Ann Arbor, MI

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This report is the second in a two-part story from evangelist Mark with our National SPSE team:

St. Thomas the Apostle Parish has had a “Marian booth” at the Ann Arbor Art Fair every year for over 20 years. We were stationed in the middle of the nonprofit section, among many political and faith-based groups. There were four Protestant churches (Seventh Day Adventist, Non-denominational, etc.) as well as three Muslim booths and one Baha’i. With all of this in mind, it was even more important to have a Catholic presence at the art fair. We had evangelists working in 30-minute shifts all day, all three days of the art fair.

Dozens of teens and twenty-somethings saw our Rosaries and “free” sign from a distance and quickly approached us. I asked all of them if they were familiar with the Rosary and if they knew how to pray the Rosary. Some admitted that they didn’t know, so I gladly handed them a pamphlet and gave a brief explanation. Some said that they knew but offered them a pamphlet anyway. We also invited many of them to nearby St. Thomas Church.

One mother saw us from across the street and cut across traffic to come to our booth. I offered to pray for her intentions, and she asked me to pray for unity among her grown children. Her children are now in their thirties, but they won’t talk to each other. I led a prayer out loud for reconciliation and healing among the family, and she was very thankful for that. Immediately afterwards, a Navy officer saw our Rosary display and excitedly said “I always bring these on my deployments.” She grabbed several Rosaries and pamphlets, thanked us, and later brought us bottles of water.

Praised be Jesus Christ!