For Catholic Evangelization team in Boise, Idaho - SPSE

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Healing before our very eyes! Sometimes, the Holy Spirit allows us to see Him at work as He heals hearts and brings people back to Him. So a big thank you to Mike, for his timely prayer support in front of the Blessed Sacrament during our last session, and to @Katie777 and @Katherine438 and to ALL of you who pray for us and for the people we encounter! God hears!
  • Do you remember our encounter last March, when a man yelled at us from across the plaza, “Give me back my childhood, and that of my brother and sister, and maybe I’ll think about coming back” ? Yup. The same man passed our table last week. When offered a Rosary, he responded with the same anger and in the same words. I said we were praying that he could separate the actions of the men involved from the Church itself. A bit later, he suddenly seemed to hear me when I repeated, “I’m so sorry! That should never have happened to you.” Then, a moment later, he again thought of things that bad popes had done. But, again, he also seemed to hear the reply, “I know. And isn’t it amazing that the Church has lasted this long? Any business that badly mismanaged would have been long gone.” He paused. “You’re right,” he said, “That’s a good point.” Suddenly, he started remembering positive things (a sure sign of inner healing): first, about church-going people he knew whom he not only couldn’t fault but whom he actually respected, then about good things the Church has done for the poor, and even good things about certain Church leaders, including a pope that his mom had greatly admired. He ended by saying how he’d really enjoyed attending Christmas Midnight Mass with his mom, if only for how happy it had made her. (And I’m sure that he just made her very happy again!) Please continue to pray for him?
  • The woman with the ashtray on her lived-in bicycle stopped by again. I offered her another Rosary and asked if she remembered how to pray it. “No.” Did she remember the prayers? She started reciting the Hail Mary. So I gave her a Rosary pamphlet and told her to pray the Hail Mary on each bead while thinking about the stories in the pictures. She said she would.
  • We also had a return visit from “Ephraim” (from a couple of years ago). Ephraim evidently suffers from a severe alcohol habit, and the devastating effects it has on one’s family and the possibility of livelihood. He willingly chose a Rosary and the encouragement to pray it regularly.
  • Altogether, the evangelist gave away 12-15 Rosaries and its booklet, as well as one copy of the Catechism.

Please pray for us again today? I plan to head downtown in less than an hour from now. Please ask God to send people to us with their hearts prepared to perceive their need for Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church. Please pray that God’s will is done and that much good fruit for His Kingdom comes of today’s efforts.​

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

(For more stories from the session, please see our blog.)
 
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession, was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence, I fly to you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother.
To you do I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in Thy mercy hear and answer me, Amen.
 
O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in You!

Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen.

Eternal Father, I offer you the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your Dearly Beloved Son, Our Lord, Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.

For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world. x10

Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
 
Hail Mary,
Full of grace,
The Lord is with Thee.
Blessed art Thou amongst women,
and blessed is the fruit of Thy womb,
Jesus
Holy Mary
Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners,
Now and at the hour of death, Amen
 
O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in You!

Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen.

Eternal Father, I offer you the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your Dearly Beloved Son, Our Lord, Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.

For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world. x10

Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
 
O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in You!

Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen.

Eternal Father, I offer you the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your Dearly Beloved Son, Our Lord, Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.

For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world. x10

Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
 
Hail Mary,
Full of grace,
The Lord is with Thee.
Blessed art Thou amongst women, and
blessed is the fruit of Thy womb,
Jesus
Holy Mary
Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners,
Now and at the hour of death, Amen
 
Jesus, the main attraction. And, thanks to your continuing prayers for Boise’s Catholic street evangelization effort, more people are getting introduced to Him!
  • There was a “comic con” going on in the convention center a few blocks away, so some people were in costume. A group of three (late teens or early 20s) accepted Rosaries and a brief explanation. When they heard about the comic con, they enthusiastically headed that way. They were back, though, before the hour was up.
  • Two women in their mid- to late-20s stopped. One wanted a Rosary, because it reminded her of her Catholic childhood. The other woman soon joined her at the table. The second woman asked what distinguished Catholicism from other Christian groups. Evangelist Lucy told her about the real Sacrifice of the Cross being made present at every Mass, as well as the Real Presence in the Eucharist. She accepted a Rosary and its booklet.
  • A group of four teens in costume conversed awhile with Evangelist Mike. Two admitted a sinful lifestyle. Every member of the group chose a Rosary – and refused its pamphlet. Prayers for them all, please? May our Blessed Mother reach every one of their hearts!
  • A pair of women declined our offer of a Rosary, one declaring her allegiance to the enemy of her soul. God have mercy!
  • A perhaps 10-year-old girl, accompanied by two women (mother and grandmother?), wanted a Rosary. By the end of the conversation, all three had accepted pamphlets. The girl and the grandmother (a “former” Catholic) also accepted Rosaries and the encouragement to pray it. If I recall correctly, the grandmother also accepted a map of area parishes, that lists Mass and Reconciliation times, and the invitation to return to the practice of her Faith.
  • “Luke”, who had been playing guitar in the business park, stopped by our table and accepted a Rosary. He is unchurched, having been raised by nonbelievers. So, besides the Rosary and its booklet, he also accepted a copy of the Good News/kerygma pamphlet and a pocket-sized copy of the Gospel According to St. Luke.
  • A female veteran in a motorized scooter stopped and got a Rosary and its pamphlet. She said she also makes them and would bring us some. She also told Evangelist Mike that, twenty years ago, she was advised her to abort her baby. But she didn’t and is very grateful that she didn’t. So are we.
  • Altogether, the two evangelists gave away 15-20 Rosaries, 1 copy of the kerygma, 1 Gospel According to St. Luke, and at least 1 map of area parishes.
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, and that much good fruit for His Kingdom comes of today’s efforts?

People still need to get to know Jesus Christ and what He has done for them. So thank you again for all your prayers and other support for this apostolate! In turn, may God protect and greatly bless you and yours!​

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

(For more stories from the session, please see our blog.)
 
Hail Mary
Full of grace,
The Lord is with Thee.
Blessed art Thou amongst women,
and blessed is the fruit of Thy womb,
Jesus .
Holy Mary
Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners,
Now and at the hour of death, Amen.
 
Countering cultural idols, thanks to your ongoing prayers for Boise’s Catholic street evangelization effort.
  • Tryouts for a national talent show were going on in the main convention center of “our” business park. A metal-detector checkpoint had been set up outside the main doors, and extra security guards were standing around. At least one of them welcomed my presence, while the others remained polite but didn’t talk with me. The one who was the most welcoming declined the offer of a free Rosary, perhaps because he was on duty. During the session, he and I talked a couple of times about the signs of disappointment visible on most of the people leaving their audition.
  • Not many of those auditioning came to our table, or even looked up, either before or afterward. But one man and woman did stop by on their way home. The man said, “I was too nervous.” He seemed, though, to remain hopeful and indicated that he’d try again in a few years, the next time the opportunity came around. They each accepted a Rosary.
  • One man, very nicely dressed, was curious about the free Rosaries, but lost interest when he couldn’t fit one over his full head of dreads. Too late, I remembered the one or two chain Rosaries in the bottom of my bag. I found one and put it out on the table. One of our very next visitors, a girl, quietly claimed it while her sisters were busy choosing between the brightly colored ones.
  • An odd-looking, heavy-set woman with bluntly cut black hair walked back and forth for a while. Walking beside her was a (perhaps 12-year old) boy as well as, even more oddly, a bedraggled crow. The boy was dressed in an old-fashioned way, except for his outsized athletic shoes. I thought he was there for the auditions, but they never went inside. Sadly, the woman did not give the boy permission to have a Rosary.
  • A group of three or four men, perhaps in their late 20s, stopped. Non-Catholic Christians, they were suspicious of the Rosary. I briefly explained it as a tool to help them meditate on the life of Christ, which seemed to ease their fears, though not enough to accept one or even its booklet. One of them, though, admired Pope Francis. Another admired the writings of Pope St. John Paul II. As they left, I asked them to pray for the reunification of Christianity, to which they agreed.
  • One man stopped to compliment me on being there “to stir things up”. I’m not sure what he meant, since we try to be there every week, no matter what’s going on.
  • Altogether, the evangelist gave away about 20-25 Rosaries and its booklet, as well as a Divine Mercy prayer card.
Please pray for us again today and ask God to send people to us with their hearts prepared to perceive their need for Our Savior Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church. Please ask God to grant that much good fruit for His Kingdom comes of our efforts today.

Idol worship is still a bad idea. So thank you for your ongoing prayers and other support for this apostolate. In turn, may God protect and greatly bless you and yours!​

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

(For more stories from the session, please see our blog.)
 
Remember,
O most gracious Virgin Mary that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, Implored your help, or sought your intercession, was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence, I fly to you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother.
To you do I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in Thy mercy hear and answer me, Amen
 
Grandparents’ prayers bear fruit. And we get to see some of the new buds form, thanks to your ongoing prayers for Boise’s Catholic street evangelization effort.
  • Last week, a major regional art and craft fair was being held about 6-8 blocks away. So, lots of people were out and walking through “our” business park. However, for whatever reason, we experienced a greater than average number of polite rejections to our offer of a free Rosary. But some people responded favorably.
  • Two women stopped because one of them wanted a Rosary, fondly recalling her grandfather’s dedication to praying it. They each accepted one, as well as its booklet and a brief description of the devotion.
  • A young couple stopped. His t-shirt, boldly proclaiming “Be a Saint. What else is there?”, made it easy to guess they were practicing Catholics. I showed them how to use our Rosary booklet (which shows where in the Bible to find each Mystery), and how it helps open the hearts of non-Catholic Christians to try the devotion. Then each of them gladly accepted a copy of the pamphlet. “A new tool!” they said. I invited them to Mass at my parish that evening, and let them know that the Legion of Mary group there would be offering cake afterwards to celebrate Our Blessed Mother’s birthday.
  • Two men stopped, pulling two young boys in a wagon. (Men’s day out, perhaps?) Each of the dads accepted a Rosary and its booklet. The boys evidently were headed to play in the fountain.
  • I took a selection of Rosaries to a man seated at one of the picnic tables, surrounded by dilapidated travel bags and a backpack. He accepted a Rosary and its pamphlet. Then, toward the end of the session, he came and asked for another. I politely declined, letting him know I’d been asked to limit it to one per person. (Besides, watching him, I strongly suspected he had no interest in actually praying it). He asked about the Miraculous Medals, but once he’d heard the story, he politely declined receiving one. Odd.
  • A mother/adult-son duo stopped, he taking her out to brunch. She was a non-Catholic Christian, but had sent her son through Catholic high school. I offered them Rosaries and its booklet. The son asked about my parish. I named it, and also gave a map of all area parishes, inviting them to start attending.
  • Altogether, the one evangelist gave away 15-20 Rosaries, plus the map to area parishes that shows Mass and Reconciliation times.
Please pray for us again today? I plan to head downtown in just over an hour from now. Please ask God to send people to us, prepared to perceive their need for Jesus Christ and His Church. Please pray that He grant much good fruit for His Kingdom from today’s effort.

Often, people fondly remember a parent’s or grandparent’s devotion to praying the Rosary. We have the privilege of introducing the prayer to a new generation. So thank you again for your prayers and support! In turn, may God protect and greatly bless you and yours!​

“But I am not alone” (John 16:32).

P.S. Would you also please send up a prayer for the happy repose of Dianne, my BFF for nearly 30 years? She died yesterday, quite unexpectedly.
 
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Hail Mary
Full of grace,
The Lord is with Thee.
Blessed art Thou amongst women,
and blessed is the fruit of Thy womb,
Jesus
Holy Mary
Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners,
Now and at the hour of death, Amen

For Diane:

Hail Mary,
Full of grace,
The Lord is with Thee.
Blessed art Thou amongst women,
and blessed is the fruit of Thy womb,
Jesus
Holy Mary
Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners,
Now and at the hour of death,
Amen
✝️
 
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Despite an increase in suspicion/hostility, Boise’s Catholic street evangelization effort still reaches out to those in spiritual need. So thank you again for your prayers and support for this apostolate. In particular, I extend personal appreciation to Barbara, Fr. Tom, Jenny, and @Katie777 for your prayers and encouragement this past week. And a big thank you to the Legion of Mary at my parish for some “chain Rosaries”. Thank you so much, all of you!
  • The first person who stopped was a man who asked about the words on our sign, “Catholic Truth”. I explained that Jesus Christ Himself said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life”, and so the Catholic Church passes on the truth He taught. Then came the man’s real question. He said he had been raised Catholic and his mom had died Catholic, but his brother – contrary to both his and his mother’s explicit wish – had scattered his mother’s ashes instead of burying them. My visitor was now afraid that his mother couldn’t be resurrected. I assured him of God’s power, and His desire to gather all His people to Himself. He said his brother was an atheist and had said that he didn’t care about his mother’s wishes. I said I was very sorry and that it shouldn’t have happened, and that he could be assured of God’s love and mercy. The man accepted a Rosary and its pamphlet.
  • Then, for a long time, I heard only “no, thank you” from many, many people, plus one passerby’s mocking remark referring to the priest scandal. But, finally, a family stopped who did want Rosaries. The father was the first to choose one, then the mother, then each of the two boys. I encouraged them to pray it as a family.
  • My last visitor was a boy, perhaps 5 years old, and dripping water from playing in the fountain. I said he could have a Rosary if it was okay with his parents. It was, so he chose one. Were he and his family Christian? “No.” So I gave him a copy of the Rosary pamphlet and of the kerygma to give to his folks. He came back a moment later to ask for a second Rosary, “for his brother.” Then he was back, again looking over the Rosaries. “Did you change your mind about what color?” He shook his head and rejoined his family, waving to me as they left.
  • Although foot traffic was plentiful, the evangelist gave away exactly 7 Rosaries, about that many pamphlets on how to pray it, and one 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 Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church, that He grant the evangelists the wisdom, the words, and the manner needed to win souls (back) for Him, and that much good fruit for His Kingdom comes of today’s efforts?

Although passersby treated us with perhaps more suspicion or hostility than usual, we still had meaningful encounters. So thank you again for your ongoing prayers and other support for our apostolate. In turn, may God protect and greatly bless you and yours!​

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

(For more details, please see our blog page, streetevangelization.com/boise/blog.)
 
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Hail Mary
Full of grace,
The Lord is with Thee.
Blessed art Thou amongst women,
and blessed is the fruit of Thy womb,
Jesus
Holy Mary
Mother of God
Pray for us sinners,
Now and at the hour of death, Amen.
 
Hail Mary
Full of grace,
The Lord is with Thee.
Blessed art Thou amongst women,
and blessed is the fruit of Thy womb
Jesus
Holy Mary
Mother of God
Pray for us sinners,
Now and at the hour of death ,
Amen
 
We offer God’s love and mercy to rich and poor alike, thanks to your ongoing prayers for Boise’s Catholic street evangelization effort.
  • A man, who “grew up Catholic”, stopped at the offer of a free Rosary. He accepted one. Then he and the woman with him also accepted a copy of the booklet that describes the devotion. However, when offered a map of area parishes and the invitation to return to active practice of his Catholic Faith, he said he was a regular member of a non-Catholic Christian group. Please pray for him?
  • Another man stopped for a free Rosary. He identified as Catholic, but said he just prays privately. Offered a map of area parishes, a “here it comes” look came over his face. But he politely accepted the piece of paper and the invitation to return.
  • A homeless man, with dried snot on his mustache, stopped. A Christian, he gladly accepted a Rosary. He admitted, though, it would take him a long time to learn all the prayers. I suggested he pray the Our Father on each bead, and that to think about Jesus and what He has done was the important thing. He left after receiving a hug from me. Then, looking down, I suddenly noticed that a rose blossom had lodged itself against one leg of our table. Was the man, as St. Teresa of Calcutta would say, “Jesus in His most distressing disguise”? Or was St. Thérèse praying for us?
  • For a reason I can’t clearly articulate, I decided to extend the session an extra 10 minutes. Then, as I was finally packing things up, a Catholic couple stopped, fresh from a Catholic young adult retreat (they hadn’t even recharged their phones yet). Invited to join us as evangelists, they were happy to accept. New evangelist Sarah then turned and offered a Rosary to a college-aged man passing by. He accepted.
  • Altogether, we gave away 15 or more Rosaries and its booklet, 1-2 Miraculous Medals, and 2-3 maps of area parishes. Our 2 new evangelists may come to work with us as early as today.
Please pray for us again today? I plan to set up downtown in just a couple of hours from now. Please ask God to send people to us with hearts prepared to perceive their need for Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church. Please ask God to grant the evangelists all they need to reach each soul for Him, and that much good fruit for His Kingdom comes of today’s efforts.

We offer, as best we can, the Good News of God’s great love and mercy. So thank you again for your prayers and ongoing support for our apostolate. In turn, may God protect and greatly bless you and yours!​

“Go with the strength you have” (Judg 6:14).
 
Hail Mary,
Full of grace,
The Lord is with Thee.
Blessed art Thou amongst women,
and blessed is the fruit of Thy womb,
Jesus
Holy Mary
Mother of God
Pray for us sinners
Now and at the hour of death
Amen
 
Reaching out, no matter the crowd. So thank you again for your ongoing prayers for Boise’s Catholic street evangelization effort.
  • A punk rock concert was happening in the hockey arena, so the entire center of the business park had been fenced off for the “VIP area” concession stands. I set up about 20 feet away from the fence, at the top of “the south spoke”. A ticket scalper stationed himself between the fence and me, doing brisk business. It was so noisy that I had difficulty making my offer of a free Rosary heard. But still, some responded.
  • A mother and her pre-teen daughter were the first to stop and accept Rosaries.
  • One man, with angry face, pointed a curse sign at me. My reaction surprised even me: A gentle, “Awww. God bless you!”
  • Several non-believers stopped, in different groups. I encouraged them each to “sit down and actually try” to pray the Rosary, even if all they had were questions, such as, “Who are You, Jesus?”. Many of them agreed to do so.
  • Some Catholics went by who called to me that they already had Rosaries at home. I asked them to pray it once “for us out here.” The ones who heard said they would.
  • Do you know the phenomenon where, though the sun is shining, it is as dark as if the sky were heavily overcast? I’ve read about it being noticed in places of vice or in areas being used as a stronghold of the enemy. That peculiar darkness was happening in the business park when I arrived, but cleared up by the end of the evangelization session, praise God! Perhaps it did so on account of so many people willingly accepting a blessed Rosary and then carrying it with them into the concert arena. God is good, and the Blood of Our Savior has truly overcome evil!
  • A Catholic youth minister couple from another state, “Daniel and his wife”, stopped to talk. They each accepted a Rosary and its pamphlet, remarking how they needed to set an example for the young people they teach. They walked away, and then almost immediately returned, asking how the local church was dealing with the ongoing priest scandal. We also talked about the importance of sacrifice, and how hard that is to teach in today’s culture. Please pray for the couple and the young people they are trying to reach?
  • Altogether, the evangelist gave away perhaps 15 Rosaries and pamphlet, as well as 2-3 Divine Mercy prayer cards.
Please pray for us again today? I plan to set up downtown in just a little over an hour from now. Please ask God to send people to us, prepared to perceive their need for Our Savior and the Catholic Church. Please ask God to grant that much good fruit for His Kingdom comes of today’s effort.

The Cross offers hope, even to crowds of people who have been taught to hate God. And God blesses them! So, thank you again and again for your prayers and other support for our apostolate! In turn, may God protect and greatly bless you and those you love!​

“I say to you … bless those who curse you” (Luke 6:27-28).
 
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Hail Mary
Full of grace,
The Lord is with Thee.
Blessed art Thou amongst women,
and blessed is the fruit of Thy womb,
Jesus .
Holy Mary
Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners,
Now and at the hour of death, Amen
 
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