Merchantville, NJ

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The following report comes to us from team leader Lucy in Merchantville, New Jersey:

On Sunday, Maryanne and I went to Cooper River Park to evangelize. In spite of the park not being crowded, we had some good conversations. One chat was with three impressive young adults, Joseph, Kevin, and Audrey. They all took rosaries and directions on how to pray it. Although not Catholic, they are Christians and at least one of them attended church earlier in the day. During our conversation, the young men shared with us that at a music concert they just attended, the audience started chanting gang slogans. Joseph and Kevin said they could feel evil present, that it felt demonic. The experience was so strong it made them decide that they would avoid the singer’s music. Their decision has caused some tension with their other friends who continue to embrace the music. They asked for prayers for continued conversion and strength to continue resisting the draw of the music. We were very impressed with these young adults; they recognized evil in music that they liked and how it was affecting them and stopped listening to it. They also recognized that they needed prayer to continue resisting it. They embraced the idea of praying for the conversion of the singer and the conversion of their friends who are still listening to the music.

We met a father who asked for prayers for his daughter. She had a kidney transplant and her body is rejecting it. The father, a Catholic, shared that he doesn’t attend Mass regularly. He has not totally rejected the faith. Under his shirt he was wearing a crucifix, a Padre Pio medal, and one other medal. He was open to listening to one good reason why I attend Mass. After listening, he said that he does go to the adoration chapel once in a while. Hopefully, it gave him something to think about and it will lead him to fully embracing the faith.

We met a beautiful 9-year-old girl. She was there with her mother. Her prayer request was for the world, for people to stay healthy and that no one is mistreated. Her mother took a rosary and said her daughter and son could have one. As we continued chatting with her mother, her daughter must have been looking at the rosary and all of a sudden, the daughter called out, “It’s Jesus!” She then asked if she could have one for her sister who would be there soon.

Praised be Jesus Christ!