From Station Leader Michael:

On Saturday, the Holy Spirit was reaching the hearts of shoppers at the Bridgewater Commons Mall. We met with Gwen, who wanted prayers for her friend, who struggles with addiction. We therefore prayed with her for her friend and those afflicted with addiction. We also got to speak with her about her own faith. She told us that she was a fallen away Catholic. We reminded her about GOD’s love for her and that she is one confession away from being a Catholic in good standing.

We further met with a woman who wanted prayers for her family. After praying with her for her intentions, she was so uplifted and thankful to us!

We had the pleasure of also meeting with a beautiful, large family. Both the children and adults all took Rosaries and let us pray with them for their intentions.

We thank GOD for these and the many other encounters during a busy shopping day at the mall!

From Station Leader Alpa:

So many WONDERFUL ENCOUNTERS! Four encounters in detail:

We met a couple who attends Mass at our parish. The young woman was Catholic, her friend was not. When I asked if he was baptized, he said he wasn’t but was considering joining the Catholic church. We spoke briefly about my experience with OCIA. We also spoke about our parish OCIA, about how it is ongoing and that you don’t need to wait until the fall to join. I also provided the contact information of the head of our OCIA, as well as my contact information. We encouraged them to move forward with OCIA, and they both seemed enthusiastic.

We met a pair of siblings who were so receptive and wonderful to speak with. We talked about their faith life, and they said they both were brought up Catholic, but their mother now goes to a non-denominational church. We encouraged them to come back to the Catholic faith, and asked if they had made their First Holy Communion. They both responded that not only that, they had made their Confirmation, and in their words “had gone all the way through”. They looked a bit forlorn that they were no longer Catholic. I asked if we could pray for them, and when they said yes, I asked if they had any specific intentions, and the young man said “I would like to increase my faith.” My own heart was touched so deeply with that prayer request, given the conversation that we had just had. We happily obliged!

We met a couple who stopped to take a rosary. The man had the Latin phrase “my most grievous fault” tattooed on his arm! They said that they tried to get to Mass regularly, but sometimes were not able to. We spoke at length about their faith, both felt that their faith was strong. We prayed with them, and as they were leaving, the man reached over and took a “Reasons to Return to the Catholic Faith” brochure. He said he would be sharing this with his friend who was a lapsed Catholic. When we offered him a book on prayer by Word on Fire, he happily took that to give to his friend as well.

A young woman was walking by our table and I was wondering if I should approach her or not. She had many piercings, brightly dyed hair and a few tattoos. I figured the most she could do was say no thank you, so I asked her if she’d like a rosary. This turned out to be the most impactful conversation that I had all day. She spoke about her faith journey, she said she felt lost spiritually as her family was not religious. However, she was dating a Catholic man and was feeling more and more called to the Catholic church. She was going to be joining OCIA at the young man’s parish. We prayed together and I felt the Holy Spirit prompting me to pray for perseverance for her, which I did. After our prayers, I spoke to her about perseverance, and how important it is in our life of faith. I told her, as she’s about to undertake this step in her faith journey, there will forces looking to pull her away; so remember to persevere through. She nodded and agreed wholeheartedly and then asked if she could give me and Albert a hug. She was such a wonderful soul and the Lord blessed me in giving us the opportunity to speak with her.

From Station Leader Mary Ann:

Soccer Mania at the Bridgewater Mall
In the midst of the hubbub of this Soccer Fan Festival replete with prizes, soccer
simulator games, DJ Entertainment, Meet and Greet New York Cosmos Legendary
Players, and lots more fun and games, Wilber and I were fortunate to meet and speak
to Jose and his mom from Newark. Jose is 15 years old and was very interested in
speaking and learning more about Jesus and faith. He had such an openness and a
humbleness about him. which I commented upon and his mother agreed. Jose took a
rosary which led us into a beautiful discussion of the Salvation Story of Jesus rescuing
us, dying on the Cross, rising from the from the dead and His command to us all to
“Repent and be Baptized”. His mom said Jose was not baptized yet. Jose, having
witnesses mostly babies getting baptized questioned “What about my age?” “There is
no age requirement”, I responded. Jose said he wanted to get baptized and wanted to
speak to a priest. His mom seemed on board. We prayed together, thanked God for
Jose’s hunger to know God more intimately and prayed for His Baptism. Please pray
for this young man and his mother. We gave them multiple pamphlets.
We spoke to a young college student, a practicing Catholic and a parishioner of St.
Ann’s Parish. She took a rosary and said she knows all the Mysteries that she had
attended Catholic Grade School and that she makes an effort to say the rosary often.
She asked me if I say all the mysteries every day. I said I needed to work on that and
laughed. I asked her about confession. She smiled and said she needs to go. It was
impressive she knew the confession times of the local churches around the Somerville
area. I said “maybe I will see you there sometime”. We prayed for her schooling and
God’s continued guidance in her life.
We spoke to a mom with her seven-year-old daughter. They were Catholic but not
practicing the faith. When I asked if there was a reason why shy stopped going to
Sunday Mass, she really did not have a reason. She just shrugged her shoulders and
did not seem to care much or did not see the need. She was indifferent. I said I go
because I need Holy Communion, God’s food for my soul, that Jesus instituted the
Eucharist at the Last Supper and said ‘If you eat my Body and Drink My Blood, you
have Life within you”. I said I need His Life and His Peace within me in order to survive
in this world. Her daughter picked out a rosary and mom took a How to Say the Rosary
Pamphlet.
We spoke to Micah, a Christian woman who took a Sacred Heart Prayer Card because
it reminded her of her grandmother who is Catholic. I told her I was Catholic because of
the Last Supper, when Jesus gave us Himself, His Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity
which we can receive at Holy Mass each and every day, that this is Holy Communion,

the Eucharist. We prayed for her grandmother and for her studies and tests in
optometry coming up. We gave her pamphlets on Why Be Catholic and the Eucharist.
We spoke to a woman of two sons who were in K and PreK in a Catholic school this
year. She said her son in K was asked not to return. She took her child to a phycologist
to have him checked out. The doctor found nothing to be concerned about. She prays
that this experience for her son and for her and the family does not color or negate her
faith journey and her love of Jesus. I offered my sincere sorrow for this situation and we
prayed for healing in her/their hearts.
We spoke to Noah an older gent who loves the Lord. We both agreed life is tough but
we have to persevere, to muddle through all the difficulties to get to heaven and Oh will
we party then, singing and dancing the night away! And giving God our Thanks! Amen!
We spoke to a couple from California out here for a graduation. They were Christian
and love the Lord. We prayed together for the graduate, for their safe return back
home, and for the Precious Blood of Jesus to be shed upon them to bless them. They
then asked if they could pray for me. It was a beautiful prayer asking God’s blessing
upon us to keep doing what we are doing. I was most grateful for their support.