Watertown

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State or province: New York

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Scott Lowry
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Summary for Outing Saturday 9 December 2023

December 11, 2023

Summary for Outing Saturday 9 December 2023

The morning was unusually warm (somewhere in the high 40’s and low 50’s) and I was running a bit late. Once I got out into the square, I decided to set up the table with sacramentals in front of a Christmas tree a bit further away from the nativity display and lit menorah that was posted in the downtown square for all to see. From the time I started setting up, things began to happen, from old familiar faces to giant walking sticks and ski masks, occult chest tattoos, and 90’s rap music being blasted out of a boombox from a shoulder hanging backpack:

Evangelization Encounter -

EE#1- Gia immediately approached me and asked if she could sit with me for a while. I gave her my only chair while I set up the table with rosaries, literature, and other sacramentals to pass out. Throughout our time together she asked me a flurry of questions such as, “Who are you? What are you selling? Are you single? What is a Rosary? What are these medals? What are these books? Do you have a cigarette?” I explained to her that I was not out here to sell anything or accept donations and that I was here to pray with people and answer questions about the faith. Gia mentioned to me that her father who was retired from the US Army was living in Virginia and that the rest of her family were living in Guam. When I asked her why she was not with them, she gave me a mechanical response; “Because once I turned 18 I was no longer my father’s dependent and should be on my own.” When she said this I witnessed a deep sadness come upon her face and in her eyes, as if this was her father’s words and not hers. She also expressed how she really misses her father and hopes someday to be with him again, even though he “cut her off.” After getting to know her for a little bit, it turns out her father kicked her out of the house at 18 and moved along in the military from base to base without her and is now retired. I also remembered her from a previous social services agency I used to work for as she was in a few of the programs I assisted past clients in who were suffering from mental health issues such as depression and schizophrenia. Homelessness is also a major occurrence for clients in these programs, so I was able to piece the situation together a bit more clearly. Gia said the last time she went to Church was near Schofield barracks in Hawaii as a military child in the early 2000’s. She also explained to me how she had “four to five jobs” including Burger King on Fort Drum. I explained to her that it was never too late to go back to Church because Christ is always waiting to receive us. There are also many people in Church who are willing to help one another for nothing in return. I also gave her a list of community resources in the area that I pre-filled in with a pen for situations like this. She took a picture of the contact list with her phone. Gia took a few rosaries and some books I wrote on Christian apologetics and personal experiences. When I asked if she wanted to pray with me, she declined. I also accidentally called her “GiGi” a few times and she did not seem to be happy about it (let this be a lesson to you too; when evangelizing, do not mess up somebody’s name!). She then abruptly left without saying goodbye. For the next couple of hours, I would periodically see her pacing around the square walking the sidewalks. Please pray for this child of God to be reunited with her family someday and to find a social support system that welcomes her and fulfills her needs both emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

EE#2- Richard approached me and Gia on a bicycle. He was steering the thing with one hand and holding some kind of book shelf with the other. He took interest in what was on the table and we had a short discussion about faith until Gia asked him for a cigarette. Before Richard departed, I gave him a rosary, a miraculous medal, and a book I wrote on Christian apologetics. I also pressed for a photo with the two of them, but they both declined. Richard said he was in a hurry. Before Richard left, he asked me to pray for his children so that God may protect them. I told him that I will and so would the religious groups I forward his prayer request to as well.

EE#3- Katie and Cassandra came walking up to me pushing a dual baby carriage. Both Damien (aged 2) and Oliver (aged 1) were the passengers. They were interested in taking some sacramentals for themselves to pass out to family and friends. Following behind them, somebody who was not with them, Aquaviyon (goes by Q) who was carrying a large walking stick also approached the table and asked what I was selling. I told him that everything was free and gave him some literature and rosaries. He gladly received them and then walked off because he was in a rush. As for Katie and Cassandra, they accepted a St. Joseph’s edition of the bible and placed it on Damien’s lap in the stroller. We had a short discussion about faith as they grabbed a few books and many sacramentals. They did not request any prayer but seemed very enthusiastic about faith in Christ.

EE#4- Two men named Austin and Damien spotted me from afar and deliberately crossed the street to approach my table. While they were far off, I waved to them and they nodded in approval. Damien was shorter and wearing a black ski mask. When the two men approached, I greeted them and offered them literature on the faith and a rosary. Austin (the one not wearing a ski mask) did most of the talking. He told me how he has been to just about every Church in the area and was discerning faith. He told me that he read the bible front to back, as well as the Quran, and that he wanted to learn as much as he could so he could discern properly. Austin and Damien professed their belief in Christ Jesus, as Austin told me that he always believed since he was a small child. However, Damien was an atheist up until his late teenage years when he overdosed on drugs. He explained to me that when this happened, he came to faith and belief that there is a God. His near death experience converted him to Christ. I explained to both of them what the 2,000 year old Apostolic Church started by Christ Himself believes, especially scriptural proof on the Eucharist and Confession, and supplied them foldable tracts on these topics, as well as the “Why become Catholic?” tract. They received it eagerly. I also provided Austin multiple books I wrote on Christian apologetics along with new age discourses (modern day arguments that addresses challenges to the faith and misinformation). Austin asked that intercessory prayer be said for his father Rick who is sick from a lifetime of smoking cigarettes. Sometimes he loses control of his posture and falls to the floor and is very weak in his breathing. Please pray for these men to be drawn to Christ’s Church in the fullness of worship as well. Who says all random strangers on the street in a ski mask are bad news?

EE#5- A man and a woman came walking from across the street to the front of my table. The man had a backpack slung on his shoulder with a loud boombox blaring 90’ rap music out his side. He had his chest and torso exposed displaying a pagan witchcraft star tattoo upon his chest. The woman he was with was walking at an aggressive pace by his side and they both looked very angry. When they crossed my table I introduced myself and asked them if they wanted a blessed rosary. The man declined as they walked by. Please say a prayer for this couple to come to faith in the truth and to reject the doctrines of demons and the endless maze of confusion that is the occult.

EE#6- Penny approached the front of the table on her bicycle. I believe she was headed to work at Sam’s club and wanted to talk to me along the way. She explained to me how she spent most of her life as a nurse’s assistant and that she was raised pentecostal. She is also suffering from depression and would greatly appreciate prayers to help her with this. I thanked her for her service to the community; as a result, she seemed very surprised but delighted at this response as if nobody ever thanked her for what she has done for other people. From there, I went on to explain some key points about the Catholic Church and why it is the fullness of worship and the truth. I also provided her tracts on information about the Catholic Church along with common objections to the faith. Penny also happily received some sacramentals that she took with her. Please pray for her to come to Christ’s Church so He can heal her. Please pray for Penny to maintain meaningful employment and to experience joy and happiness.

EE#7- Antonio who was covered in many tattoos on his face and hands while wearing a colorful beanie over his head approached my table suddenly while I was distracted by something. He was wearing a cross around his neck but was very interested in the rosary. I handed him multiple rosaries with instructions on how to pray it along with a book I wrote on Christian apologetics.

EE#8- Finally, I noticed a man from afar crossing from the square to the other side of the crosswalk away from my direction. He stared at me for a moment until I waved at him. He waved back and went about his business. When he left, I noticed a bit that he looked like my close friend from middle school and high school who joined the Army with me after the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center and Washington D.C. (I would later run into my old friend on deployment to Mosul, Iraq many years later in 2009). Chad is the name of my friend who joined the Army with me and I recalled that my friend also grew up in a pagan family that practiced the occult. I also knew his dad quite well and would hang out at their house when I was still in school (back when I was an atheist). My friend Chad was a very crude guy, and he told you what he thought of you - no holding back. He could also be very vile and cruel and swore like a sailor in the pacific during World War II. His father, Michael (also my father’s name), was also a veteran and was very active in the VFW and veteran causes in Massachusetts. He would also brandish occult symbols in his home and on his clothes and jewelry, but at the time I never paid any attention to these things. Now, considering these things, some time passed at my table and I was caught rearranging items on the table to counter the wind that was blowing by when the man who looked like my friend from the past came walking up startling me. When I introduced myself, he also told me his name is Chad. He stared at me very attentively as we began to have a discussion about faith. I asked him if he went to Church, and he told me that he has not been for awhile. I explained to him that Christ loves us very deeply and is always there waiting for us, and is still with us even if we are not thinking of him or remembering him literally everywhere we go. He agreed and explained to me that the Lord speaks to him. I paused for a second and asked him, “What does He say?” Chad responded with, “Many things,” and did not get into detail. I told him that Christ speaks to all of us in His own way and it is up to us to listen and recognize His presence, even through other people. When I said this, Chad responded, “I am standing in His presence right now.” Now a bit frightened and thrown off, I explained to him how “I am nothing,” and changed the subject to handing him literature on the faith and tracts on why he should return to Church, along with information about Confession and Eucharist. Chad then seemed upset about his life and how he wishes to return to the Lord and change his life. I asked him if I could pray with him and place my hand upon his shoulder. He agreed. I walked around the table and placed my right hand over his shoulder and he placed his hand on mine and we prayed with the ACTS method (Adoration, Contrition, Thanksgiving, and Supplication), petitioning for the Holy Spirit to come down and enter Chad’s heart so as to draw him closer to the Lord and to strengthen him. Finally, concluding with the sign of the cross in the name of Christ Jesus. After Chad left, I couldn’t help but feel as if that encounter was some kind of test, and that the man I just prayed with somehow knew me in another way.

After this last encounter, it was time to pack up and head to the hospital to pass out Eucharist. Still puzzled about this last encounter, I started to wonder if something happened to my friend Chad I knew from my school years. I had good reason to worry too because in the past I had a similar experience with a past Army buddy who was in trouble, and by way of a dream the Lord pushed me to reach out to him to warn him of something he should not be doing. Anyways, I googled my friend’s name and the place I knew he was born in with the word ending in ‘obituary.’ To my relief, I did not find my friend there, but I did find his father Michael in there who passed away recently in November of this year. The same day I was on a prison retreat at Cape Vincent, New York, when something very overwhelming and indescribable came over me while I was hanging out with the prisoners. I thought something might have happened to my family because they were traveling out of state for thanksgiving while I was in the prison. Now I realize that it was Michael passing away on that day, and that was probably what I was feeling. Now, it is important to note that my apostolate is to proclaim the gospel to the occult and to seek them out for the salvation of their souls, and this also includes the dead. I had to do a 20 decade Rosary for Michael and I offered a mass for the repose of his soul that is scheduled February 2024 at my local parish. Please, I ask all of you that you also pray for Michael’s soul and for him to shine in the perpetual light of the Lord forever. I know he needs your prayers, for no one else is praying for him! Thank you.

You can view Michael’s photo and obituary here (Chad used to drive me around in that sweet car of his, and I once accidentally had a negligent discharge with a paintball gun on his dashboard):

https://www.shortfuneral.com/obituary/Michael-Connolly