Wow the Diocese of Phoenix Evangelizes Super Bowl Fans with Free Religious Material, Prayer, Mass and Outdoor Confessions
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix, Arizona, USA is evangelizing Super Bowl fans with free religious material, prayer, Holy Mass and outdoor Confessions. Joyce Coronel, program manager for “Christ in Our Neighborhood,” the diocese’s evangelization program, is organizing a group of volunteers to welcome people walking through the plaza between the Diocesan Pastoral Center and St. Mary’s Basilica for visitors partaking in the Super Bowl Experience at the Phoenix Convention Center across the street and other Downtown Phoenix areas.
The volunteers include both priests and laity who will be available Thursday, February 9th, through Saturday, February 11. Priests are set to hear confessions throughout the event using an outdoor confessional.
“Many people who are in the area for the Super Bowl weekend festivities will be able to see the sign, see people praying for them, and know that confessions are available,” said Father Harold Escárcega, parochial vicar at Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral. “You never know how the Lord is going to touch someone’s heart.”
The evangelization team will distribute St. Benedict crucifixes, miraculous medals, rosaries, and pamphlets explaining how to make a good confession or pray the rosary.
St. Mary’s Basilica will be open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday. During the hours it’s open, the evangelization team will distribute LED candles and invite people to go inside to offer a prayer for world peace.
In addition to offering confessions and materials, volunteers will also offer to pray with visitors.
Father Escárcega suggests Catholics to not be shy when sharing their faith or offering to pray with or for people.
“You never know what someone is going through,” he said.
The volunteers are on the same team for Christ.
The organizer Coronel said, “We need to be in search of the lost and in search of people who need God and find them and bring them in.”
“We can’t be content to sit back and say, ‘Well, we’re the Catholic Church, they can come to us,’” she added. For information about volunteering, contact Joyce Coronel.
Text Sources: https://dphx.org/ and https://www.catholicsun.org/2023/02/07/priests-volunteers-prepare-to-welcome-super-bowl-crowds/
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