Day 26…Thanks to St. Kilian “That Man Is You” Group, terrific team members, and other super volunteers!

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingly power: proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching.

2 Tim 4:1-2

All three of today’s Mass readings feature persistence in the fight against evil and injustice. The passage above caught my attention most in view of what we do on the sidewalk. Is it convenient to drive into Pittsburgh? Find and pay for parking? Endure the weather? Deal with passersby who are unfriendly to our cause? Certainly not. So rejoice that you are following God’s directions and are part of His team…the team that is guaranteed victory in the end! Thanks for your persistence in witnessing to the sanctity of life. Let’s finish the last two weeks of this campaign with more commitment and energy than ever before!

Vince

Vince called on his brother Knights to serve with him this morning, freeing up Jen to move to the second shift of the day. Thank you to Rich, George, and Dave for answering the call!

Ken and Jen

(From Ken) It is always uplifting to pray with the ever faithful Sunday Rosary walk group. They are very much like Aaron and Hur, in today’s Mass readings, helping Moses to keep his arms uplifted in prayer. Their prayers are a gift to our nation, our city, and our witness on the sidewalk, in the struggle against the principalities and powers of darkness.

Thanks to Jen for filling in for Pat, who was away visiting family, we were able to pray fifteen decades of the rosary while also ministering to what seems to be an ever increasing number of homeless.

Nadine and Nikki

(From Nikki) It was a beautiful two hours of prayer today! The rain held off, it was nice and warm and breezy. Wonderful people to pray with, including Nadine and Andrew and Deacon Joe. Nadine and I thought we were going to be by ourselves, but Andrew showed up early in our shift. He has been coming to Pray often. He said, he is new to Pittsburgh, just moved here from New York City. What a blessing! Deacon Joe Dougherty from Saint Joseph the worker Parish also came to Pray. Thanks to everybody for keeping these 40 days going so strong!

Andy and Marie

Billy and Sue

(From Don of TMIY, St. Kilian) – The shift started with Sue, Billy and myself.  The rain had moved in and was coming down heavy at times so there was not very much foot traffic.  We prayed a rosary and a divine mercy chaplet. John showed up shortly after 4PM and we prayed another rosary.   We had very few negative comments or obscentities thrown our way which is always a good thing.  A couple of young men stopped to engage in conversation.  One young man agreed that abortion was completely wrong, but wanted to know our thoughts on the situation of rape of a teenager and if abortion would still be considered wrong in that case.   We explained that while this is an extremely difficult situation, the baby was still a life regardless of how it was conceived and to take that life would still be wrong.  We also pointed out that many times the young woman not only is haunted by the anniversary of the rape but also the anniversary of the abortion.  The young man said he had baby daughter that he lost.  We extended our condolences and told him we would pray for him.