St. Paul Street Evangelization

[Brother Adam]

Hi Fellow Phatmassers,

There is a new national movement of Catholic street evangelizers known as "St. Paul Street Evangelization. I am the local coordinator for the Lansing/Ann Arbor chapter. We are just getting ourselves off the ground. You can check out the facebook page here:

http://www.facebook.com/CatholicStreetEvangelization?ref=ts

The SPSE administration is going to be sending people directly to phatmass, especially the Q&A forum. While they keep an online presence, they are more "in person" evangelizers. We go out on the street where ever people congregate and set up shop and talk to people about the Catholic faith. They are going to leave online evangelization to us here at Phatmass. When people ask questions or want to debate the faith online, they will link over here.

[Basilisa Marie]

YAY!

My friends helped get this started in Portland. They've done so much good - everything from clearing up misconceptions about Catholicism to helping people figure out what local mass times are. I'm so glad it's taking off all over the place!

[emmaberry]

Is this street evangelization similar to Mother Miriam and the Daughters of Mary Mother of Israel's Hope apostolate?

[Not The Philosopher]

I'd be down for getting involved in this should it ever snake its way over the border.

[Mr Cameron]

This is so interesting! And an excellent idea. I'd be willing to jump in if you ever expand to Canada or Europe!

[Brother Adam]

It is easy and free to start in your area if you have the time to commit. Contact me to get a leader pack. If you meet the basic requrements they will add you to the leader website

[EcceNovaFacioOmni]

[quote name='Brother Adam' timestamp='1346820319' post='2478645']
It is easy and free to start in your area if you have the time to commit. Contact me to get a leader pack. If you meet the basic requrements they will add you to the leader website
[/quote]
Can you give a brief picture of what's involved in being a leader?

[TheUbiquitous]

Happy to see SPSE make its way here. (Full disclosure: I've been working closely with Steve Dawson, one of the founders of SPSE, to get this thing off the ground.)

[quote name='Not The Philosopher' timestamp='1346807721' post='2478513']
I'd be down for getting involved in this should it ever snake its way over the border.
[/quote]

It will if you get one started! Folks from the UK, the Phillipines, and India have already made contact.

[quote name='thedude' timestamp='1346890999' post='2479138']
Can you give a brief picture of what's involved in being a leader?
[/quote]

At first? Getting out on the street. Very soon, you'll be scrounging for resources, like rosaries and tracts, and donations, and a nice sign. You'll also keep tabs on folks interested in participation, keep track of minor paperwork, &c.

For an idea about what this apostolate is all about, take a nice long read over at Unequally Yoked.

[url="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/unequallyyoked/2012/08/qa-with-steve-dawson-part-1.html"]http://www.patheos.com/blogs/unequallyyoked/2012/08/qa-with-steve-dawson-part-1.html[/url]
[url="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/unequallyyoked/2012/08/qa-with-steve-dawson.html"]http://www.patheos.com/blogs/unequallyyoked/2012/08/qa-with-steve-dawson.html[/url]

An expired pitch is also still up.

[url="http://www.indiegogo.com/SPSE-Portland"]http://www.indiegogo.com/SPSE-Portland[/url]

[emmaberry]

What if you're in a podunk town where people don't walk places? Could you set up shop in the mall parking lot, or outside a popular hangout? I didn't know if this was only for bigger cities.

[TheUbiquitous]

Here's what those intending to participate must affirm:


[indent=1]In taking part with the evangelization activities of St. Paul Street Evangelization, I hereby affirm that:[/indent]

[indent=1]1. In word and witness, I will promote active assent to all the teachings of the Church, as declared by the current Catechism of the Catholic Church;[/indent]

[indent=1]2. I do not formally cooperate with groups promoting active or passive dissent from the teachings of the Catholic Church, nor will I promote active or passive dissent from the teachings of the Catholic Church; [/indent]

[indent=1]3. My lifestyle does not constitute grave, manifest scandal.[/indent]

[indent=1]4. I will cooperate with all legal and canonical authorities.[/indent]

Therefore, wherever it's legal. Part of the idea, though, is to set up in areas with plenty of foot traffic.

[emmaberry]

[quote name='TheUbiquitous' timestamp='1346907072' post='2479295']
Here's what those intending to participate must affirm:


[indent=1]In taking part with the evangelization activities of St. Paul Street Evangelization, I hereby affirm that:[/indent]

[indent=1]1. In word and witness, I will promote active assent to all the teachings of the Church, as declared by the current Catechism of the Catholic Church;[/indent]

[indent=1]2. I do not formally cooperate with groups promoting active or passive dissent from the teachings of the Catholic Church, nor will I promote active or passive dissent from the teachings of the Catholic Church;[/indent]

[indent=1]3. My lifestyle does not constitute grave, manifest scandal.[/indent]

[indent=1]4. I will cooperate with all legal and canonical authorities.[/indent]

Therefore, wherever it's legal. Part of the idea, though, is to set up in areas with plenty of foot traffic.
[/quote]

Then for my podunk hundred-degree town this is not. Will be praying for the project though... So many people just need someone to talk over their misconceptions about Catholicism with. This is a great idea!

[the171]

We need SPSE in LA. Catholicism is on a rapid decline in parts.

[TheUbiquitous]

[quote name='the171' timestamp='1346909041' post='2479312']
We need SPSE in LA. Catholicism is on a rapid decline in parts.
[/quote]

Steve would be happy to talk to you about getting started.

[Brother Adam]

It can be scary the first couple of times out, but you quickly build confidence.

[Not The Philosopher]

I'm not sure if I'm up for getting involved as a leader, per se, although I like the idea of it. Mainly because 1) work currently eats up a sizeable chunk of my time/energy and 2) I honestly barely know any Catholics at all, so how I'd gather up some willing people is a bit of a question. If someone else were to spearhead the thing then I'd more than likely be willing to lend a helping hand.