Lit Up on the Way of the Cross

Mission Blog Day 3

Holy Wednesday

St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Fifth Avenue, New York City. I rushed to the Cathedral from a late lunch meeting, but I didn’t get there ahead of them.  The joyful young seminarians had arrived early, and were waiting, praying, where we’d agreed to meet in the crypt below the main altar.  Their faces radiated with, yes, a little anxiety about the task ahead, but of the joyful kind.  They were primed and loaded for a “real” experience of the mission in one of the busiest corners of New York.  “What should we say if they say ……?”, “or if they say “….....?”  Time for a pep talk.

“We’re not here to debate people into confession.   We’re here to give them an experience of the two things we have, in Christ, that they don’t:  (Agape) Love, and (Confident) Joy.  They are wired by God to seek this, but the culture around them is only giving them back “Eros” and “Happy”.  This is not the water that quenches their thirst.  We have the “Living Water,” Jesus.  (John 4:10)  When they’ve tasted that water, through your witness of love and joy, the Holy Spirit will handle the rest.  Just keep persevering, with love and joy.  If you do, the Holy Spirit will bring someone to you whose soul you can uniquely can touch.  Go.  Find your soul.”

Then, armed with the Living Water, three large crosses and a guitar, the brothers poured out of the Cathedral to Fifth Avenue….

Lit Up on the Way of the Cross

Rockefeller Center, New York.

As soon as they left the Cathedral, two brothers’ teams set up shop right in front of the church, on the south and north corners.  The third headed directly across the street to Rockefeller Center.  That worked for about two minutes, when a Rockefeller Center security guard arrived.

“We love you guys, we do, but you can’t stand here with that cross.  It’s against Rockefeller Center policy.”  Perfect.

“At least we tried,” the brothers replied.  Then they headed off on a Cross Walk in the neighborhood….

As they proceeded along the sidewalk, they were nearly overwhelmed with the responses.  Prayers, prayers, and more prayers.  Their cross became filled with them though the long afternoon and early evening.  Although we had pre-agreed to re-convene in the crypt for pizza and wrap up by 7:00, this third team was no where to be found.  Finally, around 7:45, they streamed in, full of love and joy, their cross covered with dozens of heartfelt prayers. 

“At first, we were scared.  But as time went on, so many people’s faces lit up with joy at seeing us!  They were lit up!”

Veronica Arrives, followed by Grace

St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Main Aisle. Almost on cue, a “Veronica” arrived in the church, stirred up by the joyful brothers outside.  Following confession, she approached a missionary.  “I really needed this tonight.  Thank you.  And please pray for me.  I’m really struggling right now.”

Five minutes later, the same missionary encountered Grace.  A sprightly 90 year old out for a visit to the Cathedral with her middle-aged son, she comes by for a white rosary.  “Yes, my name is Grace.  It’s been a joy all my life to have that name.  And thank you for these wonderful missionaries.  They are such beautiful witnesses to the Faith that has sustained me over the last 90 years.  And so many joyful young ones!”s!”

A Rare Seven Bagger Caught in the Net

St Patrick’s Cathedral, Altar Station. Out at the busy altar station, one of the missionaries encountered a middle-aged man visiting from Mexico.  No English.  Somehow, in broken Spanish, he helped Guillermo understand that it “es possible confesar en Espanol.”  Guillermo asked if he needed to confess in order to get a rosary.

“It would be better, but Guillermo , I believe in you.  Take a rosary.” 

“Gracias”, he responds.  Then, Guillermo heads off to collect his family.

 “How many?”

“Nueve.”

 Gulp.  Did he say “Nine?”

Later, Guillermo returns with seven.

 “I thought you said ‘nueve’!” 

“Dos no quieres.” 

So “just” seven it is.

The missionary escorted them to Fr. Jorge, a Legionary who, like all of our priests, speaks perfect Spanish.  Father had only one penitent, but in an instant, had a line of seven people waiting patiently for the next hour.

The missionaries have had a number of multiple-baggers over the years. 

Many twosomes

Several threesomes. 

A half-dozen four-baggers. 

But never a Seven Bagger.  Ever. 

God bless the brothers of Cheshire!

Joy that Glows in the Dark

St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Southern Transept. Missionary veteran Karen is stationed in a dimly lit corner of the northern transept, engaged throughout the night with the passers-by.  At one point, two young people, visiting with their Catholic parents from Italy, stop for a chat.

The younger sister accepts one of Karen’s special glow-in-the-dark rosaries.  That’s when the older sister steps in.

“No thank you, we’re atheists,” she bravely proclaims.  What an entry point!

"OK, I have something else for you.”  Karen reaches into her bag and pulls out her package of resources for non-believers.  First, a flyer for the www.The SaintBeluga.org  website created by a highly educated  former atheist/data scientist who discovered Catholic truth and converted.   Then, John Bergsma's simply written but compelling, book YES, THERE IS A GOD.   

“You see, Maria, ‘God became human, so humans might become divine’." 

The young woman's eyes widened.  She said she'd take the sheet with her.  Later on, a fellow missionary told her that the young women's parents were praying hopefully nearby when they saw their daughters engaging about the faith Karen. 

They Speak in Tongues

Fifth Avenue, New York City. Amidst the bustle of  tourists from all over the world, the brothers quickly understood that the Lord had given them a special advantage:  they could speak in tongues, sort of.  Amongst each team, there were often 5 or more languages--  English, of course, but also Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and German.

“Once someone got to us through the crowd, we were never worried.  They’d right away start speaking their native tongue, thinking we’d not respond.  But just as quickly, we’d bring in the member of our team who spoke their language.  Big smiles!  It was almost as if we were speaking in tongues!  We started to feel like real Apostles!”

Tears of Joy

St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Northwestern Transept. The missionary-in-the-back of the church is stationed this time nearer the front, where we have Fr. Paul hearing confessions.  With the brothers outside softening up the crowd, she’s more or less raking leaves.  But two young women prove more resistant than usual to the idea of confession.  One has multiple face piercings, her name is Riley.  Eventually, they’re encouraged to try.

“What will we say?  We haven’t done this in years.”

The usual confession preparation guide feels a little too formal for these two.  The missionary pivots to love.

“Just pray a little before you go in.  Think about what you’re sorry for.  And tell Father.  He’ll help you with the rest.”

Later, Riley s confession, and kneels alone to pray her penance an aisle or two over.  She’s crying, but with a big smile on her face.  Tears of joy.

“I found my soul!”

Fifth Avenue, New York City. Brother Juan Jose’s team is having an “amazing night”, as person after person pauses to nail a prayer to the cross and then to chat.  Brother tells me about a woman from Mexico, who initially declined his suggestion that they chat.  Slowly, she warmed up and then, at some point in the conversation, burst out in tears. 

“What’s wrong, Maria?” Brother asks. 

“Nothing is wrong.  These are tears of joy.  Joy for you wonderful brothers, and for the Gospel.”

Later, near our 7:00 closing, Brother Felipe finds someone from Costa Rica who seems particularly touched by his story of how he ended up in the seminary.  They ended up in a long, heartfelt dialogue about the Faith and about Jesus.

“Mr. Auth, you were right.  You told us to persevere joyfully to the end.  That the Holy Spirit would bring us our soul.  And He did.  I found my soul!”

A missionary

April 2, 2026