Sharing the Real Presence
This newsletter features two articles from the Missionaries relating some experiences from the mission. We invite you to get involved in some of our upcoming events. We will also be including items and ways that you can financially help with the mission at the end of the newsletter. Please continue keeping us and those we are ministering to in your prayers. We hope these newsletters can encourage you and our readers to grow in faith and in zeal for the work of the salvation of souls that is so needed in our church.
In this newsletter
Blessed are the Poor
Seeking True Friendships
Upcoming Events
Needed Items
Blessed are the Poor by Griffin Rain
Since we moved to St Anthony's about 3 months ago, we have been evangelizing in different areas of the city different days of the week. Many people who ask about our mission work are always surprised when I tell them that the mission work is the most fruitful in the poorest and most high crime areas of the city. “Where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more” Romans 5:20. One of the reasons I see is that in these areas people are more open about their own brokenness. They know how difficult life is and they're always hearing bad news. They will often sway from one bad thing to the next searching for the good. When the good news of Jesus is finally presented to them and you are willing to walk with them, they are ready to accept it because they have tried everything they know and it continues to fail. There is a humility that makes receiving the good news possible. Christ offers another way, one of new life, healing from sins and a way out of the cycle of sin. God never forces us to a conversion but invites us into a relationship with Himself. He can dwell in the humble heart who knows the need for God. The first part of the sermon on the plain is directed at those who have nothing but that which God gives to them. And raising his eyes toward his disciples he said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours. Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven. For their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way. Luke 6:20-23
In the nicer areas of the city, people think that they have everything figured out. They are filled with their own perception of goodness. Everything is already good to them and so they are not receptive to hearing the actual good news of Jesus Christ. We too often fill ourselves with anything that keeps us from feeling empty and do not take the next step out into the unknown where we must actually rely on whatever God provides. Have we already filled up on the things of the world so as to not be able to be filled by Christ? Christ desires to fill each one of us with all good things, but when we fill ourselves without Him, the second half of the sermon on the plain is directed toward us. But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. But woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will grieve and weep Woe to you when all speak well of you, for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way. Luke 6:24-26
We say that we desire a great reward in heaven, but are we willing to accept the cross? Yet living a life for Christ, we must be ok with whatever he gives to us. It is often very uncomfortable for us to be poor, hungry, weeping, hated, excluded, insulted and denounced. We run and try to solve the problems ourselves on our time. We fail to trust that Christ will take care of us. It is natural for us to try to solve these problems our own way, but we should desire the life of Christ to rise to the supernatural life with the help of his grace. Eternal life is supernatural and beyond what we can reach on our own. We need Jesus and to do everything in union with Him.
Seeking True Friendships by Robert Pauly
I have noticed people struggle to make friends and communicate with one another, especially strangers and outsiders. They desire true friendships but have difficulty making and maintaining them. When we lived on Milwaukee's north side, the people did not know if we could be trusted because of visible, outward differences. A few months later, they realized we were not different, but present and showed empathy for their needs and desires. Over time, they came together to enjoy a hot meal and learn about the Lord. Many have not forgotten what we did and let us know what is occurring because they want to continue that friendship so that their loneliness can be relieved for all time in heaven. Loneliness is prevalent not just in Milwaukee, but everywhere around the world. Last week, we went Christmas caroling where many people listened to us sing. After certain songs, people thanked us and walked by; others reminisced about past experiences when this took place before the pandemic, and then spontaneously joined us. Most people walked by, focused on what they have on the “to-do list” before the family gathering.
The story of the Samaritan Woman describes reconnecting people who are lost in loneliness and despair because of how they hurt other people. The Woman thinks she would remain known for only those misdeeds. After God hears these acknowledged heartfelt desires, He then draws her back from the expectations and then reveals Himself. When Jesus reveals Himself, she runs away, not sad, but joyful proclaiming, “Come see a man who told me everything I have done. Could he possibly be the Messiah?” They went out of the town and came to him. … [Later,] they said to the woman, “We no longer believe because of your word; for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the savior of the world.” (Jn. 4:28-30; 42).
Christ tugs at each person’s heart to help each of us realize He is the True Friend we secretly desire. He corrects our life expectations through conversations with true friends, which overcomes the lies and judgments people or we tell ourselves. Jesus hears the desires of our hearts. Finally, we hear Him speak the truth that had been forgotten. The conversation leads to an invitation to the Wedding of the Lamb, where Jesus calls the disciples His Friends; just like the Woman at Samaria, who shares this invitation with all of humanity.
Upcoming Events
Come and See Weekend – We will be having come and see weekends on the last full weekend of every month unless otherwise noted in our future newsletters. We have come & sees planned for January 26-28, February 23-25, Holy Week Come & See Wed March 27- Sunday March 31. To reserve your spot on one of these come and sees or schedule an individual come and see at other dates, call/text (414) 235-7307 or e-mail vocations@realpresencemissionaries.org
Holy Week – Holy Thursday Bicycle Pilgrimage – On March 28th we will have our annual bicycle pilgrimage to seven altars of repose followed by a late-night meal prior to the beginning of Good Friday. This will begin following the scheduled Mass of the Lord’s Supper at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church.
Holy Week – Good Friday Way of the Cross – On March 29th We will pray one of the stations of the way of the cross in front of 14 of the closed Catholic Churches and institutions on Milwaukee’s Northside as we pray for the renewal of the Church in these areas where Catholicism was once more central to the life of those who lived in that area. Check future newsletters for more info, but expect most of the day.
Missionary Associates – Join us Thursday, January 18th for this month's meeting of the Missionary Associates. This is for people who volunteer with the missionaries or are interested in volunteering/supporting our work. We hope that this continues building up the community around the missionaries, getting to know others and energizing more people to start working for the salvation of souls here in Milwaukee. This occurs on the 3rd Thursday of every month at St. Anthony Catholic Church at 1711 S. 9th St. Milwaukee, WI 53204. The schedule for the event is as follows:
● Evening Prayer in the Church 5:30 pm - 5:45 pm
● Short talk by one of the missionaries 5:50 pm - 6:10 pm
● Dinner and socializing 6:15 pm onward
Needed Items
Many people have been asking what kind of items that we are in need of to support us in a specific way. We will now have at the bottom of our monthly newsletter some items that we are in need of as well as some specific things we will need funding for.
• Copy Paper, Legal and Letter
• thick glossy paper for inkjet printer for vocations trifolds
• Printer Ink for Epson EcoTank 8550 Printer
• Confession: A little Book for the Reluctant –100 copies from TAN Books
• Metal baking sheets
• coffee maker
• Financial Donations needed much more at the moment for Missionary Formation
About the Missionaries of the Real Presence
The Missionaries of the Real Presence are a group of lay men who live in common at St Anthony Parish in Milwaukee, Wisconsin as they discern a charism for a new religious community to be Contemplative Missionaries for Urban Evangelization. We are dedicated to prayer through daily Eucharistic Adoration and chanted Liturgy of the Hours in the church open to the public and evangelization to the neighborhoods surrounding the parishes we serve in.
Support the Mission, Join the Mission
If you appreciate the work we are doing, consider supporting our mission financially Here.
Volunteer with us with our street ministry and house visits Here
If reading about some of our stories inspires you, come and see what life as a missionary is like and visit us for a day or longer for prayer and ministry as you discern Here.
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