The Period of Evangelization and Precatechumenate — a time for getting messy

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4 thoughts on “The Period of Evangelization and Precatechumenate — a time for getting messy”

  1. Wow!!
    the number of times I have been on that corner, or passed by that person asking for food., and just kept going.
    Oh sure there are lots of times when I have reached into my pocket and pulled out what ever change might be in there. But more often than not I just pretend not to see or just shake my head no.
    Telling myself they would just spend it on drugs anyway. How quickly I assess and judge why they are on the street.

    This has opened my eyes to a very easy way to evangelize, that has never occurred.
    I’m going to try and at least offer to pray for them, and offer a silent prayer regardless.
    This will take some practice though , the turning away and shaking my head is almost an instinct it will take some effort to over come.

  2. Deacon Jeff Newburn

    As a member of our Parishes SVDP Society and making house visits to those individuals who were requesting assistance I initially would find myself judging them because of their situation. I initially I had to keep reminding myself that they most likely did not cause their current situation that is was from some outside cause. I no longer do home visit I am the Spiritual Advisor for the group since being ordained a Deacon and have to periodically remind members to not judge those who contact us for assistance. I still wonder why on one of my wife and I trips at Christmas to Chicago why I gave a veteran in a wheel chair who had lost both legs a twenty dollar bill but walked past a young couple with child sitting on the side walk huddled under a blanket. Was it the Holy Spirit directing men to the individual with the most need.

  3. Sometimes it can get messy inside the Church. 95% of the seekers are neat and orderly, but occasionally we meet someone who is unchurched, worldly, new age or crude. Finding a way to minister to them without disrupting the rest of the group is a challenge.

  4. I’ve virtually stopped giving to these mail-in charities but do pray for their cause and for them to be Blessed. Below I explain how I give instead. My inkling is that quite often my send-in dollars goes to lots of administrative costs; I’ll receive back a pair of socks, a nice carry bag, or cute return labels!

    (Although there are a couple charities I’m committed to.)

    Instead, I go to my bank and get a boat-load of 5 dollar bills. Since I’m in New Jersey, I’ll take the train into New York City walk the town, and actually place in the hands of the street beggars there! That way I know exactly where my $ goes. And you now what? Most; if not every one of the beggars respond to me with a blessing from God or the name of Jesus. Even if they don’t respond, I will ask them to pray for me, pray for all those who walk past them, and to pray for themselves. Of course I would pray for them as I continue my walk. A form of street evangelization!

    I always keep in mind Pope Francis’ popular response: “Whom am I to judge?”

    A beggar by the 7-11 on East 23rd St, Manhattan; when receiving something in his white opaque plastic cup, looks up, raises his cup high to the heavens and murmurs a blessing to God for that person. (I’m pretty generous to that guy 🙂

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