tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post7159284629553078417..comments2023-12-16T16:17:43.886+00:00Comments on Fr Ray Blake's Blog: A Portal of MercyFr Ray Blakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05584140126211527252noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-3779815375555454422015-05-10T03:53:51.409+01:002015-05-10T03:53:51.409+01:00Here in Portland, Oregon we have a Dominican pries...Here in Portland, Oregon we have a Dominican priest who comes every summer to evangelize in the Lloyd St. Mall. I have never seen how he does it, but I believe he sits ( dressed in habit) in a very visible place-maybe by a kiosk- but it is in the middle of foot traffic. His arrangement with the Mall is that he is welcome to be there so long as he waits for people to approach him. In other words, he is not to approach them. Evidently many people have taken advantage of his presence to seek counsel, go to confession, get their questions answered. I wonder if you could set up a desk in this space, Father, say your office, handle your correspondence, make your phone calls, prepare your sermon, and see what comes of your simply being there, available to the public.Lee Gilberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06371623544152570338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-42640285753612509852015-05-08T17:42:05.963+01:002015-05-08T17:42:05.963+01:00Catholic Answers can be bizarre. They advised a w...Catholic Answers can be bizarre. They advised a woman inquiring whether she should get a tattoo of the rosary on her leg: "yes, if it can be used to bring people to the faith, go for it". <br /><br />I want to weep daily for the selling out to the culture engaged by some catholics. Sandpiperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07513538957439176850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-12141227773978367592015-05-08T16:02:31.092+01:002015-05-08T16:02:31.092+01:00Great plan! Pray for courage to make it happen:)
S...Great plan! Pray for courage to make it happen:)<br />Set a trend we can all follow elsewhere...epsilonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17785182500278281351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-33076008847859679592015-05-07T18:22:34.736+01:002015-05-07T18:22:34.736+01:00This is a great opportunity. What depresses me abo...This is a great opportunity. What depresses me about the modern Church is its complete lack of evangelization. We don't realm *do* anything. We keep to ourselves and when we're given the opportunity to evangelize, we keep it pretty vague. For us Catholics, we've given in to the concept of religion being a private matter, a personal eccentricity.<br /><br /> I like to listen to the dynamic preaching that comes from the Catholic Answers team. They engage the public on multiple levels. They've identified the common objections to the faith, from whatever background that might be, and have put the Catholic answer in to a simple, easy to understand and bible based conversation. <br /> We need to understand that the sacramental life and our private/family life are not enough. We're incomplete when we're not reaching out to others. We don't have to dumb down or scrap our Traditions to reach out to people, but we shouldn't dump the weight of the whole Church on people either. <br /><br />No, what we need is a squad of catechized lay people who can deliver the gospel to people. Then the priests can take over the sacramental side of conversion once the people become evangelized. <br /><br />Focus on the basics, on the core of the Gospel. That will bring people in.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-44116461240495551182015-05-07T13:44:45.547+01:002015-05-07T13:44:45.547+01:00Pop-up shops are all the rage! St Mary Magdalen...<br />Pop-up shops are all the rage! St Mary Magdalen's up with the trend as usual.motupropriohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06261356560114077508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-76241985999522819002015-05-07T12:48:50.660+01:002015-05-07T12:48:50.660+01:00I have been giving this a lot of thought recently ...I have been giving this a lot of thought recently and thinking back wondered whether I would have been encouraged to enter such a place in the centre of a town rather than a church tucked away in a side street.<br /><br />The conclusion I came to was that apart from fearing I would be seen, I would not have had the courage to do this whereas I did eventually summon up the courage to knock on the door of a presbytery after having paid many visits to churches all happily off the beaten track (including St MM!)and of course have never regretted my decision to take that first step. Perhaps people are bolder today and prejudice is not so strong - I don't know but anything which encourages people to find out about the Church should be tried out if the occasion arises.<br /><br />It was interesting to see the comment of the Belgian Priest involved in the ceremony for the dead dog, 'Miss Chiwa' which is linked on Fr Z's blog. He mentioned Pope Francis and going out to the peripheries and he said this was his way of following that. By having that ceremony in the church, people had attended who may not have been in a church for a long time and it was his way of reaching out to the peripheries. He admitted he would probably not do the same for his own dog.<br /><br />Pelerinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14243859145007696053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-42645907743721784112015-05-07T10:36:15.577+01:002015-05-07T10:36:15.577+01:00Father, you could maybe have a stand with CTS leaf...Father, you could maybe have a stand with CTS leaflets in your Chapel. CTS have many leaflets with clear and simple information regarding the Catholic Faith.<br /><br />Also a batch of cheap prayer cards to hand out would be beneficial. Prayer cards are useful and beautiful.amaqulahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06951856281426436982noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-58109913113259485622015-05-07T07:04:14.873+01:002015-05-07T07:04:14.873+01:00How about doing Rosary walks and singing the Maria...How about doing Rosary walks and singing the Marian hymns? We used to do it as schoolchildren during the month of May and they attracted a number of people. But why limit these walks to May? Anytime's the right time. Anniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02198419417921454525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-15529283085735696912015-05-07T02:55:23.574+01:002015-05-07T02:55:23.574+01:00Dear Father, you might look up the St. Paul Societ...Dear Father, you might look up the St. Paul Society For Street Evangelization. They have a program with some resources that may help you.Uncle Blobbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10844418558987611282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-80167138976983619622015-05-07T02:49:33.796+01:002015-05-07T02:49:33.796+01:00Suggestion: with the help from the laity establish...Suggestion: with the help from the laity establish a "cultural association" and teach the sound doctrine, catechism, history, life of saints, latim and tridentine mass, gregorian chant. It will convert almost all.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-11451337989775569702015-05-06T22:24:55.748+01:002015-05-06T22:24:55.748+01:00The particular shop I thinking of needs to close, ...The particular shop I thinking of needs to close, we should have it between closure and being re-let - but only maybe - we are dependant on a free gift - wee haven't got any money!<br />Fr Ray Blakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05584140126211527252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-90882689178182670242015-05-06T20:19:38.202+01:002015-05-06T20:19:38.202+01:00Cosmos, oh they're around. In the Carousel Cen...Cosmos, oh they're around. In the Carousel Center shopping mall in my hometown of Syracuse, New York, you have the Franciscan Center. In Boston, where I lived for 7 years, you have not only the Carmelite Chapel in the North Shore Mall but also St Francis Chapel in the Prudential Center (run by the Oblates of the Virgin Mary). <br /><br />These places are confession powerhouses because so many people are passing by while they shop or are on their lunch break. Make confession convenient, and people come!Geraldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02204199533749851084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-736591386787705322015-05-06T18:01:40.191+01:002015-05-06T18:01:40.191+01:00Another thing England could do with are Rosary wal...Another thing England could do with are Rosary walks.amaqulahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06951856281426436982noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-19951495443781192232015-05-06T18:00:03.477+01:002015-05-06T18:00:03.477+01:00Thank you so much for this Father. This is just w...Thank you so much for this Father. This is just what the Church needs...to stop navel gazing and get in contact with the ordinary folks of Britain. <br /><br />'Come to Me all who labour and are heavily burdened', said Christ. Instead our society directs people in need to Social Services, psychologists, agony aunts etc. There should be a Chapel in every Shopping centre.amaqulahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06951856281426436982noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-32247368049275912452015-05-06T17:03:19.221+01:002015-05-06T17:03:19.221+01:00Dear and Reverend Father,
may I take advantage of ...Dear and Reverend Father,<br />may I take advantage of this comment section to inform you and your readers of news which is beginning to come out, but which has not yet been confirmed (therefore completely unofficial) and has nothing whatsoever to do with the article? It seems <b> Fr Fidenzio Volpi O.F.M. Cap. has died today, </b> 6 May 2015, Feast of St John before the Latin Gate. May I ask everyone to pray a little while to Ss. Francis and Claire to ensure that his time in Purgatory is as short as possible.Eriugenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18181241796631553348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-4083185249846504592015-05-06T16:53:55.871+01:002015-05-06T16:53:55.871+01:00Fr. Blake!
Great idea. My only suggestion--which...Fr. Blake!<br /><br />Great idea. My only suggestion--which may sound petty--would be sticking with non-plastic materials to decorate/hand out: wood, metal, terracotta. Nothing plastic, nothing disposable, and no fluorescent overhead lights. <br /><br />If you want to suggest you are giving people something real, surround them with real things!<br /><br />James,<br /><br />I live in various cities in a number of American states, and I have never heard of a "mall chapel." You learn something new everyday.Cosmoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14199946824127025416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-23680419125497722732015-05-06T16:29:34.437+01:002015-05-06T16:29:34.437+01:00It sounds a wonderful opportunity. When exactly wi...It sounds a wonderful opportunity. When exactly will you have it?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-58348657458316352392015-05-05T21:45:14.593+01:002015-05-05T21:45:14.593+01:00In America we have "mall chapels" in sho...In America we have "mall chapels" in shopping centres where people can drop in for confessions, mass, adoration, etc. I believe the first one built was the Carmelite Chapel in the North Shore Mall (near Boston) in the 1950s. They're everywhere now, and they tend to be run by religious orders. <br /><br />I must say now that I live in England, I miss the convenience of these mall chapels. Father, a chapel on one of Brighton's high streets is a great idea!Geraldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02204199533749851084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-50777612201419516812015-05-05T21:27:25.533+01:002015-05-05T21:27:25.533+01:00a simple solution if it works. Ask Fr. Alexander S...a simple solution if it works. Ask Fr. Alexander S at St. Patrick's Soho if any of his school of evangelisation people might be around. This is exactly what they do best. Comment is from Philip, though signed in as my wifeAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02696741593113343930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-15817684581056821212015-05-05T19:00:59.420+01:002015-05-05T19:00:59.420+01:00I think it is a wonderful idea! I think it is a wonderful idea! NBWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01067593594408371005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-33257486953699117012015-05-05T17:38:00.249+01:002015-05-05T17:38:00.249+01:00That is a superb idea Father Blake. Surely the po...That is a superb idea Father Blake. Surely the possibilities are huge.<br /><br />May I suggest the security aspects could be quite important ? These days, Catholics seem to be target number 1.Jeremiah Methuselahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15344139605953558862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-78546914991532046852015-05-05T17:27:56.294+01:002015-05-05T17:27:56.294+01:00In Exeter there is a small, very old chapel in the...<br />In Exeter there is a small, very old chapel in the main shopping precinct, which is open daily for people to call in and say a prayer, which they do. I can't remember the name of the chapel but it is old and probably purpose built, and as such has a more recognisable image than perhaps a modified shop. Nevertheless your idea must be good, and as long as the shop premises - suitably furnished etc. offer a clear invitation to prayer and silence,I'm sure that you will have people visiting. Good luck and God's blessing on your efforts Father.<br />umblepiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13455889107917179909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-47935734926032123962015-05-05T17:20:48.721+01:002015-05-05T17:20:48.721+01:00Pray the rosary and let Our Lady do the rest. ths ...Pray the rosary and let Our Lady do the rest. ths reminds me one of my favourite jokes: <br />Two men considering a religious vocation were having a conversation. "What is similar about the Jesuit and Dominican Orders? " the one asked.<br /><br />The second replied, "Well, they were both founded by Spaniards -- St. Dominic for the Dominicans, and St. Ignatius of Loyola for the Jesuits. They were also both founded to combat heresy -- the Dominicans to fight the Albigensians, and the Jesuits to fight the Protestants." <br /><br />"What is different about the Jesuit and Dominican Orders?" <br /><br />"Met any Albigensians lately?"<br /><br />Leave it in Mother's hands. She'll sort it. Good luck with this Father. Chloehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05938814790482289950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-81818353490685557602015-05-05T17:01:30.051+01:002015-05-05T17:01:30.051+01:00This reminds me of Night Fever, which is catching ...This reminds me of Night Fever, which is catching on in England from the continent: the Blessed Sacrament is exposed and a team of watchers begin to adore. Another team goes out into the street to invite passers by to come in and light a candle. For just a few minutes or for longer, the unchurched thus enter the presence of Our Blessed Lord and come close to Him. He does the rest. We`ve done it in Maidstone; we call it Light Fever. Janehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10350443286068574114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-43194300574915306662015-05-05T14:16:25.634+01:002015-05-05T14:16:25.634+01:00Whilst on the idea of York, there is also "Th...Whilst on the idea of York, there is also "The Bar Convent" which is just a little out of the centre of York, used to be a girls' school but now is just a vistor's centre with a long history of Catholic ownership. It has a beautiful chapel with a "priest's hole" and is another gem that York has to offer.JARayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18138004129894177863noreply@blogger.com