“In the Face of Awful Hardship…Joy”

This story comes from Nancy of the Philadelphia – Lower Bucks County team.

Walking out of the Children’s hospital parking garage on a chilly but sunny day of December, Deacon Mark, Don and Nancy immediately happened upon Thomas on the sidewalk leading down to the street. This poor man, catching a smoke, was obviously in great anguish, given away by the pain in his eyes. Our little team had been walking and chattering from the car ride and seemed to most unexpectedly meet up with Thomas. Noticing Thomas by himself, and upset, we asked if we could pray with him. There was no hesitation in this man, he seemed to have no doubt of needing prayer, no strangeness that these people passing by asked to pray with him; it seemed like he knew just why we were passing him by at that time.

Thomas’ little six-year-old daughter Anisa is in the Children’s Hospital and has suffered and continues to suffer with multiple brain tumors. Thomas, a strong tall man, stood in tears and fear for his little girl and his dear family. The poor man beseeches Our Lord to hear and answer prayers for Anisa. We pray for good diagnosis, appropriate and effective treatment and full healing of Anisa and we pray for strength, hope, peace and love of Our Savior to fill Thomas, his wife Rebecca, and little Anisa this advent particularly, and always.

Following our prayers with Thomas, we walked on down to Civic Center Boulevard and up 34th street to setup our prayer station between the hospitals. Just on our way out from Mass earlier about an hour before, we had requested prayers from a couple of longtime parishioners, Al and Ann, at OLGC who promised to pray for us. They thanked us for doing this ministry and hugged us, saying they would indeed pray to God to place people in our path who need help with knowing Christ’s love for them and pray for us to have the words that are pleasing to Our Lord that these people need to hear.

In answer to their prayers and ours, we met many people on our two hour mission. One thing that is always striking about doing St. Paul street evangelization in front of the hospitals is how many people on what seem like normal sunny days are suffering with tremendous burdens in their lives. It is an honor and a privilege to be allowed by them and by Our Lord to minister to them in their time of great need. Thinking on how one person’s normal day is another person’s upside-down day is reminiscent of all the recent Gospel readings leading up to advent, not knowing the time or the place, but knowing one day we all shall see the face of God. Until then, being reminded by others of His constant working in our lives is where a person in the face of awful hardship can have hope, peace and hopefully even glimpses of joy in knowing they are never alone, but God is always with them, and that this life is not all there is, and that God sends His body of Christ, us, to minister to those in need.

After praying with and for many, listed below in intentions, our little team packed it up to leave. Walking down the street to head back to the car, we saw a couple of laundry bags on the wall. We asked a man standing near if he would like a blessed medal. He told us indeed he did want one, and prayers also. His name was Bradford and he was waiting for his wife Lucy to pull up her car to get the laundry. The clothes were Amanda’s, Bradford’s 26-year-old daughter who was dying in the hospital from pulmonary hypertension. Bradford told us that he saw us and thought of coming up and asking for prayer, but felt he could not, feeling unworthy and weak to do so. He remarked how glad he was that we passed by him and asked. He was so thankful to pray with us, remarking on how his daughter always told him what a strong girl she was but that now her time had come. Bradford had great concern for his daughter to be received into heaven when she passes. We prayed the Fatima prayer at the end of our prayers with him: “Oh my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell; lead all souls to heaven, especially Amanda and all those in most need of Thy mercy.” The dear man cried and told us what a blessing we were, thanking us greatly for being there for him and the many others there.

Praise be to God for He is great and His mercy endures forever! Praised be Jesus Christ!