamphlet, and some reasons to begin praying it.

Altogether, the two evangelists gave away about 10-15 Rosaries and its booklet, 1 copy of the kerygma, and 1 map to area parishes.

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

The Rosary attracts young and old, believer and lost! May they each hear Our Blessed Mother gently say, “Do whatever He tells you.” 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).

August 6, 2020

Calling all to Christ through His Church! So thank you for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort. Two evangelists were available last week.

A group of men, possibly related, were sightseeing, and one came to the table for a Rosary and its pamphlet on how to pray it. But when he showed it to the others, they told him it was Catholic and he should take it back. So, he came back to the table. We showed him again that all the meditations were Biblical and focused on Christ, but he laid the Rosary and pamphlet down, saying he “had some at home” (meaning, we guess, cross necklaces).

A middle-aged couple stopped. She said she grew up Catholic, then turned to a non-Christian religion, but is now Christian again. She felt she was “in a good place with Christ.” She chose a Rosary, accepted a pamphlet, and politely listened as e. Chuck encouraged her to return to the Church and get really close to Christ in the Eucharist. She said “someday” she would, and left.

A man stopped who said he was visiting from “up north”. He requested a Rosary for each member of his family. We encouraged him to have them all pray it together.

A mother and pre-teen son stopped. She chose a Rosary, but the young man said he didn’t think he’d use it and so declined. They passed by again and, from what we could hear through the mother’s mask, she thanked us for being out there. Our guess is that she is Catholic. In fact, when e. Chuck gave her the Rosary pamphlet, she said she knew all about it.

There was a young woman with a mask with a broken strap that talked quite a while with e. Lucy. She accepted a Rosary and the encouragement to pray it.

A 30-something couple stopped. She sported red contacts in her eyes, but seemed interested in the Rosary. She also asked, “Why, in the Ten Commandments, does God command us to keep Sunday holy?” E. Lucy talked about how forgetful humans are, and that we need to regularly remember the loving God Who created us, and how things go better when we follow His plan, which is for our good and not for woe. E. Chuck added that we set aside 1/7 of our time to spend worshiping God. She thought that made a lot of sense. The man with her said he’d been raised Christian (but seemed to be far away from that now). E. Lucy offered him a “Good News”/kerygma pamphlet, which gives the basic Christian message from a Catholic point of view.

Altogether, we gave away about 15 Rosaries and it pamphlet, as well as one copy of the kerygma.

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

God is calling people to the Sacraments! 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).

P.S. A big thank you to those of you who joined us in prayer during the Rosary novena against civil unrest in the city, as well as the anti-life agenda revealed by the recently elected mayor. In the first days of the novena, many angry outbursts were noted in the streets surrounding the City Hall square. By the end of the campaign, not only had peace returned, but every day, one or more large (4 or more children), intact family groups also came to or through the plaza. This feels like our prayers were heard! So thank you so much! We plan one more round today, in Thanksgiving, and I invite you to pray that with us, too?

July 26, 2020

A most powerful prayer is the Rosary. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort. Two evangelists were available.

An apparently homeless man, upon hearing the Rosary was a prayer, took one and its booklet. He said, “Yes, I said a prayer once. I’d like to again.”

A Catholic family (father, mother, maternal grandmother, 4 teens, 1 toddler) stopped when the dad led the older boys to the table. The mother, “Redarita”, and her mother came over a few moments later with the girl and youngest child. They each took a Rosary, except the toddler. The grandmother gladly accepted the Rosary pamphlet in Spanish. We urged them to start praying the Rosary together.

A man showed us he was wearing around his neck a symbol of a non-Christian entity. He passed us twice, and responded to our offer of a Rosary by saying that he was good. Pray for him?

A man, already Catholic and who has a Rosary, shared his theory about whether we’re in the final “end times”.

Two men in their early 20s chose a Rosary apiece. We explained the devotion and encouraged them to begin praying it.

For the second time, a man passed by carrying a large, silver, totally sun-blocking umbrella. He took the long way around the square, using the corridor past the hockey arena instead of cutting through the middle. When he reached the point where the corridor intersected the main part of the business park, across the sidewalk from us, we called a friendly “Good Afternoon!” Both times, he instantly and noisily snapped the umbrella open between him and us, putting it back down once he was out of earshot. (Are we shining that brightly?) Please pray for him, that God’s love reaches even through his fear and anger.

Altogether, we gave away about 15 Rosaries and its pamphlet on how to pray it.

Please pray for us again today? Ask God to send people to us prepared to perceive their need for Jesus Christ and His Holy Catholic Church, and that much good fruit for His Kingdom comes of today’s efforts. After the street evangelization session, we plan to proceed to City Hall to pray there.

Our Blessed Lady leads us to her Son, telling us, “Do whatever He tells you.” 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!

P.S. Regarding the Rosary novena taking place at City Hall: Thank you for your prayers! During the first two days, it has been mainly uneventful, except during the Sorrowful Mysteries. We remained safe, however, and the whole area became peaceful again before we reached the end of the Glorious Mysteries. So, it’s probably doing some good, you think? Please continue to pray for/with us?

July 25, 2020

Our most recent “adventures”. Thank you for your prayers!

We had a long talk with “Alcien”(?) and his step/foster father. Evangelist Chuck talked with Alcien, while the father talked to e. Lucy. The father’s story was inconsistent. He claimed he had adopted the (adult) Alcien, but Alcien said he was just staying with the man for awhile. They both said that Alcien was from Brazil. The dad claimed to be Catholic, but had a very non-Catholic mindset, claiming that knowing the Bible and doing charitable deeds was all that was required for salvation. He didn’t seem to have gone to Mass in a long time, but later said he made sure “his son” went to Mass every week. Alcien told e. Chuck that he is 24, lives in Sao Paulo, and that his family also has a country house. He is currently studying business administration in college. Not religious, he wasn’t even sure how the Catholic Church was doing, but did know about the growing evangelical movement that some of his friends were part of. He said they were very “in your face” and if you did not agree with their religion they cut you off. There is currently lots of economic hardship in Brazil, he said, and since the haves and have-nots contrast so starkly, the streets are now doubly dangerous.

A couple off Catholics, in different groups, accepted Rosary and pamphlet. E. Lucy encouraged them to begin praying it every day!

A pair of college-aged men accepted Rosaries. They said they were Christian, so we encouraged them to pray it every day, meditating on the Mysteries, in order to “deepen their walk with Christ”.

A family stopped. Four out of the six accepted Rosary and booklet. E. Chuck talked with half the group.

Two mothers with several children in tow selected Rosaries. When e. Chuck showed one how the Rosary helps us spend more time meditating on Christ, she responded, “we need more of that.”

A woman on a bicycle, and perhaps homeless, took a Rosary. But she did not respond coherently when e. Chuck talked with her about it, seeming instead to be in a muttered conversation with herself and focused on getting it around her neck. Mental illness issues to pray for?

Altogether, the two evangelists gave away 10-15 Rosaries and its booklet.

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

Being visibly Catholic is always an adventure! 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).

July 25, 2020

A man stopped, excited because his wife had just had their first-born son, “Anthony”. The new dad was still wearing his hospital badge and wrist ID band. His wife had needed a C-section, but was doing fine now. The man was out to get some food (presumably unavailable from the hospital cafeteria). He accepted our only baby blue Rosary for his new boy. Happy birthday Anthony, may your life be one of steadfast love for Christ Jesus and his Church!

A man, perhaps in his early 30s and named “Cody” (or “Cory”?), talked awhile with evangelist Chuck. Our visitor showed Chuck the non-Christian prayer beads he was wearing around his neck. Cody did not hold to any one religion, believing in a sort of loose mishmash of them all. He said he would meditate on this big whatever and ask for protection from ancestors. He objected to Christianity, saying it was unreliable, comparing it to the “telephone game” among non-oral cultures who have trouble remembering spoken words accurately. May God lead him to the truth.

A woman who stopped a couple of weeks ago, stopped again. She said she hadn’t yet given her brother “Dave” the Rosary she’d gotten at that time. E. Lucy gave her a copy of the “Confession” pamphlet for him, telling her that it had a good self-test of where his relationship was with God, and telling her that sometimes God waits for a movement toward repentance and the will to stop sinful habits before he reaches down with healing. The woman’s eyes lit up at that, and she said she’d tell her brother.

A large family group stopped and a couple members of the group picked out Rosaries. Others said they already had one, and one woman said she had stopped maybe a year ago and her children received Rosaries then. They were thankful to see the Rosary being made available to the public.

At least another four people that went by and said they had picked up Rosaries from us in the past!

Altogether, the two evangelists gave away at least 20 Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as one “Confession” pamphlet.

Please pray for these people and our ongoing evangelization efforts? In turn, may God protect and greatly bless you and all those you love!

July 5, 2020

Still reaching people. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

The woman who caused us to have to sanitize several Rosaries the previous session, while she was making her choice, was back again. This time, she stuck with only her second choice. A woman with her asked for a black Rosary, but she was pointing to a dark blue one. So evangelist Lucy gave her a black one. The woman also wanted a second one “for a friend”, but Lucy invited her to ask her friend to come by. She came back again, later in the session. Not recognizing her at first, e. Chuck offered her a Rosary again, but she said she had a blue one.

A man from another country was on his phone, trying to meet up with friends. Catholic, he chatted with us briefly while waiting for his party to call him back. We didn’t have time to get him a map of local parishes before he received the call and left.

Another man, part of what looked like a two-family group, came and talked briefly with e. Chuck, accepting Rosary and pamphlet. Two girls from the same group, both under the age of 8, came to the table. They each accepted a Rosary, too.

A group of Christian young people all came to the table after the first woman stopped. They each accepted Rosary and booklet, and the encouragement to pray the Rosary to grow closer to Jesus Christ.

“Cole” passed 4 or 5 times, doing his laps. We hadn’t seen him for a month or so. He greeted us, but didn’t say much.

There was noticeably less foot traffic during the session, possibly due to a combination of two factors. The weather was unseasonably cool and breezy. Plus, the mayor of the city had rolled back the reopening phase, due to a sudden increase in cases. Still, the two evangelists gave away 12-15 Rosaries and its booklet.

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

Still out there, trying to reach people for Jesus Christ and the salvation He offers. 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!

“The Lord changed his mind about the calamity, and said to the angel causing the destruction among the people: Enough now! Stay your hand.” (2 Sam 24:16b)

June 28, 2020

People hunger for peace, so thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort. Two evangelists were available.

For the US holiday, “Father’s Day”, the business park’s fountain was going, its first appearance since “Labor Day”, last fall. Children played in the water, while other people biked through it, or sat and visited at nearby picnic tables. The weather was pleasant and people were generally cheerful.

Two men, early- to md-30s, accepted our offer of a free Rosary. One, stage-named “Watermelon”, showed us a promotional photo of himself. Neither man seemed to have a current religious affiliation, but were familiar with Christianity from sometime in their past. They each accepted a Rosary and its booklet. When evangelist Lucy mentioned to one that people found protection and an unexplained experience of peace when they prayed the Rosary, he became enthusiastic about trying it.

Two early teens on bikes passed by, then came back for a Rosary. They put them in their pockets, but one Rosary fell out as they rode across the Grove. Later, an adult couple received Rosaries from us, then soon returned to the table, bringing the black Rosary they had found on the ground. We sanitized it and put it back into circulation. It was chosen again a short time later by a man in his 20s.

A woman, perhaps late 30s, came to our table dripping wet from the fountain. When she learned of the power in praying the Rosary, she asked for a second one for her brother “who struggles with addiction.” E. Lucy encouraged her to pray it together with him, while e. Chuck encouraged her to also pray it for him.

“David” visited with us for a long while. He was Catholic, in his early 60s, and named a local parish. However, he hadn’t checked to see if and when they had reopened. He proceeded to try to recite the Rosary prayers, but at first confused it with the Stations of the Cross devotion. When he got onto the correct prayers, he needed a lot of prompting. Except for a few key phrases, he didn’t seem to know the Faith very well. Please pray for him?

Two adult men on bikes circled back for a Rosary. They were not familiar with the Rosary, but knew and loved Jesus Christ. They became interested in praying the Rosary when they saw how the Mysteries focused on Him. (This encounter left e. Lucy with “God bumps”.)

A young lady broke off from (her parents?) and came over. E. Lucy talked with her a long time and she seemed very attentive.

Altogether, we gave away 10-15 Rosaries and its booklet.

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

Praying the Rosary brings peace, and people are hungry for that. 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).

June 22, 2020

People don’t remain neutral about the Rosary! So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A group of adults on electric scooters passed by, then one man circled back. Staying on his moving scooter, he asked, “Why are you idolaters?” We replied, “We don’t worship the Rosary!” But he insisted, “Then why do you sell the thing?” To which we replied, “We don’t sell it, and it’s for prayer.” He declared, “It looks like idolatry to me,” and sped away. Afterwards, we prayed 1 decade for him in reparation. Join us?

A visitor was evasive when asked whether he knew anything about the Rosary, or if he knew Christ. Finally, he admitted he was unsure which if any religion was true. E. Chuck encouraged him to be a “good agnostic” and to explore the prayers of the Rosary with an open mind, to dig deep into the Rosary’s stories as he asked his questions. E. Lucy also gave him a Good News/kerygma pamphlet. He said he would study it and try the Rosary, saying, “Who knows? Maybe this will bring me to faith?” Lord, please grant he listens to the Holy Spirit!

A nonbeliever stopped, but didn’t seem interested in the Rosary as itself. He saw it as just the same as prayer beads used in non-Christian religions. We gave a quick explanation the Rosary and how to pray it. We also gave him a copy of the kerygma. He seemed a bit reluctant to accept the pamphlet, but politely did so. Then he told us a story of a buddy of his who served in military active duty overseas. They were usually forbidden fires or any kind of light in the trenches, but during a cease-fire they were allowed some light. His buddy told him of one night during a ceasefire, when he looked up and down the trench at the fires. He said the only sound he could hear was the clicking of Rosary beads. After our visitor told us the story, he suddenly looked with new appreciation at the Rosary he had just chosen, and expressed an eagerness to learn to pray it.

A down-and-out-looking couple stopped. He wanted a purple Rosary, then said the woman should pick. She picked one out, then changed her mind two more times (those Rosaries were set aside for cleaning). The man was a non-believer, but eventually accepted the Rosary and kerygma brochures from e. Lucy, and chose a Rosary for himself. The woman told e. Chuck that she had been Catholic as a kid, and asked him for a Divine Mercy Chaplet prayer card. He explained that she could use the beads to pray this prayer as well. Please pray for them?

Quite a few people, including a group of young teens on skateboards or scooters, told us they already had a Rosary. We asked them to pray it for us.

A man called out, “I don’t believe in magic”. He didn’t stop to talk, but we agree that magic use is reprehensible. We also recall the Church’s teaching that any attempt to use occult powers is “gravely contrary to the virtue of religion” and is condemned (CCC 2117). Instead, we believe in God, His great love and mercy, and His Lordship.

Altogether, we gave away 15-20 Rosaries, 3 copies of the kerygma, and 1 Divine Mercy prayer card.

Please pray for us again today? Ask God to send people to us who are prepared to perceive their need for Jesus Christ and His Holy Catholic Church, and that much good fruit for His kingdom comes of today’s efforts!

Even nonbelievers want to pray the Rosary! 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).

June 15, 2020

The Rosary deepens our trust in Jesus! So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

Two men (early 30s) stopped. One stood back, uninterested. The other wanted a “pretty Rosary” because he “grew up Catholic”. He listened politely to our explanation of and encouragement to pray the Rosary and think about the life of Jesus. He took a Rosary and its pamphlet.

Two more men stopped. Both were non-Catholic Christians. One asked evangelist Chuck to explain the difference between Catholicism and Christianity. Hearing they were the same, he then asked what was special about Catholicism. E. Chuck mentioned the historicity of the Church, its unity, and its apostolic succession. He mentioned an experience, during his RCIA journey, when he shook the bishop’s hand. Once Chuck understood the significance of apostolic succession, he was awestruck. His listener seemed equally impressed with the connection of our bishop all the way back to Christ. He and his friend each accepted a Rosary and expressed the desire to try it “right away.”

A 20-something man carrying a huge skateboard stopped and asked, “What’s this?” He did not know what a Rosary was, and did not respond when asked if he knew Jesus. So we told him about Jesus Christ and the Rosary and the helpfulness of prayer. He accepted Rosary and pamphlet on how to pray it, expressing a desire to learn it. Then, halfway across the square he stopped, stood still on his skateboard, and briefly looked through the pamphlet. May he hear the call to faith, hope, and love in Christ.

An apparently homeless man made a shuffling beeline directly toward us upon entering the square. He asked for a Divine Mercy bookmark. Then he also accepted a Rosary and its booklet and the encouragement to pray it.

Another two men stopped. One accepted a Rosary, but said he’d give it to his mother “who would appreciate it.”

A heavily tattooed man and woman stopped. She also sported lots of piercings and was wearing a t-shirt full of non-Christian symbols. They did not know what the Rosary was, and so were thrilled to hear the Rosary consisted of meditations on scenes from the life of Christ. They each accepted a Rosary and its pamphlet, and the encouragement to try it, which the woman couldn’t wait to do.

One man from a group on scooters stopped. He had gone through RCIA just a few years before. He had recently moved here from out of state and connected with a local parish. He took a Rosary and its pamphlet.

Two 20-something men stopped. One stood back, while the other approached the table. He was not familiar with the Rosary, but did know and love Jesus Christ. He grew interested in the Rosary when he saw its emphasis was on the life of Christ. He had not heard of a Creed before and was glad to know it was in the pamphlet. The man who had been standing back then also chose a Rosary, asking if it included the prayer used in his addiction recovery group. It turned out that he meant the Lord’s Prayer and was glad to have it a copy of it in the Rosary brochure.

Cold, breezy weather kept most people indoors, but there were moments of sunshine. Despite the light foot traffice, the two evangelists gave away 15 or so Rosaries and its booklet, and 1 Divine Mercy bookmark.

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

The Rosary leads to Jesus Christ! 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).

June 7, 2020

Heading out again today! So thank you for your continued prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

Not quite two weeks ago, one of our team members was tested for COVID-19. The result was “negative”, praise God! But a strict 10-day self-quarantine was still required “in order to comply with CDC guidelines”. Hence, we practiced another stay-at-home session last week. Do hope you were able to pray with us!

Also, our team’s use of PPE has raised certain concerns for our own health. Evangelist Chuck presents our reasoning behind the practice.

Obviously, “the jury will be out” on what works and what doesn’t for some time, since virtually everything we see in the news is speculation. But perceptions are important.

Masks and sneeze shields and gloves are a way of knocking down barriers for people to find connections to Christ through the Rosary. If one person who desires Christ avoids the table because we have no masks or other barriers, then that is a great loss.

If done out of love, whether medically effective or not, then it is a small sacrifice that is worth it in my eyes. Thanks for your prayers and your love!

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

Taking the Gospel to the streets, where the Good News is so needed, we entrust our well-being to Our Lord. So thank you again for your prayers, your concern, and your 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).

May 31, 2020

Is it over? We think not, so thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

After a week of unusually heavy rain, we had beautiful weather for the national holiday known as “Memorial Day weekend”. The number of people out reached pre-pandemic levels. Despite government guidelines, only 3 people besides ourselves wore masks.

We two evangelists, masked and gloved, set up our table with Rosaries and pamphlets again, for the first time in a couple of months. We were using our newly finished Plexiglas “table topper” sneeze guard. It seemed to really encourage visitors.

“John”, the mask-wearing parking lot attendant, visited for awhile. Our governor, while allowing a few businesses to resume, had said, “continue to wear masks, stay 6 ft apart”. But people acted as if they heard, “It’s over. As you were.” John had brought a few extra paper masks with him in case anyone, seeing his, expressed a desire for one. No one had. He also noted that the daily number of new cases in the area has increased dramatically.

Evangelist Chuck had at least 3 people grab the Rosary out of his hand as they rode by without stopping. He got faster at getting the booklet into their hands, too,

A 30-something man stopped. He’d been raised Catholic, but had been away from the Church for awhile. He told us that he was feeling the tug to come back. He accepted a Rosary, its booklet, and a map to area parishes.

Another man accepted a Rosary and its pamphlet, saying he was raised Catholic. Every time his family went anywhere in a car, they would say the Rosary in Spanish. So, he could recite the Rosary in Spanish, but still did not understand the words. We encouraged him to study the prayer in English and to seek a parish to attend.

Two 20-something men stopped. They each accepted a Rosary and the booklet on how to pray it. One requested another copy of the booklet in Spanish. We encouraged them to get in the habit of praying it daily.

A non-Catholic Christian couple stopped. They were hesitant to accept a Rosary when they heard we were Catholic. But we showed them how the Rosary was a tool for entering into a deep meditation on the life of Christ, and they got excited. “I can’t wait to try it!” the woman kept saying as they took their leave.

A cognitively impaired man stopped. He was almost overly grateful to receive a free Rosary. He insisted on shaking e. Chuck’s hand as he left. (Chuck changed into a clean glove afterward.)

A man and grandson (perhaps 5 years old) stopped. The man had evidently gotten a Rosary from us before. That morning, they had attended a non-Catholic Christian church and were glad that churches were opening up again. They each accepted a Rosary and the encouragement to pray it, “for protection”.

Several people thanked us for being there, saying they had already received a Rosary from us in the past.

A group of 20-something men stopped and accepted Rosaries and its pamphlet. They were in town for a job. The man from the eastern part of the country was the most enthusiastic and appreciative.

One man from a passing group refused receiving a Rosary by holding up a can and saying, “No thanks, I have beer.” Lord, have mercy!

We had such a constant stream of visitors that the two evangelists managed to pray only 1 decade of the Rosary. We gave away 15-20 Rosaries and its pamphlet (less one), and at least 1 map to area parishes.

Please pray for us again today? We’re doing another “pray together separately” session, since one team member, though asymptomatic, is under strict quarantine pending test results. We plan to pray all 20 decades of the Rosary at our usual session time. Please join us in praying that many people will perceive their need for Jesus Christ and His Holy Catholic Church, and that much good fruit for His Kingdom comes of our efforts.

Wishful thinking can lead to unwise behavior. Spiritual danger has not lessened, hence the need for a continued visible Catholic presence in public. So thank you again so much for your prayers and other support for this apostolate. In turn, may God protect and greatly bless you and all those you love!

“Send forth your Spirit; they are created and you renew the face of the earth” Psalm 104:30.

May 24, 2020

As fear recedes, some people approach to receive a Rosary and encouragement! So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A non-Catholic Christian stopped. He was surprised to hear that the Rosary was about Jesus, because he has a problem with Mary (and, in general, with asking the Saints to pray with him). He at least expressed a modicum of respect for Mary for carrying the Christ in her womb, but couldn’t see her as the model Christian. Instead, he admired Paul. He already was in the habit of studying the Bible some every day. So evangelist Lucy asked if he also stopped to meditate afterwards on what he read, asking God to show him how to apply it in his life. He said, “To be honest, no.” She then showed him in the pamphlet where to find each Mystery in the Bible, and encouraged him to spend some time every day meditating on them. He accepted the pamphlet.

A 20-something woman (sans mask) responded, “Yes, i do want a Rosary!” She said she was Catholic, so e. Lucy also gave her a copy of the prayers Pope Francis requested we add during the month of May.

A shabbily dressed man on a bicycle stopped. He chose the Rosary that e. Chuck was holding, but then said he’d give it to his girlfriend.

A man, the second member of a group of two people passing by on bicycles, circled back around and accepted a Rosary from us. The other half of the group, a woman, then came back and joined us, a moment or so later. They each accepted a Rosary and its booklet.

The two evangelists, in mask & gloves, gave away at least 4 Rosaries and the pamphlet on how to pray it, as well as an extra copy of the pamphlet. Foot traffic was light, so the evangelists also prayed aloud the first 17 Mysteries of the Rosary.

Please pray for us again today? We now have a Plexiglas table topper to protect our Rosaries and pamphlets from contamination, and we look forward to trying it out. (May God bless our benefactor!) Please pray that God will send people to us, ready to perceive their need for Our Savior and the Holy Catholic Church. Please pray that much good fruit for His Kingdom comes of today’s efforts!

The reality of Jesus Christ still needs to be heard! 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).

May 24, 2020

Heading out again today! So thank you for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

What kept us away last week? One evangelist had the good fortune to be tapped to take part in his parish’s practice run of their “drive through” mode of distribution of the Holy Eucharist, which is slated to go live today. The other evangelist found herself without a mask through which people could hear her.

So, we again prayed “together separately” from our homes: 20 Mysteries of the Rosary. Another big thank you to you who joined us!

Many governors are lifting restrictions (since people seem to be ignoring them anyway). So this pandemic may be with us for a while. Please continue to pray for its end, for healing for those wounded by it, and for salvation for us and our cultures?

Please pray for us again today? Our “table topper” shield for the Rosaries and pamphlets is not quite ready yet. So we again plan to stand (masked and gloved) between our signs, praying the Rosary out loud, and offering them to anyone willing to accept a Rosary that has been “untouched by ungloved hands”. Please ask God to grant that much good fruit for His Kingdom comes of today’s efforts?

The need for salvation continues, and so do our efforts. 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).

May 24, 2020

Hostility perhaps increased, but the Rosary still attracts. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort. Two evangelists were available last week.

As evangelist Chuck was walking toward the place we usually set up, he passed several skateboarders, late teens to early 20s, who were practicing their skateboard tricks. Two preteen boys stood watching, their boards in hand. Chuck hadn’t yet donned his mask, one of the preteens pointed at him and said, “Hey, you’re that guy.” He recognized the boy as having gotten a Rosary in the past and they exchanged greetings. Later, he and his friend skated past where we were praying, and he smiled and waved. Later, Chuck remembered his face as part of the ketchup kerfuffle from some months past. May our presence at the Grove bring remembrance in people of Christ’s love and sacrifice for us all.

Early on, a man with his perhaps 10-year-old son passed. He started chanting something out loud, evidently to drown out the sound of our praying the Rosary. The speakers on the outside of the restaurant also seemed to increase in volume during the session. Another person passing by turned up the volume on his boom box.

Because foot traffic was light, we mostly prayed the Rosary out loud. As we began the 5th Luminous Mystery, we had our first visitors. Two homeless-looking men, stopped to ask if we had any spare change. We said no, and evangelist Lucy offered him a Rosary. He declined and started into a rant about the Catholic Church. Evangelist Lucy tried reasoning with him. He said he honored our efforts, but that we were wrong. He got more riled up and started yelling his conspiracy theories as his friend led him away.

Another man immediately stopped. Apparently also poor, but not so shabbily dressed as the previous two, he told evangelist Lucy he was a close relative to the England’s queen mother. A Boston newspaper, he said, carried an article about JFK’s congratulations on his birth. He said he knew all about the Rosary, yet declined receiving one. Though his manner remained pleasant, he didn’t seem aware of social distancing guidelines. May He who is the Real Presence heal his troubled soul.

Another homeless man passed, ignoring us. He met “Walt” partway across the square. Then both passed by, Walt talking animatedly. He didn’t see us.

When we reached the 5th Sorrowful Mystery, e. Chuck greeted a man passing by. Since he didn’t respond, he continued leading the Rosary. The man turned and asked if e. Chuck was talking to him. When e. Chuck told him no, he asked if he wanted to kiss his ring. “What?! No.” The man then angrily asked him to stay out of his business. Odd.

A family of six passed by, declining our offer of a free Rosary. A short time later, they returned, the father leading them straight toward us. They were Catholic, and were happy they had been able to attend the first Spanish-language Mass in the area since the shutdown. We gave everyone but the baby in the the stroller one of our new, fancy, chain Rosaries. We gave the family two of the English Rosary brochures with pictures, e. Lucy dug in our bag for some Spanish-language ones. (We don’t have our table set up yet. A benefactor is devising a Plexiglas shield for it first. May God bless him!) We encouraged the family to pray it together. They already knew of the Pope’s request that everyone pray it daily during May, and now they had the Rosaries to do so!

It was good to be out there again last week. Altogether, the two evangelists gave away 5 Rosaries and 3 Rosary pamphlets (2 English, 1 Spanish).

We are planning to do another stay-at-home prayer session today. One evangelist is unavailable, and the other inadvertently ruined her last disposable mask. (She still has a reusable one, but it renders her inaudible from 6 feet away.) Please join us in prayer? Please ask God to grant people the grace to perceive their need for Our Savior and His Holy Catholic Church, and mercifully to grant abundant good fruit for His Kingdom.

God rewards our frequent, visible, Catholic witness with peace. So thank you again for your ongoing prayers and support for this apostolate! In turn, may God protect and greatly bless you and all those you love!

“May your ears be attentive, and your eyes open, to hear the prayer that I, your servant, now offer in your presence day and night” (Nehemiah 1:6).

May 24, 2020

Back to “the street” today! So thank you again so much for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

Last week’s session consisted of another intense prayer session from our separate homes. And another big thank you to those of you who joined in with us! God hears our prayers.

In a conversation with a Catholic woman this week, I mentioned my longing to receive the Eucharist again. (Churches have been locked down here for the last 40 days.) She replied, “Oh, I just say the Spiritual Communion prayer and that’s the same thing.” No, no, no! The Church is incarnational and “spiritual communion” is only an emergency stop-gap measure. Jesus said, “unless you eat [from the Greek meaning “munch/gnaw”] the flesh of the Son and Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you” (John 6:53). Please pray for this woman and for all those Catholics who are being led astray. Longing for the Eucharist is indeed painful, and a share in carrying the Cross, but denying Its super-substantial efficacy is deadly!

Certain churches in the city tentatively opened for public Mass yesterday, taking tremendous precautions to keep everything sanitized and safe. The number of spaces for Mass attendees were limited in order to keep a 6-ft distance between worshippers (or family groups of worshippers), and they anticipated having to turn people away. Sadly, a medium-sized church building had barely 3/4 of its virus-reduced capacity taken. A smaller church had, including choir, priest, and deacon, only about 30 people attending. Is this an indication of just how few Catholics are under the age of 60? Or is this an early indication of “the Great Apostasy”? Please continue to pray that the Church herself recovers from the pandemic.

And please pray for us again today? We plan to set up our signs in our usual spot and, masked and gloved, at least pray the Rosary out loud. A professional Rosary maker has generously donated to us some spectacular “chain” Rosaries, made of used and factory-second beads (not that I can tell). We plan to use those in prayer, in hopes of attracting at least some interest. Please continue to ask God to allow people to perceive their need for Our Savior and the Holy Catholic Church, and that much good fruit for His Kingdom comes of today’s efforts!

This is a time of grace, and so many souls need radical conversion and salvation! So thank you again for your ongoing 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).

P.S. A special shout-out and heartfelt appreciation going out to Joanne, Fr. Tom, Katherine438, Katie777, Barb, Mike, and Sheila for your generous support, notes of encouragement, and prayers! May God bless you and all of you prayer warriors!

April 26, 2020

Work-from-home “street evangelization” continues. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort. God sees. No prayer is wasted.

The local governments’ stay-at-home orders are due to expire next week. This week, we still deem it imprudent to display our Rosaries and literature. This week, we still deem it a bad example (that is, behavior that could encourage others to ignore the safety precautions altogether) to resume our inviting of public contact. Please continue to pray for us for the wisdom to discern God’s will and timing for this apostolate?

My concern for my fellow Catholics continues to grow. My parish offered very limited hours for the reception of one Sacrament, Reconciliation. And people stayed away in droves! Not good. My fear is that Mass attendance, once it is offered again, will suffer from the same lack of perception of its infinite value. Please continue to pray that spiritual health is restored for the Catholic Church, for individual Catholics, and for those they love?

In his recent “Letter on the Month of May” (https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-04/letter-on-the-month-of-may-full-text.html <https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-04/letter-on-the-month-of-may-full-text.html> ), our Holy Father urges everyone to pray the Rosary daily during May. He also asks us to add some prayers at the end, related to the suffering and other needs caused by the pandemic.

Today, we plan to pray all 20 decades of the Rosary again at our typical session time, but separately from within our own homes. Join us? And please again pray that people will perceive their need for Jesus Christ and His Holy Catholic Church, and that much good fruit for His Kingdom comes of today’s efforts.

The need our Savior is as great as always! 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!

________________________________

“The Lord also restored the prosperity of Job, after he had prayed for his friends; the Lord even gave to Job twice as much as he had before” (Job 42:10) May He also restore His Church!

April 26, 2020

“Prayer, too, is evangelization”, said my spiritual director as I lamented over not being able to bring Christianity to the streets, due to government health restrictions. So, thank you again for your prayers for this apostolate. At least two of us prayed “together, separately” again last week.

We continue to pray for “the lost” – those who no longer even perceive their need for Our Savior, due to the spiritual blindness caused by bitterness or sin.

We continue to pray for “rote Catholics”, who were attending Mass out of mere habit, but had lost touch with the amazing spiritual realities hidden within the symbols. They are in real danger of not coming back. Please pray for them?

We continue to pray for an end to the pandemic, for those ill due to the virus, and for the safety of those caring for them. We also pray for God’s mercy for, and the happy repose of, the thousands of souls who have died from the disease. We also pray for those experiencing financial difficulties and life-threatening want in the aftermath of the global crisis. And, for the leaders whom God has allowed to rise to power, we pray for wisdom.

We experience heartfelt gratitude for the partial re-opening of some church buildings again, in places where the number of new infections have dropped.

Last week during our usual session time, at least two of us prayed 20 decades of the Rosary. We plan to do so again today, but starting and ending 15 minutes early, in order to also pray some special Divine Mercy Sunday devotions.

Please pray for and with us again today? Many souls are in more danger than ever. Please ask God to grant them the grace to perceive their need for Our Savior Jesus Christ and His Holy Catholic Church. Please ask that much good fruit for His Kingdom comes in answer to today’s prayers.
On this Divine Mercy Sunday, we ask God to do what we cannot. 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!

April 12, 2020

Happy Easter! Hope is resurrected! So thank you for your prayer for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort. While “offline”, we continue our intense prayer effort for lost souls.

Concern for souls increases. Crisis can be an opportunity for growth, but it can also present immense spiritual danger.

I’ve talked to Catholics who haven’t tried to view the Mass online, livestreamed or otherwise. One said, “I can’t receive Communion, so I don’t want to watch the Mass.” Arghh! No wonder I have so little hair left! A lifelong Catholic, and she still only attended Mass for what she could get, instead of as an opportunity to offer God worship in the way He asked. I’m afraid that many Catholic have fallen into that same trap. Please pray for them?

Others are in danger as their suffering increases – whether through illness, the death of loved ones, economic hardship, or through want. Yes, it’s an opportunity to learn that God is trustworthy. And indeed He is! But those who are spiritually weakened by sin may instead be tempted to “curse God and die” (Job 2:9). Suicide is a real danger.

Another spiritual danger is our culture’s drive toward self-indulgence and constant entertainment. I overheard one young woman complaining of boredom, casually mentioning her frequent sins, committed in an attempt to escape this painful reality. Please pray for her and for all “the lost”. They are especially in danger now.

But Hope is risen from the dead! And Hope does not disappoint (cf. Rom 5:5). Some Scriptures I’ve leaned on for hope this past week:

Oracle of the Lord God—I swear I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live (Ezek 33:11).

You alone, Lord, make me secure (Ps 4:9b).

If even the smallest things are beyond your control, why are you anxious about the rest? (Luke 12:26)

Last week, at least three of us prayed the entire 20 decades of the Rosary at our team’s typical session time. Although we “prayed together separately” (at the same time, but in different locations and without electronic connection), we finished at almost precisely the same moment. God is good!

Please join us in prayer again today for an end to the pandemic, as well as for the conversion of sinners, and the salvation of all human beings.

We wield a most powerful weapon: the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We also know the end of the story: God wins! So thank you again for your prayers! In turn, may God protect and greatly bless you and all those you love!

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

April 12, 2020

These times are a test of obedience, aren’t they? The governor of our state has mandated “stay at home” for everyone, except for necessities such as medicine and food. Our bishop has closed all churches and suspended all services, including Eucharistic Adoration chapels.

Therefore, we cannot do “street evangelization” in public at this time. So, we are doing the only thing possible: praying our hearts out for the conversion of sinners, and the finding of the lost.

Last week, two of us evangelists prayed all 20 decades of the Rosary at the same time, but separately in our own homes. Perhaps you joined us, too?

We prefaced our recitation of the Rosary with bishops’ prayers for those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Here are two from the Diocese of Detroit:

A prayer for the sick especially those suffering from the coronavirus.

Loving God, you sent your son Jesus Christ to heal the sick. We ask you to come to our aid in the midst of the coronavirus crisis that we too may experience your healing love. We ask you to heal those who are sick. Calm those who are living in fear. Be with those who have died and comfort their families. Inspire health professionals to aid them in their healing work. Guide national leaders to lead and make decisions with wisdom. Help us to always be aware of your presence as we place our trust in you. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Prayer for an end to the coronavirus crisis

Loving God, we come before you in our time of need. We lay before you our concerns and fears over the spread of the coronavirus. We know that you are mightier than all our fears and that the name of Jesus is the name above all other names. We ask, in the name of Jesus, that you stop the spread of the coronavirus. In your mercy, heal those who are sick and lead those who have died into your heavenly kingdom. We ask this in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.

We plan to pray the entire Rosary again this afternoon at our usual evangelization time. Please join us in prayer for the salvation of souls?

This is a time of immense danger for many souls. 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!

‘If evil comes upon us, the sword of judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before you, for your name is in this house, and we will cry out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save!’ (2 Chronicles 20:9)

April 12, 2020

No longer able to safely display the Rosaries, we decided to show up and “just” pray the Rosary out loud. Our Lady’s mantle provided a solid blue sky over the center of the business park while we did so. Two evangelists were available.

“John”, the parking garage attendant, came by twice. There were, he said, a total of 20 cars parked in the 7 parking garages that he maintains. So he had some time on his hands. He told us how 12-step groups were managing, especially with so many churches (their usual meeting places) closed. He joined us in two bishops’ prayers for an end to the spread of the disease, for victims, for healthcare workers, and for wisdom in government leaders. He took a copy of that prayer sheet and another copy of the Rosary pamphlet with him. He said he hadn’t learned to pray the Rosary yet, but hurried off before we could teach him.

Two people saluted us as they passed by.

A woman thanked us for praying the Rosary. Evangelist Chuck invited her to join us but she was running late for an appointment.

A man said how blessed he felt to have had the opportunity to worship online. When evangelist Lucy invited him to pray a decade of the Rosary with us, he said he couldn’t because he was on his way to something.

A little boy (about 4-5 years old), on a bike and watched from a distance by his grandparents, sat and stared at us as we prayed. He rode away when evangelist Chuck said hi.

We prayed all 20 decades of the Rosary, and gave away one Rosary pamphlet and a copy of the bishops’ prayers.

Our state governor has issued a Stay-at-Home order, so we plan to pray the Rosary again today, at the same time but from our separate homes. Please pray for us and/or with us? Please ask that God brings all people to Himself and salvation.

The Rosary is a powerful weapon against evil. So thank you again for your prayers and other support of 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).

March 22, 2020

Still proclaiming the Good News, we thank you for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort. Two evangelists were available last week.

Evangelist Chuck remembers a conversation that went something like this: “Do you know what the Rosary is?” “No, I’m not Catholic.” “Are you Christian?” “I don’t know.” “Do you know about Jesus Christ, Who died on the Cross?” “Yes!” We have been hearing this more and more often lately. We find “I don’t know if I’m Christian or not” perplexing. Does “Christian” and “Jesus Christ” have no connection in their minds? Are they just embarrassed to admit they are not Christian? How can we get them to understand that Jesus Christ is truly Lord, and deserves not only their love but their worship? Please pray for them?

“James” came by a couple of times. No bicycle this time, but he was trying to play a guitar with a few strings missing. He wanted another Rosary, but e. Lucy remembered that he had been part of the “merchant scheme” a few years ago, and gave him a Divine Mercy bookmark instead. E. Chuck also gave him a “victim of human trafficking” resource card.

The non-Catholic Christian photographer, from a month or so ago, stopped by again and talked with e. Chuck. No camera today, he was just riding around on an electric scooter.

Two teenage women stopped and accepted Rosaries, a brief explanation, and a Rosary pamphlet. They were Christian.

Another teenage woman stopped. As e. Chuck was explaining the Rosary, another teen, and then another, came up. We set them all up with Rosary, its booklet, and the encouragement to sit down and pray it.

“John” the parking garage attendant and, separately, a handicapped woman visited with us for quite a while. The woman’s brother is in prison, and she asked for a Rosary for him.

“Rosie”, a deacon’s widow, passed by accompanied by another woman. She said they had lots of Rosaries. When e. Lucy asked her to bring down her extras, she seemed surprised but thoughtful. They didn’t stop.

Foot traffic was light, and those who stopped were mostly under 30. One woman scolded us for giving things away, but most of the other people seemed pleased with our presence, even as they kept their distance.

Altogether, we gave away another 15-20 Rosaries and its booklet, as well as at least one map of area parishes.

Please pray for us again today? With no public worship, and dangers of contagion if someone coughs on our materials, we are planning to set up just our signs and pray. If approached, we can exhort people that now is the time to connect/reconnect with Jesus Christ. Please pray that much good fruit for His Kingdom comes of today’s efforts?

“Now is a very acceptable time” to visibly witness to Jesus Christ and His Church. 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).

March 15, 2020

Pointing to Jesus, we thank you again for your prayers and other support for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort. Two evangelists were available.

“Walt” stopped and talked somewhat briefly with evangelist Chuck. He was happy and excited because someone had given him two new model car kits, one of which he thought was quite rare. He had lots of plans for each model. He was also wearing a cap supporting those with Asperger’s.

Do you remember “James”? The last time I reported on meeting him was in May 2016 although the last encounter was perhaps a month or so later. James is a low-functioning young adult. At the time of his last visit, it seemed he was being exploited as a panhandler by his then “house mother”, but I hadn’t seen him since. But this session, while evangelist Chuck was talking with Walt, James rode by on a bicycle, then stopped. He said he was homeless and expressed envy over Walt’s pile of possessions. I asked after his mother, whom he said was doing okay. A bit later in the session, James rode past a second time. Both times I forgot to offer him a “victim of human trafficking” card. Pray for him?

About mid-session, about 5-6 members of a women’s college basketball team walked by. One of them expressed interest in a Rosary, but hurried away when the group didn’t stop. They said they’d stop on their way back. Toward the end of the session, they did come back, now numbering about a dozen. Only the one woman stopped for a Rosary, the one who had originally shown interest. A non-Catholic Christian, she was happy to receive a tool to help her grow closer to Jesus.

Two couples stopped, at separate times, and both in their late teens or early 20s. The woman of the first couple admitted she wasn’t Christian; the man of the second couple said the same. Both still seemed attracted by the Rosary. Both chose one and accepted its booklet, as well as a copy of the kerygma.

Two young men in their late teens stopped, wondering what “this” was all about. They did not know what the Rosary was for and were not Christian. But when evangelist Chuck told them that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, and had come to earth and was crucified for our sins, they said they had heard of Him. Both accepted a Rosary, its pamphlet, and a copy of the kerygma.

A Catholic couple stopped. They were in town from the eastern part of the state. The woman accepted the Rosary brochure once evangelist Lucy showed her how to use it to encourage a non-Catholic Christian to pray the Rosary. She took a Rosary as well, in case she found someone to give it to.

A college-aged man went by. Offered a free Rosary, he patted his backpack and said he had his with him.

A gender-confused person stopped, not knowing what the Rosary was, but knowing about Jesus. When the Rosary was explained, our visitor asked if it was idolatry to use the Rosary. Evangelist Lucy explained we don’t pray to the beads, and that everything we believe about Mary leads us closer to Jesus Christ. Our visitor accepted this explanation, as well as a Rosary and its pamphlet.

A trio of friends stopped. The couple was Catholic, but their friend was not yet. The Catholic man took a Rosary and its pamphlet. Then the other man decided to take a Rosary as well.

An out-of-town couple with a baby stopped. They were Catholic and talked about their parish. The wife said that her mother always insisted she have a Rosary with her. Evangelist Chuck told her it was her turn to teach her baby the Faith. Both man and wife took a Rosary.

Altogether, we gave away about 10-15 Rosaries, 4 copies of the kerygma, and 2 bookmark cards.

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

The Rosary leads people to Jesus, so thank you again for your prayers and other support of 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).

March 10, 2020

We continue our effort to reach souls, so thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort. Two evangelists were available.

A Catholic man, accompanied by perhaps wife and mother, stopped to accept a Rosary. They are not currently attending Mass, so we gave them the list of area parishes and encouraged them to get back to the Eucharist.

“Monica” recognized one of us as a reader at daily Mass. She told us she had lots of Rosaries. But, when evangelist Lucy asked her to bring some to us, she said she often has groups of people come to her house, and she gives them out to them! May God bless her apostolate!

Two young men stopped. In their late teens, they attend an upscale charter school in the area. One accepted a Rosary, saying he knew what it was. The other teen did not want anything. Evangelist Chuck spoke with the teen who took the Rosary. He had been raised Catholic by his mom and grandma, but was reluctant to talk about where his faith was now. He did say he’d try praying the Rosary.

A short time later they came back to the table, accompanied by a third teen, who wanted a Rosary but seemed to lack respect for it. He chose a black one. It didn’t fit over his Absolom-like hairstyle, so he propped it on top, the Cross dangling near his left eye. He listened with impatience to a brief explanation of the devotion, and the encouragement to “sit down and try it.” Blessed Mother, please take care of them all?

A homeless-looking man went by. He said “no, thank you” to the offer of a free Rosary. When evangelist Chuck then said, “God bless you!”, he replied, “Please don’t say that!” Lord, have mercy!

A family group went by. One woman dropped back to accept a free Rosary.

At least a half dozen people told us they already had a Rosary they had gotten from us. We asked them to pray it once for us.

One 20-something man accepted a Rosary and its pamphlet from us. He did not know anything specific about the Rosary, saying he was a non-Catholic Christian. But he was curious about Catholicism, and wanted to attend Mass at some point. He declined our list of area parishes, saying he lived on campus and would just attend Mass there. Evangelist Lucy gave him the Sunday Mass time for that evening.

A group of 2-3 young adults stopped. One wanted a Rosary because his grandmother valued it. We encouraged him to try praying it.

Although the weather was nice and many people were out, we had relatively few visitors. Please pray that nothing is interfering with the path of the people whom God wants to encounter us?

Altogether, the two evangelists gave away 10-12 Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as perhaps a map of area parishes.

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

The battle for souls continues, so that you again for your prayers and other support of 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).

March 1, 2020

We all need a Savior! So thank you again for your prayers for Boise’s Catholic street evangelization effort. Two evangelists were available.

“Manny”, our visitor from a couple of months ago, encountered evangelist Chuck at his parish. After exchanging a “You look familiar. Do I know you?” look with each other, Chuck suddenly remembered his name and story: Manny had grown up with practitioners of the occult and was deeply embedded in that philosophy. He now wanted out, he’d told us. But, Chuck said, he was still trying to use witchcraft to break free of witchcraft. Please continue to pray for Manny, that he recognize that only Our Savior, Jesus Christ, can set him free!

A Catholic man and woman stopped. He attends Mass at a nearby parish, and already has Rosaries. When evangelist Lucy asked him to “pray it once for us”, he countered with, “Yes. And I’ll pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.” The woman smiled and nodded. I glanced at the clock, 15 minutes until the Hour of Mercy.

“Ol’ Walt” stopped and talked for a full half-hour with evangelist Chuck, repeating the same stories more than once. A judge had released Walt’s assailant, and Walt was very angry. Evangelist Chuck told him that we’re praying or him. Please continue to ask especially that Walt be granted the ability to forgive?

A down-and-out family stopped. The mom lives at a nearby battered women’s shelter. She and the two young girls with her each accepted a Rosary. The mom also accepted the Rosary pamphlet. The man with them, pushing the stroller, said nothing.

Two women stopped. Claiming to be already familiar with the Rosary, they each chose one. One woman then looked with interest at our pamphlets. She accepted copies of “Praying to Saints”, “What about Mary?”, and "Marian Doctrines”.

The two evangelists gave away 15-20 Rosaries and accompanying pamphlet, 1 each of the FAQ pamphlets: “Praying to the Saints”, “What About Mary?”, and “Marian Doctrines”, and a copy each of a “Jesus Knocking” bookmark and a “Divine Mercy” bookmark.

Please pray for us again today, asking God to prepare people’s hearts to perceive their need for Jesus Christ and His Holy Catholic Church, and that much good fruit for His Kingdom comes of today’s efforts.

“Oh, happy fault!” that we were given so great a Savior! And thank you again for your prayers and other support for this apostolate of that Good News! In turn, may God protect and greatly bless you and those you love!

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

February 23, 2020

Some seeds may be sprouting! So, thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort. Two evangelists were available.

A Catholic priest, in town for a youth retreat, was happy to see us and stopped to visit briefly. He had just finished his “daily Rosary walk”, he said. At our request, he prayed briefly for those who encounter us, and for us. Then he hurried away to an appointment.

A man, from a Catholic parish in the eastern part of the state, was in town for an educator’s conference. About 40 years ago, after marrying a Catholic woman, he converted to Catholicism from a non-Catholic Christian denomination He had gone through an entire year of Marriage Preparation classes. Then, a year or two later, when he decided to become Catholic, he had to go through another full year of RCIA. (And he’s still Catholic today!) We gave him a map of area parishes, so he could catch Sunday Mass. He admires a priest who serves at the cathedral, he says.

Repeat-visitor “Ezekiel” stopped briefly. He again felt blessed for being alive another day. He asked for a Rosary this time, having given his other one away. He again smelled strongly of alcohol. Please continue to pray for him?

A teenage skateboarder passed us just slowly enough to hear our offer of a free Rosary. She grabbed the one out of evangelist Chuck’s hand, but zoomed away quicker than he could offer her the pamphlet. She joined her two male skateboarding companions in circling around the center of the business park. When her circles brought her close enough again, Chuck offered her the pamphlet, which she accepted.

A man and his wife (?) stopped by. He was Catholic but, “new to the area”, he hadn’t yet attended Mass. We gave him the list of parishes and Sunday Mass times. He chose a Rosary, but said he didn’t need the pamphlet. The woman took a Rosary and its pamphlet.

A couple were walking by, accompanied by a boy who was perhaps 8-10 years old. The parents declined receiving a Rosary, but the boy wanted one. They let him approach the table, and stood watching. The boy knew who Christ was, but nothing about the Rosary. So, evangelist Chuck gave him a quick explanation and a Rosary pamphlet. He encouraged the boy to use the Rosary to get closer to Jesus, and also to pray it with his parents.

A man on a bicycle snatched a Rosary out of evangelist Chuck’s hand, without slowing down.

“Mr. Steel-Crew-Cut” strode past again. When evangelist Chuck asked how he was doing, he spoke to us for the first time ever. He said, “Much better. I’m back on my feet again.” Thank you for your prayers!

Two uniformed police officers on bicycles greeted us as we set up.

The weather was rainy, and foot traffic was very light. During the lulls between visitors the two evangelists prayed the entire set of Luminous Mysteries. Between 5 and 10 Rosaries found a new home, as well as 1-2 maps.

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

May the Lord’s harvest be abundant! 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).

February 9, 2020

With God, all is indeed possible, even softened hearts! So thank you again for your prayers for Boise’s Catholic street evangelization effort. One evangelist was available.

The Feast of the Purification (Candlemas) occurred on an almost-a-national-holiday in the US, when a national playoff game is televised. Foot traffic was light and nearby parking was available. The weather, though, was gray, damp, and with drizzling snow blowing in changing directions. (However, it all dried up about “closing time.”)

At one point, a row of pamphlets blew off my table. About 6-7 young people rushed out of nowhere to chase them down and help pick them up. All but 3 were gone again before I could say, “Thank you. Do you want a free Rosary?” The last 3 declined.

Also, quite a few people, young and older, were staring intensely at their phones as they walked around. Several, when asked if they were playing a (formerly popular and somewhat harmless) video game, answered no, but were otherwise evasive. God save them!

The tall man, with sharply chiseled facial features and thick steel-gray crew cut, went by again. Usually, if he responds to us at all, it is with tension, a frown, and a sharp no. This time, I was just setting up and didn’t have any Rosaries out yet, but he smiled and waved when he saw me. (See? God does soften hearts!)

A man stopped. He had come into the Church about two years ago, he said. He chose a Rosary but declined its pamphlet, already familiar with the Mysteries. Then, when I pointed out how the pamphlet shows where in the Bible to find each Mystery, and how helpful that is in encouraging non-Catholic Christians to pray the Rosary, he accepted the pamphlet as well.

My second visitor was “Michael”, a housing-challenged man. He was happy to receive a free Rosary, and asked for one for his girlfriend as well. Although his life seemed to be in a shambles, he declared that everything would be alright, now that he had a girlfriend. I encouraged them to pray the Rosary together, and also to embrace chastity. God, please bless and heal them?

One male visitor wanted a yellow Rosary, just not the one with big, hot-pink Our Father beads. I dug in my bag and found one with plain, white ones. He happily accepted.

Another man wanted a black Rosary long enough to fit over his head. I again dug into my bag and, after a couple of false starts, found one for him.

My last visitor, a nicely dressed man with red facial hair, took out his ear phones so he could hear my offer of a free Rosary. He seemed to surprise himself by accepting. Asked if he was Christian, he said no, but he was “interested in other cultures.” Besides the Rosary and a copy of the one-page kerygma, he accepted a Catechism. Lord, please bring him all the home to You!

Altogether, I gave away 5-10 Rosaries. 1 copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, at least 1 kerygma. and maybe a map of area parishes.

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

Jesus draws all men to Himself, even today! 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).

February 2, 2020

Visibly Catholic, we hope to draw others closer to God through His Church. So thank you again for your prayers for Boise’s Catholic street evangelization effort. Two evangelists were available last week.

Although it rained steadily, there was steady foot traffic during last week’s session. A remodeling show was going on in the convention center.

One convention exhibitor, taking a vape break, came over. She attends Mass with a community of questionable canonical standing. Evangelist Lucy pointed out to her changes in personnel at a local parish, and its now refreshing emphasis on growth in personal holiness. She invited our visitor to attend Mass there and gave her a copy of our map with its address, thumbnail of the church building, and Mass and Reconciliation times. She showed us photos of the custom-made Rosaries she sells. (On his way home, evangelist Chuck remembered a previous encounter with the woman, recognizing the story of Rosaries made for a big wedding.) In the end, the woman decided to take one of our “mission Rosaries”, since she didn’t have one with her.

Our previous visitor, “Alicia”, turned out to be a salesperson from the convention. Although raised Christian, she had walked away from religion a long time ago. But, she added, now that she has a 4-year-old daughter, she thought maybe she should look into it. She accepted a Rosary, its pamphlet, and a kerygma. Then she launched into her sales pitch on her product from inside the convention.

A man, accompanying 3 boys (ages about 3-8), stopped. Each boy chose a Rosary. The two older ones accepted its pamphlet as well.

While evangelist Lucy was finishing up with the dad and sons, a man and woman in their mid-20s approached (“Anna” and companion). Already Catholic, Anna was thrilled to see Rosaries displayed in public. He, also Catholic, is from a neighboring state, When the evangelist asked if he had connected with a local parish for Mass this weekend, he assured her that he had attended Mass the previous night (in anticipation of Sunday). He did accept a Rosary and its brochure for someone he knew.

A man in a thoroughly damp sweatshirt stopped briefly. He accepted a Rosary, but not the pamphlet on how to pray it.

“John”, the parking machine servicer, had a long conversation with evangelist Chuck, mostly relating clever things said by a priest speaker widely known within certain addiction recovery groups.

“Walt” stopped and talked with evangelist Chuck. He told Chuck his theory of what really made Adam fall when Eve did. When offered a Bible, he declined because it was not his preferred translation.

Walt’s friend “Jose” passed by as we were setting up. Wearing only a sweatshirt, he asked if we were staying dry, commenting that he sure wasn’t.

“Ketchup Kid”, accompanied by a familiar-looking girl, stopped briefly. Quickly admitting that they’d already received Rosaries, they thanked us for being there.

A young college-aged couple stopped, he is a non-Catholic Christian and she was “mostly Catholic”. They were attending different churches together (“church surfing”, he called it). But each took a Rosary and pamphlet, as well as a map of area parishes.

A father with two young sons stopped, he did not know much about the Rosary but was attentive to our description of it and its benefits. All three took a Rosary; the father took the pamphlet.

Two people (at separate times) didn’t stop, but took the Rosary out of evangelist Chuck’s hand.

A woman came out of the convention, a believer but not Catholic. When evangelist Lucy assured her the Rosary was for all Christians and focused on Christ. she decided to take one. But she had a hard time choosing a color until she spotted the yellow (!) one in evangelist Chuck’s hand. She took that one.

A woman (late teens or early 20s) told us she had received a Rosary from us before, and had it hanging from her rear view mirror. Evangelist Lucy encouraged her to take one to use for prayer, and she did.

Altogether, the two evangelists gave away 15-20 Rosaries. as well as a few copies of the kerygma and maps to area parishes.

Please pray for us again today, on this Almost-A-National-Holiday, when most people watch a professional sports playoff. Please ask God to send people to us prepared to perceive their need for Jesus Christ and His Holy Catholic Church, and that much good fruit for His Kingdom comes of today’s efforts.

What’s more recognizably Catholic (and misunderstood) than the Rosary? We educate, calm fears, and encourage prayer. So thank you again for your prayers, your encouragement, and other support for this apostolate. In turn, may God protect and greatly bless you and those you love!

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

January 26, 2020

The new year was off to a positive start, but times remain perilous. So thank you again for your prayers for Boise’s Catholic street evangelization effort. Two of us were available.

The Christmas tree in center of the business park had been removed, and Our Lord granted sunshine and dry weather for the session. The mood was positive: even our chronically angry passersby gave us a smiling “no, thank you” this time.

“Walt” was moving slowly. He conversed a long while with evangelist Chuck. A few nights earlier, he had been robbed, losing his backpack, model cars, and an important prescription. He had fought with the thieves, trying unsuccessfully to stop them, and was still a little sore. He told Chuck his extensive plans to get them caught by the police, and asked for prayers. The conversation concluded when Walt’s friend “Jose” came by.

A group of convention goers declined receiving a Rosary on their way in, but stopped at our table as they left. A couple of them accepted a Rosary and brief explanation of the devotion. One woman in the group said she had Rosaries at home. When evangelist Lucy asked her to pray it for us, she responded, “Yes, these are perilous times.”

“Jacob”, a 20-something man with a nice camera, accepted a Rosary. He works for the pastor of a local non-Catholic Christian church, helping with his horses in a nearby town. Jacob hung around the table for quite a while, showing off his new camera, chatting, and taking pictures. The sunshine, though welcome to us, was creating more contrast than the camera could handle. We asked if he needed prayer for something, but he said no, and that he was meeting a friend there. When his friend arrived (politely declining a Rosary), the two left together.

A group of 4 or 5 teens stopped. One of the girls admitted she wasn’t Christian, “or really anything”. Evangelist Lucy offered her, and the other members in the group, a Good News/kerygma pamphlet, as well as a Rosary. A boy, slightly younger than the rest, joined the group after the conversation had started. In reaction to the evangelist’s declaration that Jesus is real, he sniggered.

Some young-adult Catholics stopped. One of the young men admitted that he wasn’t really going to Mass anymore, so evangelist Lucy slipped him a “Reasons to Return” packet, which he accepted.

A man and woman went by, politely declining a Rosary. About 8 ft behind them, head down and moving slowly, was a preteen girl. Evangelist Lucy offered her a Rosary, and she surprised us by accepting one, and a brief explanation. She left with a spring in her step. The adults noticed her absence just before she caught up with them again. Soon, there were squeals as the dad (stepdad?) started a “tickle war” with the girl. Hopefully, she was able to keep the Rosary (and copy of the kerygma).

A man stopped for a Rosary. He had received one while in jail, he said, and it had helped. He’d also found the non-Catholic worship services there helpful. He is still going to church, he said, but also accepted a map to area Catholic parishes.

A 20-something man (sporting a flamboyant goatee) frequently passes the table on his way to work. He had a woman with him this time. She stopped for a Rosary; he declined. She was not Christian but seemed genuinely interested in the Rosary and its pamphlet, as well as that of the kerygma.

Altogether, we gave away 10-15 Rosaries and its pamphlet, at least 2-3 copies of the kerygma, a “Returning Catholics” packet, and a map or two of local parishes.

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

Prayer is our most effective weapon for the times. So thank you again for your prayers, encouragement, 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).

January 19, 2020

One body in Christ, the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort continues, thanks to your prayers. Two evangelists were available last week.

A mother and her little son (perhaps 4 year old) were heading across the square toward the hockey arena. The little boy was interested in a free Rosary. His mother implied she already had one at home. The boy chose a black Rosary, and his mother accepted its pamphlet. They then headed back across the square, where they met up with the dad, just coming out of the hockey rink.

Two tall teenagers with bad complexions answered our offer of a free Rosary. Minimally Christian, they listened to a short explanation of the devotion, and the encouragement to “sit down and try it.”

A tall thin man, smoking a cigarette and apparently housing challenged, stopped briefly. His voice did not match his size and we could barely understand him. It seemed that he was already Catholic, new to the area, and attended Mass at a nearby parish. He accepted a Rosary and its brochure.

Then, for several long minutes, there was not a pedestrian in sight. The evangelists started praying the Rosary, and groups of people poured out of the buildings on the other side of the square. Some eventually made their way past our table.

A couple in their late teens or early 20s were holding hands and grinning widely. Evangelist Chuck offered them a Rosary, and they came to our table. Each chose a Rosary and accepted the pamphlet. Chuck encouraged them to pray it together.

A woman stopped for a Rosary and pamphlet. She told us she was in RCIA and took her daughter to Mass when she could. She was very enthusiastic about becoming Catholic. We encouraged her to pray the Rosary with her daughter. “If one part is honored, every part rejoices with it” (1 Cor 12:26b).

Two teens who looked familiar stopped and said they had received Rosaries from us some time ago. One boy had glued his to his skateboard. (sigh) We emphasized the Rosaries were not decorations, but were a path to a deeper relationship with God Himself. They thanked us for handing out Rosaries in the cold.

A man passing on a bicycle. On hearing our offer of a free Rosary, he pointed to the yellow one hanging from his handlebars, evidently received from us some time ago.

“Amir” was our last visitor. He is a fallen-away Catholic refugee from an embattled country overseas, where Christianity is actively persecuted. From his youth, he said, the country has been at war and the Christian community persecuted. He got away ten years ago, but a lot of his Christian family members stayed in their villages, only to be burned out of their homes and churches by a radical group from the dominant religion. These family members are now scattered as refugees in various countries in the region. Amir no longer goes to church, and now seems agnostic on the existence of God, because so many prayers of his people went unanswered. God never stopped the violence and persecution, he said. Amir now concentrates on being “a good person”. He accepted our sympathy but did not want our encouragement to return to Faith, nor did he accept the offered helpful reading. It sounded like he hears enough of this call back to the Church from his family. He warned us of the dangers of the dominant religion in his country, and we offered him God’s blessings. “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it” (1 Cor 12:26a ).

Foot traffic was very light, but the two evangelists still gave away perhaps 10 Rosaries and its booklet.

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

Recognizing we’re one body in Christ, we extend His love to each one we meet. 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).

December 29, 2019

Grace breaks into our existence, and we continue to try to share that Good News! So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort. Two evangelists were available last week.

Two boys in their early teens stopped. Evangelist Lucy thought they looked awfully familiar. But evangelist Chuck didn’t recognize them, and started explaining that the Rosary was all about the life of Jesus. At that, one boy threw up his hands in horror, said “we’re Jewish”, and left. The other boy followed. May Our Blessed Mother, also Jewish, lead them to her Son!

A man, who claimed to be 83 years old, came to talk of his recent exploits. (He had received a Rosary from us a while back.) His adventures, however, seemed to consist of setting himself up for assault, and then responding to the threat with excessive violence.

A man went by, cursing us. However, he didn’t seem to recognize the irony of his saying, “I’m an atheist and I hope you go to [perdition].” May he recognize God’s gift to him of his own everlasting nature.

Three men stopped. One of them, sporting a light-pink headband and who seemed confused about his male nature, asked us to pick out the Rosary for him that Jesus would pick. Evangelist Chuck replied that they were each an equally good way to get closer to Christ. He chose a Rosary with light pink, pearlized beads. While evangelist Lucy briefly explained the devotion and gave him the accompanying pamphlet, evangelist Chuck talked with one of the other men, who also accepted a Rosary and pamphlet. The third man declined.

A group of people went by, proclaiming they served the very one who wants only to destroy them. So sad.

A man stopped to show us his sores. He said he was on his way to the hospital because they were so painful (and yet seemed reluctant to actually head there next). He also told us he had just stopped using drugs and was detoxing. Lord, help him!

A man came to the table to accept a Rosary because his grandmother used one. May Our Lady draw him all the way to her Son!

A father and son came by. Offered a Rosary, the dad turned to the slightly heavy-set pre-teen, and said he could have one. The child declined.

Another father and son stopped. The father said they were Catholic, and he encouraged his son to pick out a Rosary, while we encouraged the father to show his son how to pray it.

A couple, perhaps in their 20s, veered toward our table in response to our offer of a Rosary. They each chose one. One was Catholic, and evangelist Chuck encouraged them to pray it together.

A family, all adults, stopped. The man said he was a confirmed Catholic, but had never prayed the Rosary. He took one and its pamphlet.

A man stopped and asked about the Rosaries. We told him about them, and evangelist Lucy showed him the pamphlet, explaining how and why to pray it. He declined the Rosary, but kept the pamphlet.

Lots of people returned our greeting of “Merry Christmas”. Several groups of Catholics said they had Rosaries at home. As is our habit, we asked them to pray it once for us!

On that extra-warm (temperatures near 60° F) final Sunday before Christmas, the two evangelists experienced lighter-than-average foot traffic and a higher-than-average percentage of no-thank-yous. Still, we gave away about 10 Rosaries and its pamphlet, and 3 holy cards (Divine Mercy, Jesus knocking, and St Michael).

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

Jesus’ Incarnation is still the most important event in human history. So thank you again for your prayers and other support for this apostolate that tries to spread that message. In turn, may God protect and greatly bless you and all those you love!

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

P.S. Please pray a special prayer for our benefactors and for your fellow prayer warriors: in particular, for Mike, Barb, Katherine438, Katie777, Natalie, fisherman_carl, Chuck, Sheila, Maria, Val, and our beloved Rosary Maker groups! Thank you again, and may God bless each one of you!!!

December 26, 2019

Even people of no particular faith are drawn to the Rosary. So thank you again for your prayers for Boise’s Catholic street evangelization effort. First-time evangelist “Guy” joined us for the session.

“Daniel” stopped for a free Rosary. When asked if he attended any church, he replied that his grandmother is sick and, not only that, but his uncle is in prison for a crime that Daniel doesn’t think he committed. Evangelist Lucy told him that the best way he could help his loved ones was to get himself into a church and pray for them! At that, he accepted a map to local parishes. When he left, he headed back in the same direction from which he came (which happened to be towards the nearest Catholic church, the cathedral).

“Walt” talked briefly with evangelist Chuck, who said he mentioned his belief in God.

Brick by brick. a photographer moved his tripod and camera toward the Christmas tree in the center of the business park. He was manually making a time-lapse video with his still camera. Our table was set up on his left, near the tree. We were still there when he finished taking pictures, so he showed us the result. It shows us interacting with lots of people in a flurry of activity. First-time evangelist Guy had spoken with the photographer as he had drawn near, and had offered him a Rosary. He did not accept.

Some young teens came by. The first to stop looked awfully familiar, even to face-blind evangelist Lucy. He said he had never received a Rosary from us, and was not Christian. She allowed him to have a(nother) Rosary, and also gave him a(nother) copy of the Good News/kerygma pamphlet. Almost immediately, a friend came over from the same group, who were standing across the business park from us. Evangelist Chuck recognized the second teen as the boy who had caused the ketchup mess last week. (it was a pamphlet that got ruined, not a Rosary). The boy wanted another Rosary, saying he had lost the other one. We gave him the pamphlet but not another Rosary, saying he could use his fingers to count the prayers. He seemed very disappointed. Later, some other (slightly older) teenage skaters listened politely as we told them about Christ and connecting with Him through the Rosary.

An actively Catholic man asked prayers for his father, “Ken”, who was elderly, in an assisted living or skilled nursing facility across the state, and had lost his faith. His son had originally said “no, thank you” to our offer of a free Rosary. A few steps past our table, he had changed his mind and came back. He thought the Rosary might help his dad come back to the Faith. He also accepted one of our “Returning Catholics” packets, and asked us to pray for his dad, Ken.

Another man stopped. He declined receiving a Rosary or its pamphlet, and acted like he knew what the Rosary was about. He was not Catholic, though, and wanted us to be sure we said Jesus was all about love. Evangelist Chuck pointed to the picture in the Rosary pamphlet of Christ crucified, telling our visitor that this shows true sacrificial love.

Lots of young people of no particular faith stopped and willingly received a Rosary and heard us out. May Christ and Mary work deep into their hearts!

Please pray for “Tyler”, who talked at length with evangelists Chuck and Guy. When he arrived at our table, he responded to our offer of a free Rosary with, “I could probably use one.” He ended up choosing a purple one, because the yellow ones were too small to fit over his head. He refused the Rosary pamphlet and kerygma, saying, “they would be wasted on me.” He told us he had grown up Christian. but was “nothing now”. Then he talked about his brother who was a professional skier, about local movie making, and about his job in town, chatting with us until we were packed up to go. As we parted, he said, “Thanks for the help.”

Altogether, the three evangelists gave away about 15 Rosaries, 2-3 copies of the kerygma, 2-3 maps, 2 small Crucifixes, and 1 “Reasons to Return” packet.

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

Catholic, Christian denomination, or “none”, people are attracted to the Rosary – and to Him Whose story it tells. 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).

December 16, 2019

He will come to judge the living … and the dead. So thank you again for your prayers for Boise’s Catholic street evangelization effort. Two evangelists were available. (The other two have both been taken out by back injuries. Prayers, please?)

A family with 3-4 children under the age of 8 stopped. The parents, Catholic, encouraged each child to accept a Rosary. They also received encouragement from us to start praying it together every day. As the children were leaving, the father stepped forward and also chose a Rosary. Please pray that the Lord keeps this family safe and leads all of them to Catholic Sainthood?

A new Christmas tree had been set up in the square, noticeably smaller than the previous one, but decorated with lights. It was being used as a backdrop for photographs, especially by some of the skaters arriving at the hockey arena for the big ice show later that day. Only one or two of the skaters accepted a Rosary from us.

Homeless “Walt” came to our table, moving slowly and weighed down with many bags. He was feeling disappointed in the model car kit he had received in a Christmas exchange, but had plans to make the inaccurate, beginner’s kit work anyway. He hasn’t mentioned faith or religion for a long time.

While evangelist Lucy talked with Walt, evangelist Chuck received many visitors, including many young people.

Evangelist Lucy allowed some young teens to choose a Rosary, though suspecting they were repeat visitors. Evangelist Chuck kept an eye on them after they left our table. After a few minutes, he took off running across the square to talk with them. Turns out they’d had a ketchup fight, and one Rosary got ruined in the fray. Chuck took it from the youth to dispose of it properly.

A college-aged couple stopped at our table. He’s Catholic, but she’s not. The man talked with evangelist Chuck, telling him that he had two Rosaries already in his dorm room. The woman accepted a brief explanation of the Rosary, then chose one for herself.

A man said he was glad to see us out there, though he didn’t seem to believe as we do.

The two evangelists gave away about 20 Rosaries and its booklet, at least 2 maps of area parishes, and 2-3 copies of the kerygma.

Please pray for us again today? Please ask God to send people to us who are prepared to perceive their need for Jesus Christ, for the Holy Catholic Church, and for salvation. Please ask God to grant that much good fruit for His Kingdom comes of today’s efforts.

Jesus will come again in glory! 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).

December 8, 2019

Visibly Catholic, we encourage and are encouraged. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort. Two evangelists were available.

Snowy, wet weather greeted people heading to the annual family event in the convention center, the fundraiser featuring competing holiday trees. The big Christmas tree, that had been set up in the center of the business park, now lay in a ruins within its enclosure. Evidently, it had been taken down a couple of days earlier by an errant gust of wind. Despite the cold and gloomy atmosphere in the park that day, we expected to encounter a greater than average number of Catholics. We weren’t disappointed.

Groups of people, including several multi-family groups, came straight toward us. Was the Dominican-blessed salt helping? May God bless all our benefactors!

A man, in his 30s, stopped out of politeness. Fully committed to the pseudo-Christian religion to which he belonged, he told evangelist Chuck that he had a Rosary at home. He’d received it from a Catholic priest who was handing out Rosaries on the street, in a large city in another state. Our visitor had accepted it from him “to be nice”, but now thought it a good thing to have. He and evangelist Chuck exchanged a few words on their differing understandings of Faith. Chuck gave him a copy of the Rosary pamphlet and encouraged him to pray it. He encouraged us to “do something nice” for someone each day leading up to Christmas.

Another man stopped. He said he was a lapsed Catholic and a “lapsed everything”. However, he wanted something with a cross on it. He chose a Rosary, but declined the pamphlet.

We received a return visit from a woman, probably in her late 20s. On her previous visit, she had told us that she hated the Catholic Church because her late boyfriend’s family, who were Catholic, had done some very hurtful things. She seemed to be doing better now. Evangelist Chuck chatted with her a bit, while evangelist Lucy talked with a Catholic woman who had just arrived, coming over to thank us for being out there and to encourage us.

Several Catholic families came to our table and allowed one or more of their children to choose a Rosary. We encouraged them to pray the Rosary together as a family, Several of the families committed to doing so. May God bless and protect them!

Altogether, we gave away about 15 Rosaries and its booklets.

Please pray for us again today? Please ask God to send people to us prepared to perceive their need for Jesus Christ and His Holy Catholic Church. Please ask that much good fruit for His Kingdom comes of today’s effort.

God grants “endurance and encouragement” (Rom 15:5). So thank you again for your prayers, encouraging words, 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).

December 1, 2019

Christ is truly the King of the Universe, and 100% worthy of trust. So thank you for your prayers for Boise’s Catholic street evangelization effort, which tries to spread the Good News of Him. Two evangelists were available.

A man stopped by to beg for food. Evangelist Lucy let him know that free meals are offered in Boise every day of the week. She just didn’t know locations or times.

A bit later, repeat visitor “Homeless Walt” stopped by, looking much his old self. He said he’d regained his strength, that people had given him a lot of stuff (such as, down sleeping bags) without his asking, that friends were holding onto his model car projects and other possessions. Asked if there were free meals that day, he named three of them within walking distance. He also told of a free resource directory for anyone with a smart phone, or who was willing to go to the library to use the free computers there. He said nobody had to starve in Boise and, therefore, to not believe any cardboard signs that claim “homeless and hungry”.

While evangelist Lucy was visiting with Walt, a man stopped who was not familiar with the Rosary. He looked with interest at the pamphlet as evangelist Chuck described the Rosary devotion to him, how to use the Rosary for prayer, and the benefits of becoming closer to Jesus Christ. Chuck didn’t notice that the man was wearing a stocking cap with a border made of upside-down crosses. If he had noticed, Chuck would have wanted to ask him about the hat!

Also while evangelist Lucy was talking with Walt, a big man approached the table. He also appeared to be homeless, and had one eye closed by a purple and black bruise. He listened as evangelist Chuck explained how and why to pray the Rosary. Then he pointed to a prayer card with a picture of Jesus and asked what it was. Chuck showed him the Divine Mercy prayer on the back and the man gratefully accepted it.

Some teens stopped by for a Rosary. Most admitted to not receiving one before. We tried to ask each group to try praying it once a day from now until Christmas, and see what changes.

Later, evangelist Lucy started getting a peculiar headache and remembered that she had forgotten to pray the protection prayers that morning for our apostolate. She pulled a copy of them out and prayed them on the spot. The headache disappeared.

A man and his son stopped by because they had some extra time before a movie began. Already Catholic, they each gladly accepted a Rosary and its booklet, as well as encouragement to start praying it.

The annual “Festival of Trees” would be held in the convention center during the coming week. So, quite a few people were heading to and from the convention center as they decorated their organization’s tree.

One woman, heading in to decorate a tree, stopped. A non-Catholic Christian, she had given her deceased Catholic grandmother’s Rosary away – to a relative who didn’t seem to appreciate it. The woman missed having it, but since we had one in close to the same color. She accepted it and the booklet.

Two women, coming from having worked on decorating their tree stopped. They each accepted a Rosary.

A woman broke from a family group to choose a Rosary and accept a pamphlet. She said she was very familiar with the Rosary because she had grown up Catholic but didn’t attend anymore. She said not to worry as she was good friends with Jesus. She didn’t stay to hear our encouragement to return to the active practice of her Faith.

The your-faith-is-fiction nonbeliever came by, and commented that he hoped it would snow soon. Little by little…

Altogether, the two evangelists gave away 15-20 Rosaries and its pamphlet, 1-2 maps of area parishes, and at least one Divine Mercy bookmark.

Please pray for us again today? Please ask God to send people to us prepared to perceive their need for Jesus Christ and His Church, and that much good fruit for His Kingdom come of today’s efforts?

Little by little, God attracts people to Himself. 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).

November 24, 2019

All ages called to salvation, thanks to your continuing prayers and sacrifices for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort. Two evangelists were available.

A group of 20-something Catholic women stopped. They had just attended the 3-day Catholic conference for young adults, which had ended an hour or so earlier. Many of them didn’t have their own Rosary, so they each chose one and accepted its booklet, as well as the encouragement to start praying it daily.

A young boy (3-4 years old) came for a Rosary. Possibly just attracted by their bright colors, he didn’t know what they were and had never heard of Jesus. Evangelist Lucy tried to tell him briefly about salvation, and gave him a copy of the Rosary pamphlet as well as the one-page kerygma (for his parents). His family didn’t slow down in passing, so he ran to catch up, calling, “Mom, this is for you!” May God bless his entire family!

About 6-8 young teens came by, in a couple of different groups. The first group consisted of three girls. Evangelist Chuck recognized one of them as having stopped many times before, and having practiced praying the opening prayers of the Rosary with us. The other two said this was their first time. The tallest girl asked if they could have “a necklace”. We explained that the Rosaries weren’t jewelry, but were for prayer. However, when we suggested we pray it together, they all whipped out their cell phones and said they were late for something. However, they each made sure they had selected a Rosary before they left.

Two women stopped. One claimed to be Catholic, but hadn’t gone to Mass in a long time. Evangelist Lucy told her the name of the Catholic parish in her town, and gave her a copy of our “Returning Catholics” packet, which includes a “self-test” (examination of conscience) and a kind explanation of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Four university students stopped when one of their number enthusiastically said “yes!” to our offer of a free Rosary. They were Christian but not Catholic, and were not practicing their faith. Evangelist Chuck encouraged them to dig deep into the Mysteries of the Rosary and to seek a deeper relationship with God.

A dark-haired man stopped, wanting a glow-in-the-dark Rosary “for protection”. Evangelist Lucy let him know the protection comes with actually praying the Rosary. He professed to be Catholic, but when asked which parish he attended, he said they’d “just moved here.” He did accept map to area parishes, and the invitation to get reconnected.

Altogether, the 2 evangelists gave away 15-20 Rosaries and its booklet, one “Returning Catholic” packet, 1-2 maps of area parishes, and at least one copy of the kerygma.

Please pray for us again today? There is a big family festival going on in the convention center today. In past years, we usually have many Catholic visitors who want to know how to reach their “lost” family members. Please ask God to grant that much good fruit for His Kingdom comes of today’s effort?

Salvation is still necessary, and the Good News is that God is still offering it. 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).

November 18, 2019

I apologize for the length of this email. My (old) computer crashed again during the editing process, which would have shortened it considerably. Please pray for us today?

Lighting the way to Christ, our apostolate continues. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort! Two evangelists were available.

“Mr. Fiction” was surprised, and actually stopped for a moment, when evangelist Chuck asked if he’d read any new fiction this week. “Some magazines,” he mumbled. Then he seemed to notice that he was talking to us, and said, “I see you’re still peddling your fiction,” as he walked away. Evangelist Chuck asked, “How do you judge what is fiction or not?” He called back with a sneer, “Intelligence!” May the Holy Spirit continue to widen the crack in the door of conversation with this man!

A father, accompanied by 2 or 3 children, stopped when one of the girls, perhaps 8-10 years old, wanted a Rosary. She was not at all familiar with it, and didn’t know anything about Christianity. She accepted a Rosary, its booklet, and our one-page summary of the kerygma. Then her little sister approached and also accepted a Rosary. The dad did not.

Out of two 20-something women, one stopped. Asked if she was familiar with the Rosary, she said yes, she had been raised Catholic “a lo-o-ong time ago”. She declined a map to area parishes, but accepted a Rosary, its booklet, and the encouragement to sit down and try to pray it.

A group of three people stopped, also in their 20s. The woman spoke with evangelist Lucy, while evangelist Chuck spoke with her boyfriend. He had been baptized Catholic, but did not practice the Faith, nor intend to at this point. Though he loved its theology, he “just didn’t like the Church”. When evangelist Chuck pointed to the Eucharist as the best reason to stick with the Church, as well as being an amazing privilege and blessing that he was missing out on, the man shook his head and repeated that he was not interested in “church” at this point. Some time ago, he had received a copy of the Catechism from us and had been reading it. He told evangelist Chuck that he “found it interesting” and has used it frequently when he had questions. His girlfriend is a non-Catholic Christian and, when they have discussions about religion, they refer to the Catechism. The woman was not at all familiar with the Rosary and was delighted to find out, from evangelist Lucy, that it focused on Jesus. She accepted a Rosary and its pamphlet, and seemed to look forward to trying it. May that Catechism draw them both into a full relationship with Christ Jesus in His Church.

A group of two adult men and one child stopped. One of the men expressed interest in the Rosary, then waxed enthusiastic as he came to actually understand the devotion. At his enthusiasm, the boy and the other man each accepted a Rosary.

“Mr. Leather Cowboy Hat” (from a month or so back) responded to a hail from evangelist Chuck. He didn’t stop to talk, but at least responded in a friendly manner to our greeting.

Perhaps 8 teens or preteens came by, in close succession. Evangelist Chuck didn’t recognize any of them. They were very respectful, and each accepted a Rosary and its pamphlet.

A mother and her school-age son stopped. They each accepted a Rosary and the encouragement to pray it together. The boy asked for a Rosary for his father, too.

Two tall teenage boys stopped for Rosaries. They were non-Catholic Christians and listened politely to our explanation of the blessings of praying the Rosary. Then a large family group arrived at the table, to which the boys belonged. The younger teen showed the Rosary to his mother, who promptly took it away from him and returned it to the table with a “no, thank you”.

At least once, and possibly twice during the session, people said they knew what the Rosary was, even though they themselves were not people of faith, because a mother or grandparent was a faithful Catholic who prayed the Rosary. My God bless these faithful Catholics and the example they give!

A man stopped and wanted to share how God had blessed him. He once had a six-figure job in another state, but ended up in jail and lost everything. When he got out of jail he came to Idaho for a fresh start and to take care of his mother, and now has a six-figure job again. He did not mention how God had changed him. He declined a Rosary.

A father and college-age daughter stopped. She wanted a Rosary; he did not. They were from a state north of here, and he was down visiting her at the local university. He said his daughter and wife were faithful Catholics. But he was not raised Catholic, and still had not joined the Church. It seemed enough to him that his wife and daughter were faithful.

Another two 20-something women stopped. When evangelist Lucy asked if they were Christian, they hesitated, as if unsure what “being Christian” meant. May those copies of the kerygma we give out begin to light their way!

Altogether, the two evangelists gave away 15-20 Rosaries and its pamphlet, 1-2 maps of area parishes, and 2-3 copies of the Good News/kerygma.

Please pray for us again today? Please ask God to send people to us prepared to perceive their need for Him and His Holy Catholic Church, and that much good fruit for His Kingdom comes of today’s effort.

Jesus Christ is the light that enlightens the world (cf. John 1:9). So thank you again for your prayers and other support for this apostolate that encourages people to seek Him. In turn, may He protect and greatly bless you and all those you love!

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

November 11, 2019

Our Lady’s work continues! So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization apostolate! Two evangelists were available.

We are thankful, and a little in awe, that we had three people waiting for a Rosary before we even set up: two teenage girls, and a man perhaps with housing challenges). Our Lady is attracting people without us having to say a thing!

Repeat visitor “Wheelchair John”, the parking garage attendant, stopped to visit. He told us he was living on his own at age 17, and earning good enough money to do so. But he also talked fondly of his “drug days”, which I found disconcerting, given his claim to be a recovered addict. Please pray for him?

“Mr. Catholic Lite” stopped by again. Evangelist Chuck asked if he’d prayed the Rosary he received last week. He said no, but had talked with his sister about it. His sister belongs to the same non-Catholic Christian denomination as he, and had two Rosaries – one crystal, and one wooden. Our visitor accepted the wooden one from her, because it seemed more suitable “for a sinner.” We again encouraged him to pray it.

“Parker” also walked by. When evangelist Chuck asked him if he had prayed the Rosary we gave him last week, he said he had tried it and that it was “nice”.

Several more (different? same?) groups of teens stopped for a Rosary, but this time they were each astonishingly polite. Two of them (one each from separate groups) also accepted a copy of the kerygma after admitting to not being Christian.

Evangelist Chuck prayed the opening prayers with one group of three pre-teens. Two said they were Christian, and one said she had no faith. Yet, all three prayed the Rosary’s introductory prayers with us. We invited them to come back with questions next week.

A woman and her teenage son stopped. The son accepted a Rosary and a brief explanation of the devotion. The mother did not want one, but talked with evangelist Chuck about the message at the non-Catholic Christian service they had just attended. Chuck, in return, shared that week’s homily on Zacchaeus, the tax collector. They agreed that it was a blessing to be inspired by Bible stories.

A convention with a Spanish name was going on in the hockey arena. Attendees were dressed up, mostly in black. Not one attendee was interested in receiving a Rosary or talking with us. Evangelist Lucy thought it was a Spanish branch of a non-Christian cult that is active in the area.

The two evangelists gave away 12-15 Rosaries and its booklet, 2-3 copies of the kerygma, and at least one map of area parishes.

Please pray for these people and for us again today? Please ask God to send us people ready to perceive their need for Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church, and that much good fruit for His Kingdom comes of today’s efforts.

Our Lady leads people to her Son. So thank you again for your prayers, encouragement, and other support for this apostolate! In turn, may God protect, greatly bless, and save you and those you love!

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

November 4, 2019

They still need the Church, even if they don’t know it yet. And we were able to reach some of them last week. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort. We rely on you!

A down-and-out-looking man, perhaps 30 years old, professed to be a pagan. Evangelist Chuck asked how he came to his current set of beliefs, and he said an internet video expressed everything he wanted to believe. He was running late to work, so evangelist Chuck asked him to stop by again next week and continue our conversation. May God clear up his muddled beliefs!

Two teens stopped on their way to film a music video in the center of the plaza. The photographer accepted a Rosary and its pamphlet, thanking us for being there and doing what he thought must be a thankless job. He said he identified with a non-Catholic Christian denomination, but did not respond when evangelist Chuck told him he used to belong to the same denomination. The photographer took a Rosary and its pamphlet. She did not.

Repeat visitor “Walt” stopped by, briefly. We were so glad to see him alive! He told us that, besides fighting the multi-resistant bacterial infection, he has had two strokes. One of them left him temporarily unable to walk, but then he regained that ability (thank God). His memory must have been affected, because he no longer rehearses events in excruciating detail. Please pray for Walt, who just may be facing his “end game”?

Lots of young people stopped for Rosaries, but most professed to being very familiar with how to pray it. Most also claimed to not having one, although we found that difficult to believe.

The man passed by again who vigorously proclaims that God is a fiction. Please continue to pray for him?

Two men in their early 20s stopped. One did not take a Rosary because he had taken one before. Evangelist Chuck asked him if he had tried praying it and, after a moment’s hesitation, he said no. Chuck thanked him for his honesty and urged him to take courage and try praying it this week.

Evangelist Chuck had just offered a Rosary to some passing women and they declined when a man in his early- to mid-20s overheard his offer, and walked up to the table saying he would take one. Evangelist Lucy had a long talk with him, but doesn’t now recall the conversation.

A big guy on a tiny bicycle had two Rosaries around his neck, but stopped for another one. A non-practicing Catholic, he accepted a map of area parishes.

A guy in dreadlocks named “Parker” stopped for a Rosary and pamphlet. Non-religious, he listened politely and asked our names.

A “Catholic-lite” non-Catholic Christian stopped for a Rosary, but perhaps just out of politeness. He was not really interested when we encouraged him to check out the true Catholic Church. He did say “God bless you” to us as he came by later, after he had eaten.

“Manny” was our last visitor. He admitted to messing around with occult practices. And has found to his dismay that getting free is not as easy as just going to Confession. Our evangelists were able to give him some pointers on how to begin the process of getting the help he needs to get truly free. Please pray for him? He would like to come back to the Church.

The two evangelists gave away 15 or so Rosaries, at least one copy of the kerygma and one copy of the map to local parishes.

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

We still meet needy souls, so thank you again for your prayers and other support for this apostolate and that allow this work to continue. In turn, may God protect and greatly bless you and those you love!

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

P.S. Please also pray for “Zach” and “Ray”, RCIA candidates who have recently developed serious resistance to the Faith.

October 28, 2019

Hallelujah! God sent us a youth minister last week.  So thank you so much for your prayers for Boise's Catholic street evangelization effort! Three evangelists were available.

* Our own evangelist Chuck has had lots of experience with junior-high/middle-school kids! He has just been unavailable for the last several weeks, due to a death in his extended family. Having heard of our "kid challenge", he had been praying about it, especially to St. Philip Neri. He was a bit delayed in arriving for this session, but the first group of teens didn't arrive until after he did. (Another sign of God's hand in this?)

* Then the first group of 8-9 students in their early teens came to us, each eager to acquire another Rosary. Evangelist Chuck surprised them, when he gently admonished them that the Rosaries were not toys, not jewelry, not decorations, but represented something we took very seriously. He said that if they wanted another Rosary, they should stay and pray it with us so we could show them how it was done. Many of the older teens in the first group left on hearing this, but three young women stayed and, shivering, prayed through the beginning of the Rosary with us.

* Evangelist Lucy, having learned by necessity a little of spiritual warfare, corrected everyone who made the Sign of the Cross backwards; they all made it correctly at the end. One girl in the first group remained silent while the others prayed. Lucy cajoled her into actually saying the prayers out loud, and she at least began to move her lips. By the end, she was actually speaking. May God bless her!

* A bit later in the session, this whole process was repeated with a second group of 5 teens. This group really came alive and their prayer chorus could be clearly heard across the walkway, 30 to 50 feet away. They were teasing one young man, possibly named "Jim", who was having some trouble at school. Evangelist Mike encouraged Jim to pray and promised to pray for him. Evangelist Chuck took the opportunity to teach the youth how to use the Rosary prayers to pray for someone in particular. The group enthusiastically took that to heart and turned and prayed a Hail Mary for Jim. We saw him again later. He had given his Rosary to a younger boy who was with him, maybe a little brother?

* While the second group was praying with evangelist Chuck, a group of four adults approached evangelist Mike for a Rosary. One man, an inactive Catholic, was rattling off the Rosary prayers in a mocking tone of voice. Evangelist Lucy said, "Please! We're teaching them the prayers!" Asked what parish he went to, the man replied, "But I just moved here!" When he said what part of town he lived in, evangelist Lucy offered him a map which showed his parish and Mass times. He declined the map, but pulled out his phone and took a picture of the entry for his parish.

* A nonbeliever passed us again this week, proudly declaring he didn't base his life "on fiction." (Neither do we!)  He didn't respond when asked why he said that, just saying over his shoulder that he preferred reality. May God grant him to come to Ultimately Reality, God Himself!

* A non-Catholic Christian declared, in passing by us quickly, that he prayed to the Lord Jesus Christ and not to Mary. He did not respond to evangelist Mike when he said that we pray through her to Christ.

* A group of 6-8 fraternity guys, dressed formally, were coming from their initiation ceremony at a nearby restaurant. One Catholic from the group stopped to talk. He took a Rosary and pamphlet. His friend stopped, too. Soon after, a second group of fraternity guys stopped.

* From a group of people apparently caught up in the same-sex lifestyle, two came to the table for Rosaries and pamphlets. Evangelist Chuck talked with one, who listened politely as he spoke of praying the Rosary. Our visitor only asked if we were Catholic, then thanked us and moved on.

* A man, perhaps in his late 20s and sporting dread locks, had stopped for a Rosary about a month ago. Glad to see us again, he gave evangelist Chuck a friendly hug. He told us that he had in fact tried praying the Rosary. He had also showed it to his Catholic parents, which made them happy.

* Altogether, we gave away 15-20 Rosaries & pamphlet, 3 copies of the *kerygma*,  and 1 bookmark of "Jesus Knocking".

Please pray for us again today? Please ask God to send people to us prepared to perceive their need for the Rosary and the Holy Catholic Church, and that much good fruit for His Kingdom comes of today's efforts.

God supplies whatever we need! So thank you again for your prayers, encouragement, and other support for this apostolate. In turn, may God protect and bless you and all those you love!

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

October 22, 2019

Pedestrian or dramatic encounter, we hope every soul finds Jesus Christ and salvation. So thank you for your prayers for Boise's Catholic street evangelization effort. Two evangelists were available.

A Catholic family from another part of the state stopped. They were visiting their daughter, who is a nursing student at the local university. They seemed appreciative of our presence for their daughter's sake. The grandmother asked if the Rosaries were blessed. Each member of the family chose a Rosary.

A couple, perhaps in their mid-20s, had heard of the Rosary and Jesus, but professed no particular religion or belief. They each took a Rosary and the pamphlet on how to pray it, as well as copy of the kerygma. They also listened politely as evangelist Lucy encouraged them to actually pray the Rosary, even if all they had were questions.

Two women stopped, Christians, the one very enthusiastic about the Rosary and seeking peace from it. She talked about having some other kind of prayer beads that she used to calm herself down at work, and looked forward to trying the Rosary. Each took a Rosary and its pamphlet.

The two teenage girls refused the offer of a free Rosary and walked on. Then they changed their minds and came back to the table. They seemed unsure if they were Christian or not, but accepted Rosaries, its pamphlet and one on the kerygma, and a brief explanation.

Repeat-visitor "John" paused to chat with evangelist Lucy. You may recall that he monitors the parking garages for the business center. He confided that he'd been under so much pressure over the last 14 months, that one day he found himself looking at his gun cabinet with a less-than-wise thought in mind. Please pray for him?

Two college-aged men stopped. The one wearing earphones already had a Rosary around his neck, but didn't know it was a Rosary and couldn't remember where he got it. The other wore an orange t-shirt. Each selected a Rosary and put them around their necks.

Then the man in the orange t-shirt wanted to tell us what was "messed up" about the Catholic Church. He started with the priest scandal, moved to the "worship" of Mary (though, ironically, now wearing her Rosary), then to Confession, then to how the Church forced Christianity on Native Americans and black slaves, then to how the Catholics messed up the Bible. He said the Bible was just man-made, that Jesus never wrote anything, therefore we need just Jesus.

As we countered his misconceptions and defended the reality of what the Church teaches on a specific issue, he would move to a new subject. He ended up accepting a Rosary brochure, and a copy of our FAQs on Mary and the Saints. Meanwhile, his friend in the earphones seemed uncomfortable with the discussion, frequently affirming our arguments in defense of Catholic esteem for Mary and the Saints, and tried to get his friend to quiet down.

During this lengthy discussion, a boy (pre-teen or early teens) on a skateboard saw us, stopped, then ducked through the college-aged men to come to the table for a Rosary, without even being asked. A Christian, the boy chose a Rosary and listened to a brief explanation of the devotion. Before he left, the anti-Catholic college man complimented him and told him he might be a pastor someday. May God grant him Catholic priesthood!

Then three women (perhaps late teens to early 30s) interrupted our intense conversation with the two college-aged men. Two of the women wanted a Rosary, accepted its pamphlet, and smiled at our explanation of the devotion. The third woman was hostile, even putting her foot on the table as if to kick it over. Her friend told her to stop.

Then she switched her attention to evangelist Lucy, who was still deep in conversation with the man in the orange shirt, and who had missed her earlier interaction with evangelist Chuck. The woman proceeded with crude speech and egregious behavior. At that, evangelist Lucy turned her back on the spectacle, and tried to explain away her behavior as the result of intoxication, which the young woman overheard and vehemently denied.

Evangelist Lucy then focused on our other visitors, and explained the Rosary more in depth to the young woman's companions. They listened politely, perhaps only out of embarrassment over their companion's behavior and a desire to be kind. The first woman, meanwhile, dissolved into screaming profanity. She and one of the other women retired to a picnic table nearby to smoke cigarettes and, in a quieter voice, she continued to rage against religion and us, but occasionally raised her voice to curse at us. She cursed again as we were leaving at the end of the session, so we called on God to bless her. St. Mary of Egypt, please pray for her?

Through all of that, the college-aged man in the earphones stuck with us, though he seemed upset by the conflict. Evangelist Lucy assured him that God can work with anger, and that indifference is much more difficult to reach with the Gospel. Remembering his sympathy for Catholic doctrine, she asked if he were Catholic. He told us he now attends a local non-Catholic Christian megachurch. He did accept a map to area parishes.

Altogether, the two evangelists gave away about 20 Rosaries and its booklet, perhaps 3 copies of the kerygma, and a copy each of "What about Mary?", "Praying to the Saints", "Marian Doctrines", and "Common Objections", as well as 1-2 maps of area parishes.

Please pray for us again today? Ask that much good fruit for His Kingdom comes of today's efforts.

Hot or cold, God can reach people (even if we can't). So thank you again for your prayers and other support for this apostolate. In turn, may God protect and greatly bless you and those you love!

October 20, 2019

On the 102nd anniversary of the Miracle of the Sun, and the 7th anniversary of my joining Boise’s Catholic street evangelization team, I continued to offer hope in downtown Boise. So thank you again for your prayers for this apostolate! One evangelist was available.

A group of teens, growing in number from 2 to at least 6, waited for me to set up so they could get a(nother) free Rosary. When I asked, the members of this first group professed to not being Christian, so I gave each one a Good News/kerygma pamphlet for starters, followed by a copy of the “How to Pray the Rosary” guide. Eventually, they each decided on a Rosary and took their leave. But one girl in particular returned several times throughout the session, always accompanied by other children her age. She traded her Rosary in several times for a new color.

During one of these encounters, one of the boys also asked for another Rosary. “But you already have one!” I said, remembering him by his clothes (since I’m still pretty much face-blind). “But it broke,” he said. I asked for the pieces back, and he pulled the crucifix out of his pocket, saying it was all he had left. (??) I allowed him to keep the cross and to chose another Rosary. I also cautioned him, and the following groups of teens, that the Rosaries were fairly delicate, and to treat them gently and respectfully, especially if they wanted to receive its blessings.

This being swarmed over and over by acquisitive 6th or 7th graders interrupted other conversations. – And it. Just. Didn’t. Feel. Right. – Please pray for me for the wisdom and gentleness to deal effectively with this, so that each child turns from the path to destruction and toward Jesus Christ and the True Faith? Ay-yi-yi.

During one of the no-middle-schoolers breaks, a couple of down-and-out-looking men accepted Rosaries. One, loudly and with slurred voice, proudly declared his descent from a traditionally Catholic nationality. I encouraged him to get reconnected with the Church.

Two men, one perhaps in his mid-20s and the other perhaps in his 40s, stopped when one of them wanted a free Rosary. Asked if they were familiar with the Rosary, the younger of the two said he could ask his mom, who was raised Catholic but now attends a non-Catholic Christian megachurch that she finds more convenient. I offered him a map of area parishes. He pointed out the Catholic churches he had seen, but declined the map. Then the older man asked about basic Catholic beliefs. But, just as we were getting into the Trinity, we were interrupted again by middle schoolers. The two men left. *sigh*

Altogether, the one evangelist gave away 15-20 Rosaries and its booklet, and about 8 copies of the kerygma.

Please pray for us again today? Please ask God to send people to us prepared to perceive their need for Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church. Please ask that God grant that much good fruit for His Kingdom comes of today’s efforts.

Our Lady of Fatima asked us to pray for lost souls. So thank you again for your prayers, encouragement, and other support for this apostolate. In turn, may God protect and greatly bless you and those you love. Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us!

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

October 13, 2019

Jesus softens even the hardest of hearts! So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort! God hears you! And an additional shout-out to "Bill" for providing us a couple more copies of the *Catechism* for today's session, and to the "Legion of Mary" for a few more Rosaries, and enough Rosary pamphlets and Miraculous Medals to tide me over until I can afford more! One evangelist was available for last week's session.

Several groups of teens on skateboards stopped for Rosaries. One girl admitted to getting one from us every week. I invited her to take one again today, so she'd have one with her, but to bring back her extras, please?

A group of 6 or more older teens stopped. Most of them seemed only marginally polite, but one asked what the Rosary was. Admitting he wasn't Christian, I went to offer him a copy of our one-page  kerygma pamphlet, but I hadn't brought enough of them with me. So I instead gave him a copy of my second choice, our "Salvation" pamphlet.

Then two other members of the same group asked me (either seriously, or as a test) just who Jesus is, while other members of the group stood back and laughed at them. But the two began to seem so genuinely interested that I offered them my last copy of the Catechism, which they immediately began to squabble over about who would get to read it first. They also accepted a map to area parishes and the invitation to check out the (RCIA) classes being offered. Please pray for them?

A Catholic man stopped. He has recently been so scandalized by the unjust, self-serving behavior of one of his parish's employees that he was tempted to give up on the Catholilc Faith itself! I asked him to not turn his back on Jesus Christ and the Sacraments because of Judas. I also asked him to start praying, "Father, I forgive him. I ask you to forgive him, too, and save him." My visitor, who now seemed to have regained some peace over the matter, agreed to begin praying that way. Please pray for all those involved?

A woman, perhaps in her 50s, with very short gray hair, passed a couple of times. She's gone by us before, either frowning deeply or saying something angrily. This time, the first time I offered her a Rosary, she replied as she strode past, "You've got to be kidding me!" She came back by a bit later. This time she said, again without breaking stride, that she was sorry I believed all the nonsense I represented. Please pray for her? At least she's talking to me now, instead of striding by with just an angry "No!" Plus, her reply even showed an attempt at charity! May God continue to soften her heart and lead her to Himself!

Altogether, I gave away 15-20 Rosaries and booklets, 1-2 copies of the  kerygma pamphlet, 2-3 copies of the "Salvation" pamphlet, 1-2 maps to area parishes, and one copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Please pray for us again today? Please ask God to continue to soften hearts and lead everyone to Himself, the Holy Catholic Church, and salvation. Please ask that much good fruit for His Kingdom comes of today's effort?

Jesus draws all men to Himself. So thank you again for your prayers and other support for this apostolate! In turn, may God protect and continue to bless you, and all those you love!

-

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

October 7, 2019

Desiring that God work through us, we thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort. One evangelist was available.

A 20-something man, accompanied by two others, stepped away from them and asked in a mocking tone: “Do you really think there’s a devil walking around the earth?” My reply: “We believe there are evil spirits, that they are active on earth, and that the more you sin, the more vulnerable you are to their actions. However, we also believe that Jesus Christ is the Victor and will help anyone who turns to Him.” He thanked me for the gentleness (!) of my reply, saying that some non-Catholic ministers had told him he’d go to hell. He asked for a Divine Mercy card, and accepted a Rosary and its booklet.

“Katherine”, a chronically homeless woman, stopped for her longest visit ever. She and I reminisced about the changes in the business park in the seven years they’ve allowed the apostolate sezzzt up here, and how God was blessing it. She also asked some nutrition questions, and where the least expensive coffee is, since she has no means to brew it herself. She considered accepting a copy of the Catholic Bible, but declined doing so at that time. She, too, thanked me for gentleness. May God bless her, heal her, and restore her to society!

Some teenage skateboarders stopped for Rosaries. Asked if they already had one, they said “no.” One then asked, “Do you have any of the metal ones?” Hmm, how did he know we sometimes have metal chain Rosaries? May God bless them and lead them to Him.

A group of 8-10 pre-teen boys were skidding their dirt-bike-style motorized tricycles around the center of the square. A man sometimes seemed to be coaching them. When one of the boys came close enough to ask, “Are you a team?”, he looked bewildered. Perhaps a special treat for a birthday? Sadly, none came for a Rosary.

A Catholic man said he had Rosaries at home. I asked him to pray it once for us.

A group of three women stopped when the Catholic one wanted a Rosary. Asked if the others were Christian, one woman said, “kind of”. She accepted not only a Rosary and its booklet, but a copy of the kerygma. Then she also asked for a copy of the Divine Mercy prayer card/bookmark.

Altogether, the evangelist gave away about 20 Rosaries and its booklet, 2-3 Divine Mercy prayer cards, 1 copy of the one-page presentation of the kerygma.

Please pray for us again today? Please ask that God grant whatever we need so much good fruit for His Kingdom comes of today’s session?

Perhaps some people experience a hint of the love and goodness of God through us! So thank you again for your prayers, sacrifices, and other support for this apostolate! In turn, may God protect and greatly bless you and those you love!

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

P.S. For a photo with the motorized dirt tricycles in the background, please visit our SPSE Boise location blog page.

September 30, 2019

To Jesus through Mary. So, thank you again for your prayers for Boise’s Catholic street evangelization effort. Two evangelists were available.

A national health insurance company fenced off the entire center of the business park for their conference. So, we sezzzt up just south of their enclosure. And, thanks to the barrier, everyone was funneled right past our table! We received appreciative glances from several of the conference workers, one even expressing his gratitude out loud for our presence.

“Kathleen” stopped to visit for a moment. She had traveled to the conference from a large city of ungodly reputation. She was inactive in her Catholic Faith, since her husband was not Catholic and they married in his non-Catholic Christian church. Although strongly urged to by her husband and the minister, she refuses to join that denomination. Evangelist Lucy encouraged her to find a Catholic parish at home, and get the paperwork started to get her marriage convalidated in the Catholic Church. Please pray for Kathleen?

The two women who received a Rosary from us a couple of weeks ago, the ones perhaps tempted to an unholy lifestyle, stopped by again to thank us for that “life-changing” Rosary. They gave no further details. Please continue to pray for them?

Two other women stopped and visited with evangelist Mike. One of them has a brother in the politically troubled area of an overseas country, where Catholics are persecuted and deadly violence has become frequent, She said that, in that country, people could tell you were Catholic by where you live or what clothes you wear. Here, she said, they can’t tell and don’t really care. Sad, but true.

A young man (woman?), in early to mid-teens, stopped by to acquire a Rosary. He came back several times, first to trade the Rosary for another, then to bring some friends to get a Rosary, and finally to trade his second Rosary back in because “it was broken.” Assuming the chain had simply pulled apart (because the chain Rosaries tend to be quite delicate), we encouraged him to choose one made of string. Afterward, though, we noticed that the broken Rosary’s crucifix had broken off below the INRI. (Odd. How does something like that even happen?) May Our Lady lead these souls to Her Son and salvation!

A group of four non-Catholic Christians stopped. Three out of the four accepted a Rosary, its booklet, and the encouragement to pray it.

A mother with a toddler stopped by. She accepted a Rosary for herself and her child, and received encouragement to pray it as a family, for the protection it provides.

Altogether, we two evangelists gave away 15-20 Rosaries, 2 Miraculous Medals, and 1-2 copies of the kerygma.

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

Our Blessed Lady leads people to her Son. So thank you again for your prayers and other support for this apostolate. In turn, may God protect and greatly bless you and those you love!

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

September 18, 2019

Age-old truth is still true. So thank you again for your prayers for Boise's Catholic street evangelization effort. Two evangelists were available.

Probably close to a dozen children in their early teens were wearing brightly colored t-shirts from a rock musician and that mocks purity. Please pray for them?

A couple, perhaps in their early 20s, stopped. The woman was upset at the Catholic Church, because her brother had committed suicide and her Catholic parents reacted by angrily writing him off as hopelessly condemned. Evangelist Lucy clarified the Catholic teaching: God grants enough grace to everyone to be saved; so we can hope that her brother was granted a split second before his decision became final to say, "oops," that is, to repent. The evangelist encouraged the two to pray for that for him, because God could backdate their prayers.  They agreed to do so, and each accepted a Rosary.  Per evangelist Chuck, the woman's breath smelled strongly of alcohol.

A woman stopped and asked for a medal with Mary on it.  (Our stash of Miraculous Medals was hiding from evangelist Lucy at that moment, so she offered our visitor a St. Benedict medal instead, telling her of its historic origins and protective value. She graciously accepted.)  The woman, a non-Catholic "completed Jew", but now-inactive Christian, is fond of Mary. She first heard of Our Blessed Mother when a Christian childhood friend told her that she looked like Mary. Currently, our visitor was suffering from the break-up of a romantic relationship and surprised herself at how much she was revealing to two sympathetic strangers.  Please pray for her? As is common in abuse situations, she still thinks about reconnecting with him. She smelled strongly of incense.

“Gary” stopped, and then recognized evangelist Chuck from their sons' Boy Scout days many years earlier.  A non-believer and interested in politics, Gary declined receiving a Rosary because he was "not religious." His comments, though, on the Catholic Church and Mary revealed many historical and theological misconceptions, errors, and lack of good instruction. For example, he.was astonished to hear of the perpetual virginity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  He couldn't wrap his head around people living chastely. Please pray for him and all those called to public office?

A *kerygma* pamphlet went to a teen, who stopped for a free Rosary but couldn't quite remember who Jesus is.

We gave several Rosaries to groups of teenagers before we realized they were the same teens from last week, although there were a couple of new kids in the growing group. We encouraged them to put their Rosary somewhere they could see them on a daily basis, and one girl replied that she had hers hung in her room.

A grinning, hand-holding, middle-aged couple stopped. They wanted the Rosaries as a blessing for their wedding, that is just a couple weeks away.

Foot traffic was fairly light, due to rainy weather.  Still, the two evangelists gave away 15-20 Rosaries, mostly to teens on skateboards, and one copy of our Good News/*kerygma* pamphlet.

Please pray for these and for us again today? Please ask God to send people to us prepared to perceive their need for Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church, and that much good fruit for His Kingdom comes of our effort today.

Jesus Christ is real, and we want our visitors to grow close to him and be saved. So, thank you again for your prayers and other support for this apostolate. In turn, may God bless you and all those you love!

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

September 9, 2019

Homeless men and fun-seeking teens, Jesus loves them all and wants them to come to Him. So, thank you again for your prayers and other support for Boise’s Catholic street evangelization effort. Two evangelists were available.

A panhandler, who had stationed himself across the walkway from our regular spot, complained to evangelist Chuck about how loudly he was offering free Rosaries to passersby. The man declined accepting one himself. At one point, a nicely dressed man gave the panhandler a bag of chips, then came over to our table to accept a Rosary and its pamphlet. A non-Catholic Christian and unfamiliar with the Rosary, our visitor was glad to see that the focus of the prayers is on Christ.

A group of 8-10 teens, from around the valley, stopped so each could snag a free Rosary. They were only minimally respectful with them, but may Our Lady bless them and use even this little positive action (of accepting a Rosary) to bring each of them to her Son and all the way to salvation.

Other large groups of teenagers also swarmed the table for a Rosary. Many of them also took the pamphlet describing the devotion. For the most part, they did not know much about Jesus, or about prayer, but we encouraged them to get to know the God who loves them so much that He died for them.

“Walt” stopped by. In contrast to his usual vigor, he sat down and rested during our short (!) conversation. He’d been hospitalized for 3-4 days with a bad infection on his leg and, due to homelessness, found it challenging to keep up the schedule (and food requirements) for the ongoing antibiotics. However, he was heading to the library to work on a creative task for his model car project. I’ve never seen him with such low energy, and I’ve heard the life expectancy for homeless people is short. Please pray for Walt?

The homeless man who talked of suicide a few weeks ago greeted us as he passed by. He was doing better, and told us that he had given his Rosary away to another street person to comfort them. He was accompanied by another housing-challenged man, who tried to sell us a high-end bicycle rim. Because we don’t bring cash with us (Matt 10:9), we were probably saved from receiving stolen goods.

A boy, about 8 years old, wanted a Rosary. Evangelist Chuck said he could have one if it was okay with his folks. He turned to wait for them to arrive. It was okay, so he happily chose one and received its booklet as well.

A group of college-aged non-Catholic Christians stopped and each respectfully accepted a Rosary.

Our “guardian angel” police officer rode by on his bicycle. I saw him too late for any interaction.

A woman walked by, carrying on her shoulder a small dog (that looked like a gray cat from its back). She said he had been frightened by the fountain.

In the big flurry of activity, the two evangelists gave away a good 30 Rosaries and its pamphlet.

Please pray for these people, and for us again today? Please ask God to send people to us prepared and able to receive the Good News about our Savior Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church. Please ask that much good fruit for His Kingdom comes of today’s efforts.

Using the Rosary to attract their attention, we invite everyone who comes to us, respectfully or not, to draw closer to Our Blessed Lady’s Son, Jesus Christ. So thank you again for your prayers for this apostolate! In turn, may God protect and great bless you and those you love!

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

September 1, 2019

Jesus remains relevant. So thank you again for your prayers for Boise's Catholic street evangelization effort.  A particular shout-out to @Katie777 and to Barbara for your prayers and your encouragement.  Three evangelists were available.

A woman stopped and thanked us for being out there for "Catholic Truth".  She attended Catholic high school in her youth.

A family of mixed races stopped. The dad wanted his three children (ranging from 8-15 years old) to know about all different religions. He explained the Rosary to them as being "the same as" what practitioners of a non-Christian religion use. Our evangelist tried to explain the devotion a little more accurately. They each accepted a Rosary and several of them accepted its pamphlet, and perhaps a kerygma pamphlet as well.

Two separate people stopped at our table, claiming to know nothing at all about religion and asking evangelist Lucy to explain Catholicism.  She gave the first one, a man, a Rosary and its booklet, a Good News/*kerygma* pamphlet, and a "Why Be Catholic?" pamphlet. Immediately afterwards, a woman stopped with the identical question.  Besides the materials just mentioned, the woman also accepted a copy of the Catechism, and (by request from her) a copy of our "Sexual Purity" pamphlet. Our evangelist at least was able to say, "Know this: Jesus is real. He is as alive today as He was on the Day of Resurrection. And He's worth getting to know."

A convention was going on a few blocks away, celebrating a genre of art that lends itself to costume wearing. Thus, several groups of people. in their teens and 20s and dressed in costume, passed our table. Very few of them, though, seemed open to Christianity. One group accepted a Rosary apiece, but not its accompanying pamphlet. One of them proclaimed she herself was divine, while another professed to serve her enemy and that of all mankind. God, save them!

Several families stopped by, most of whom did accept a Rosary and its pamphlet.

One woman politely declined receiving a Rosary from us.  A few minutes later, she came back with her aged mother-in-law, who was delighted to receive a Rosary. The elderly woman kissed it, and our hands, over and over. Though she spoke no English, her actions told us how much she loved the Lord. She also accepted a copy of our little prayer sheet with the Rosary prayers in Spanish. Her daughter-in-law said that it was because of her mother-in-law's devotion, and that of her own mother, that she and her family are people of Faith.

"Hosea", friend of "Walt" and whom we met a couple of weeks ago, stopped briefly to ask evangelist Chuck if he had seen Walt.

A couple in their late 20s, "Davy" and "Tia", were visiting from a nearby state for the weekend. Each accepted a Rosary and its pamphlet. They were not Catholics, but knew who Jesus is. A few other groups of people visiting Boise were offered a map of area parishes, and invited to attend the tour of the historical cathedral.

A large group of students from a local university were on a tour of downtown Boise. One of the men broke from the crowd long enough to accept a Rosary and pamphlet. Another man in the group talked to us but didn't take anything, cheerfully professing to be Catholic.

A woman in her late-20s to early-30s was on her way to work at a nursing home. She took a Rosary and its pamphlet for one of her patients who always held a Crucifix next to her heart. Our visitor, though, didn't want a Rosary for herself, telling us that she was not religious since she was young and wanted to have fun. Lord, help them both!

A Catholic family who live a couple of hours east of here stopped. They told us the children had just been baptized and confirmed, and they stopped to get Rosaries for everyone.

As we were packing up, 20-something skateboarder "Josh" stopped with questions.  He shared with us his theories about the origins of Jesus and who He might really be, and some other speculation about the nature of the Trinity and of mankind. We explained Catholic teachings to him and why staying with this orthodoxy was important. He thought we were trying to put the infinite God in a box, so we said that divine revelation was not a box but God's way of helping us to know and love Him. Evangelist Chuck also spoke of the importance of understanding as much as we can of God, while acknowledging the impossibility of fully understanding Him. Please pray for Josh? He at least is thinking about these things.

We received a particular prayer request: for "Marilyn", a non-believer diagnosed with aggressive cancer, and for "Joy", her non-Catholic Christian daughter. Lord, grant Marilyn the grace to come to believe before she dies.

Altogether, the three evangelists gave away 25-30 Rosaries and its pamphlet, 1-2 maps of area parishes, 1-2 copies of the "Why Be Catholic?" pamphlet, 1 Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1 "Returning Catholics" packet, 1 "Sexual Purity" pamphlet, and 2-3 copies of the "Good News"/kerygma pamphlet.

Please pray for us again today? Please ask God to grant that much good fruit for His Kingdom comes of today's effort.

We still need a Savior.  So thank you again for your prayers and other support for this apostolate.  In turn, may God protect and greatly bless you and those you love!

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

August 25, 2019

Fish, families, and dishonor? All part of the mission, so thank you again for your prayers for Boise’s Catholic street evangelization effort! Two evangelists were available.

A dad was pushing an over-sized stroller, filled with three girls (maybe 5-8 years old). He winced at their high-pitched squeals as he ran the stroller through the fountain. Then he stopped at our table when the girls cried out that they wanted a Rosary. (Perhaps, he was hoping to avoid more pain.) He told them, “Okay, but just get one and share it.” Each girl, though, chose her own color of Rosary. They did accept only a single copy of the accompanying pamphlet, so they could share that.

A mom and baby stopped. She accepted a Rosary and its booklet. Although the baby was dressed in pink and flowers, the mom referred to the child as “him.” God help us all!

“Mr. Cowboy Hat” from last week, returned. He thanked us for the Bible we had given him. He especially appreciated its commentary on some of the words in their original language. Some positive events had happened since he talked with us, so he thought God was affirming his openness to the Catholic Church. He asked about conduct at Mass, and evangelist Chuck advised, “At first, don’t try to follow along. Just take it in! So much is happening there!” We encouraged our visitor to find an RCIA class. Then he asked whether homosexuality was a sin, since that’s how he interpreted the Bible. We gave him a copy of SPSE’s “Homosexuality” pamphlet, as well as a summary of the Catholic teaching: It’s not a sin to experience same-sex attraction; it is a sin, though, to act out on it; therefore, people with same-sex attraction are called to live a celibate life.

Another man stopped, asking about Bible translations. Turns out he’s a cradle Catholic, but had studied the Bible with non-Catholic Christian groups (before good Catholic Bible studies became widely available). He complained about the sound system at his parish and about their choice of missalette. We encouraged him to look up the readings and become familiar with them before Mass .

Another family went by. One boy, perhaps 10, lagged back, wanting a Rosary. His dad said no. We told the boy, “Sorry, but you have to do what your dad says.” He stuck out his tongue at us. Does that count as “dishonor for the sake of the name” (Acts 5:41)?

Altogether, the two evangelists gave away 15-20 Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as a copy of the “Homosexuality” pamphlet.

Please pray for us again today? Please ask God to send people to us with hearts prepared to perceive their need for Jesus Christ and His Catholic Church. Please ask God to grant that much good fruit for His Kingdom comes of today’s effort.

God continues to protect and encourage us. So thank you again for your prayers and support for this apostolate! In turn, may He protect and bless you and those you love!

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

P.S. Our new blog page should be working soon (they said), so please visit it for recent photos.

August 25, 2019

We show a living alternative to religious indifference, thanks to your ongoing prayers for Boise's Catholic street evangelization effort. Two evangelists were available.

A Catholic couple from the other side of the country stopped and asked us to pray for the happy repose of the soul of their friend "Bill", who died here one year ago.

"Eric", a 20-something Catholic, stopped and expressed interest in joining us.

Meanwhile, another "Eric", a tall guy on a bike, passed us once then later returned in order to take Rosary and its pamphlet from evangelist Chuck. He is friends with a Catholic deacon, and they go together on what he calls "theology walks" as he considers the call to become Catholic. He plans to bring the Rosary on their next hike and surprise his friend. While evangelist Chuck was explaining the devotion to Eric, three other people stopped at the table and chose Rosaries.

A man, missing his front teeth and smelling of beer, stopped to say he was planning to kill himself.  He blamed his troubles on himself and his drinking problem, and said he needed some money to buy a drink to stop the shakes.  (Neither evangelist brings money to this apostolate, in accordance with Mt 10:9-10.) Evangelist Lucy explained the real answer was the power of God and gave him directions to a recovery group meeting nearby.  (He left in the opposite direction.) At the end of our visit, we prayed together for him. When he took off his hat to pray, evangelist Chuck recognized him as visiting us with the same story last winter.

Two women stopped.  One accepted a Rosary, the other (who had grown up Catholic) politely declined.  The first woman said to the other, "We can put it in the car."  She told us she felt drawn to the Catholic Church and had been attending Mass at the nearby cathedral.  Pray for them?  Both evangelists suspected they may be tempted to a lifestyle that is incompatible with Christianity.

A woman accompanied by a young child (boy? 3-4 years old?) stopped so the child could choose a Rosary. The mother sported dreadlocks and had lots of "skin art", the visible ones consisting of snakes and drops of blood. She said her husband's family were all Catholic, which she seemed to shrug off as not for her.

A man wearing a leather cowboy hat stopped.  He was carrying a thick library book on the history of war.  He said he'd like to be Catholic, but had a problem with the current pope because of how he perceived his politics, and because he didn't like the present scandals in the Church.  Both evangelists said we, too, were angry over the scandals.  Evangelist Lucy then pointed to the corrupt members of the hierarchy through the ages and how the Church has always traveled a path of corruption and reform, and how we can find real helps to holiness within her. Our visitor responded, "Oh yeah, I guess that's true." Lucy offered him a copy of the Catechism. He declined, but asked for the Catholic Bible next to it.  He also accepted a Rosary and its pamphlet, and walked away seemingly less sure of his belligerence toward the Church.

A group of three girls in their early teens stopped.  They chose matching blue chain Rosaries.  While they were at the table, two teenage boys came up to also get Rosaries. (They left in the opposite direction.)  Later, a pair of sisters, also in their teens, briefly left their family group in order to accept a Rosary.  They also chose matching Rosaries in the same blue chain style.

One man, a practicing Catholic, dropped back from his group in order to choose a Rosary.  He said he wanted to get back into the habit of praying it daily.

Two people stopped to take a Rosary and pamphlet. (We don't remember if it was a man and wife, or a mother and daughter, but only the woman talked.) They are lapsed Catholics who are content to stay away from Mass and just have faith in their hearts. Evangelist Chuck reminded her of the Eucharist and the chance to really get God in her heart. But she waved off the idea of coming back to Mass.

A 20-something woman was heading for the library, but stopped and took a Rosary, its pamphlet, and a copy of the *kerygma*. She wasn't really sure what the Rosary was all about, and seemed unsure if she had faith or not, but listened to us tell her about praying the Rosary.

A bicycling father and his 6- or 8-year-old daughter stopped.  The man said his daughter could get a Rosary, if she wanted. Evangelist Lucy talked to the daughter, found out the family wasn't Christian, and gave her a copy of the kerygma along with the illustrated pamphlet on the Rosary.  Meanwhile, evangelist Chuck talked to the dad. He said they weren't religious, that it wasn't important to them, and he declined to take anything.

A man in his late teens or early 20s told us he was living on his own and no longer attended Mass.  He accepted Rosary and pamphlet, as well as a map to area parishes and the invitation to get reconnected to the Church.

Altogether, the two evangelists gave away 15 or so Rosaries and its booklet, 2-3 copies of the kerygma, 2-3 maps of area parishes, and 1 Catholic Bible.

Please pray for us again today? Please ask God to send people to us prepared to perceive their need for Jesus Christ and His Catholic Church.  Please ask Him to grant that much good fruit for His Kingdom comes of today's efforts.

Our visible presence challenges the culturally accepted indifference to Jesus Christ and what He has done for us.  So thank you again so much for your prayers and other support for this apostolate.  In turn, may God protect and greatly bless you and those you love!

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

August 12, 2019

Challenges made it difficult for several of us to arrive on time for the session. As St. Jean Vianney said, “Big fish today!” Indeed. So thank you again for your prayers for Boise’s Catholic street evangelization effort. Three evangelists were available.

A man in his early 20s, sporting a full beard, seemed a bit down on his luck. He gratefully accepted a Rosary, its explanation, and the encouragement to begin praying it. A nonbeliever, he also accepted a copy of our kerygma pamphlet.

Two women were in town for a few days, trying to decide if they should relocate here. They each accepted a Rosary and its booklet. They also accepted a map to area parishes, and the invitation to check out the tour of the historic cathedral a few blocks away.

Then “Sam” arrived. A man in his early- to mid-20s and carrying a smallish backpack, Sam had been raised a non-Catholic Christian by a devout mother.

Then, in college, he had gotten talked out of his Christian faith. It was damaged first by listening to non-believing college professors, and then by reading works by deconstructionist authors.

Convinced at that point that religious faith was nonviable, Sam decided he must renounce it despite disapproval from family and his circle of believing friends. (He told us he hasn’t yet broken the news to his mom.) Sam now says he believes only what can be “proven by the scientific method”.

When evangelist Lucy tried to point out that scientific experimentation is highly disrespectful within the context of human relationships, he acted shocked at the personal nature of such a subject.

Evangelist Chuck recognized that Sam’s problem in believing in transcendent reality stems from the non-Catholic worldview of his youth, namely, “I get to decide for myself what truth is.”

Sam hopes that God will prove Himself to him, although he can’t imagine what an irrefutable proof would look like. He seems unwilling to accept any third-party testimony from witnesses about matters of religious faith.

Evangelist Mike quipped that being a nonbeliever is at best temporary, referring to the Last Judgment. Please pray for Sam? He seems to still hope for a reason to believe again. May God grant it to him!

Altogether, we gave away 10-15 Rosaries and the booklet on how to pray it, as well as 2 copies of the kerygma, and at least 1 map of area parishes.

Please pray for us again today? Ask God to send people to us prepared to perceive their need for Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church. Please ask that He grant that much good fruit for His Kingdom comes of today’s efforts.

Working to bring the straying sheep home, we thank you again for your prayers and other support for this apostolate. In turn, may God protect and greatly bless you and all of your loved ones!

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

P.S. SPSE headquarters replaced our old blog page with one from a different server. (Hope you got to see some of those past photos!) The address of the new page (with a photo from this session) is https://streetevangelization.com/team-page/?team-chapter=boise.

August 6, 2019

The battle for souls still rages, so thank you again for your prayers for Boise’s Catholic street evangelization effort. Three evangelists were available.

Repeat-visitor “Walt” and friend stopped, hoping to talk with evangelist Mike. While he waited, he told his story to each evangelist, as we arrived. On a positive note, he began his recitation by giving God the credit that things seemed to be turning around for him. However, he still seems caught in dreams of vengeance. Please pray for him?

Walt’s companion, “Hosea”, also visited at length. Also disabled, also feeling victimized, also believing that violence is a viable solution to interpersonal problems, he was understandably also without employment or steady housing. Asked what work skills he had, he proudly listed computer game “achievements.” When he expressed the desire to move back in with his mother, who is also severely disabled, the evangelist tried to get him to commit to sharing the household workload if he did move back home. But one also wonders if his mom would even be safe with Hosea in the house. Prayers, please?

While “Walt” and “Hosea” were still there, a third homeless guy stopped. He wanted to know where churches were, but was not interested in a Rosary or anything else.

A woman, in her 20s and wearing a large 5-pointed star pendant, chose a Rosary. She declined the booklet.

The parents of “William” stopped at our table. They were downtown looking for him, their oldest son. He’s homeless, having gotten in with the wrong crowd, which includes some who profess loyalty to the enemy of all humankind. His mom accepted a copy of the 12-year prayers of St. Bridget on the Passion of Christ. They have other children at home. Please pray for William and family?

Two nicely dressed children, both under 8 years old, came and chose Rosaries. They each accepted a copy of its pamphlet. Their parents were not in sight.

A man sporting many facial piercings, in his late teens or early 20s, stopped for a Rosary. Vaguely Christian but not connected with any church community, he accepted a copy of the map to area parishes and the invitation to get connected with RCIA.

Two women in their 20s stopped to receive their free Rosary and its booklet. One of them vaguely remembered who Jesus was. She accepted a copy of the Good News/kerygma pamphlet.

“Hope that works for you,” the Catholic woman responded as evangelist Lucy explained the protection that God provides those who pray the Rosary. It led to a discussion of the power that the Blessed Virgin Mary has been granted over even the fallen angels. Truly, Our Blessed Mother is Queen of Angels.

“Caitlin”, a recent high school graduate has just arrived in Boise to start college, was there with her mom. She took a Rosary, its pamphlet, and a map to local parishes.

A man in his early 20s and his wife/girlfriend went by, but then returned. They each accepted a Rosary and its pamphlet.

A middle-aged Catholic couple, who “have lots of Rosaries”, stopped to cheer us on. They are involved in their local parish choir.

A young woman stopped. Evangelist Chuck gave her a Rosary and evangelist Mike gave her the pamphlet.

A man in his 20s was carrying drum sticks in his belt. Evangelist Chuck called him “Drummer Boy,” and he came over. He took a Rosary, but was more interested in talking about music. Chuck forgot to give him the Rosary pamphlet, so ran it to him, saying, “the Rosary is the instrument and the pamphlet the sheet music.” He just smiled.

There were two teenage couples who stopped at our table. In each case, she took a Rosary but he did not. In neither case did they answer or ask questions, they just smiled and took the Rosary and its pamphlet.

Two students, attending a local Catholic high school, stopped for a Rosary.

Altogether, the three evangelists found homes for 15-20 Rosaries and its pamphlet, 3-4 maps of area parishes, 1-2 copies of the Good News/kerygma pamphlet, and 1 St. Bridget prayer folder.

Please pray for us again today? Ask God to send people to us prepared to perceive their need for Jesus Christ and His holy Catholic Church. Please ask Him to grant that much good fruit for His Kingdom comes of today’s efforts.

Many souls are in danger, so your prayers and other support for this apostolate is critical. Thank you! In turn, may God protect and greatly bless you and those you love!

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

August 5, 2019

For those with eyes to see, the Rosary makes its mark. So thank you again for your prayers for Boise’s Catholic street evangelization effort! One evangelist was there.

Have I reported to you the logo was chosen by the business park, where each week we encourage people to start praying the Rosary? I see the logo as three trees, whose shadows are kneeling. I find the choice oddly appropriate, since 1) Boise is nicknamed the “City of Trees”, and 2) we pray for the salvation of everyone associated with it.

A woman, perhaps in her mid- to late-20s, had a bass ukulele strapped to her back and was vocally rehearsing some music as she walked by. She reached a stopping point, so I offered her a free Rosary. To my surprise, she came over. Not too familiar with Christianity or the Catholic Church (although she said she’d been a part of it for 17 years), she accepted a copy of the Catechism along with her free Rosary and its booklet.

Some attendees told me that the convention going on was for a video game. It seemed to attract men with bushy beards and prepper-style work clothes. One convention-attending man stopped in answer to my offer of a free Rosary. He remembered praying the Rosary as a child, and said he was still Catholic. Asked what parish he attended, he named some that aren’t around here. I showed him the map of area parishes and he indicated one (that didn’t contain any of the names he’d mentioned). Please pray for him?

While I was helping that man, a woman came to the table and gratefully helped herself to a copy of the pamphlet on how to pray it. I didn’t get to talk with her.

Two women in their early 20s stopped by. Though each accepted a Rosary, they refused the pamphlet. They politely stood there for the brief explanation of the devotion, but seemed impatient to leave.

A shirtless but nicely groomed man in his late 20s or early 30s stopped by. He asked for a Catholic Bible. He also accepted a Rosary and its pamphlet.

A man walked by, scowled, and said something. The only word I caught was “pedophile.” “You’re a pedophile?!?” I asked, incredulous at his public confession. “No, the Catholic Church is,” he responded. An ineffective no-she’s-not/yes-she-is exchange followed. Please pray for him that he gets past his real objection to the Church and becomes actively Catholic?

A man came up and asked for a green Rosary. I pointed to the end of the table which held a small selection, and he chose the bright Kelly-green one.

The evangelist ended up giving away, 10-12 Rosaries, 1 copy of the Catechism, and 1 Catholic Bible.

Please pray for us again today? Please ask God to send people to us 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?

Praying the Rosary changes things for the better, so thank you again for your prayers, your encouragement, and other support for this apostolate, which puts them in people’s hands. In turn, may God protect and greatly bless you and those you love!

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

P.S. For a photo that includes the logo, please visit our blog page.