MAY 2015 TAKING CHRIST TO THE STREETS T he song Mighty to Save reminds us that our Savior “can move the mountains.” He has certainly moved mountains in what is known as the Frogtown neighborhood of St. Paul, Minn. Frogtown is an inner-city area built around University Avenue in the Thomas-Dale neighborhood. It is home to St. Agnes Catholic Church and school and St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. Frogtown is an enclave for Vietnamese and Hmong immigrants who, in St. Paul, comprise the largest urban contingent in the U.S. Unfortunately like many neighborhoods, the area has been caught up in the mortgage crisis, creating blighted homes and attracting gangs and other undesirable activities. But it also opened up opportunities for a new neighbor to come in. Today a building that used to house a Wicca store (a form of witchcraft) is now the main office of Godtown where Alpha courses and charismatic prayer groups are held. Several homes that used to house drug dealers and demonic activities now house single men and women missionaries (separately) involved in outreach ministry. New homes are being renovated to house families and young women who have come out of human trafficking conditions. And a former Frogtown tavern is now the Safe City Project where young people can come for prayer and programs that keep them out of crime activities and jail. The Godtown initiative also includes an Urban Mission Training Program (UMTP) providing hands-on training to people from around the region and other states, on how to do outreach missions and evangelize the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And evangelize they do! Led by John Tolo, his wife, Jennifer, and his brother David Tolo, teams of people have prayer-walked a 55-house territory in the Frogtown neighborhood, sprinkling blessed salt and praying for God’s protection and that He would move powerfully in the community. Godtown has become a safe haven for the young people and families in the area who feel connected to a community that loves them. Many come regularly for prayer and to be involved in the mission work. The Safe City Project is a place where the St. Paul police want to P AGE 2 C ATHOLIC C HARISMATIC R ENEWAL O FFICE send young people involved in minor crimes to do community service and avoid jail time. The Godtown founders have worked closely with the police department and the City of St. Paul to rejuvenate and renovate the area. The Godtown mission has expanded to assist teenage girls that have been unknowingly caught up in sex trafficking and prostitution. The Twin Cities is ranked #12 in the nation for age 18 and under sex trafficking, and #3 for 12-16-year olds, according to John Tolo. “This generation is filled with a lack of identity because they’re fatherless. That’s an epidemic issue. If you don’t have an identity with a father, how are you going to have a relationship with God the Father?” “God promised in Isaiah that He was going to reveal himself to every generation. When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Lord is going to raise a standard, a battle flag against him, and He’s going to reveal himself and deliver that generation,” said John. “That is His promise. The opportunity is there; are we going to participate?” Stated David Tolo, “My desire is to see the ones in this generation rise up to their calling. This is a critical generation with which God is doing something huge. There are some that stand against the tide of evil, and then there are people who don’t even know God. A lot of times where things are darkest, the light shines the brightest.” CITY MISSION EVANGELIZATION IMMERSION Training for a New Generation UMTP is one way Godtown is expanding its mission to other communities. The outreach and ministry training program engages participants in daily prayer, active mission work and instruction. It uses the ministry model Jesus used as described in the Gospel of Luke, 9:1-6 and 10:1-24, explained John. “The UMTP mission is to focus and harness the gifts of young people, groups and leaders that are excited about how they can impact their peers, family and community while learning about Christian ministry and missions,” he said. The program consistently has between 10 and 30 people in training, and often hosts groups from other regions and states. The organization is hosting an evangelization immersion week in June for anyone interested in training for outreach ministry to impact their communities and be a testimony to the power of God. Anyone is welcome; registration is required (see sidebar). JUNE 10—JUNE 14 9 AM—10 PM Daily Highlights include: Daily charismatic prayer & Eucharistic adoration Service projects Evangelization equipping sessions Exploring the Spiritual Gifts and Practice Door to Door Invitation Outreach Friday night Block Party Saturday afternoon Healing & Freedom Service Sunday 11 a.m. Charismatic Mass at St. Vincent De Paul Register at www.onerally.org For more information contact: [email protected] Or text: John Tolo (651) 231-6021 All are welcome! Pentecost of the Nations 2015 Plan now to join with tens of thousands of other Catholics in fervent intercession "that the spirituality of Pentecost will spread for a new Culture of Pentecost in the Church for the New Evangelization." May 15—23, 2015 This is a response that the worldwide Catholic Charismatic Renewal offers to the desire expressed by Popes John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Francis - that the spirituality of Pentecost will spread in the Church for a new "Culture of Pentecost" (JPII, May 2004; Benedict XVI, Sept 2005; Francis, May 2013). Suggested formats include the Burning Bush Initiative found at: http://www.burningbushinitiative.com/english/ pentecostnovena.htm or Intercessory Prayer Resources at http://www.nsc-chariscenter.org/resources/other-information/ intercessory-prayer/. M AY 2015 P AGE 3 May Happenings & Announcements LIFE IN THE SPIRIT SEMINARS Continuing Tuesdays, May 12, 19, 26 and June 9, 7-9 pm. St. Peter’s Prayer Group, St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 2600 N. Margaret Street, North St. Paul, MN. Call Peter, 651-353-4311 for details. Thursdays through June 4, 7-8:45 pm. Jim and Rita Hanson’s home, 3128 Leyland Trail, Woodbury, MN. Registrations appreciated. For more information, Fr. Joseph K. Bill Ministries, [email protected]; or Rita, 651-321-3056. Companions in the Heart of Jesus Mini-Retreat for Women Saturday, May 16, 2015 Church of St. Paul 740 Bunker Lake Blvd. NE, Ham Lake, MN 55304 8am Mass (optional) 8:30-11:30: hospitality, praise & worship, speaker, reflection and prayer. “SURRENDER TO RECEIVE” FOLLOWED BY YEAR-END LUNCHEON. Save your place by registering at [email protected] or call 763-757-6196. Childcare provided for $4 per child; Please call Stephanie at 763-413-7393 and leave a message to receive childcare services. NORTHWEST REGIONAL CLUSTER PRAYER MEETING The four northwestern prayer groups gather once a quarter for a joint prayer meeting, hosted on a rotation basis. The prayer meetings are held on the hosting group’s regular meeting night. The next one is: Thursday, May 21, 2015 7 p.m. St. Raphael Church 7301 Bass Lake Road Marian Hall (enter doors on east side of bldg.) Crystal, MN 55428 Contact Sylvia 763-300-5099 HAPPENINGS May 1 (Friday) FIRST FRIDAY WITH THE FRANCISCANS, 7PM. 1289 LaFond Ave., St. Paul, MN. Adoration, Franciscan Crown Rosary, Compline and Benediction. Fellowship follows. May 1 (Friday) COR JESU, Praise & Worship Night at the St. Paul Seminary (St. Mary’s Chapel) 810PM, 2260 Summit Avenue, St. Paul, MN. Information and directions: 651-962-5050. May 2, (Saturday) LIFELINE MASS, NET Center, 110 Crusader Ave., West St. Paul. 6-9:30PM, band, Mass with Fr. Michael Becker; Speaker Gina Bauer, “And You Shall Receive Power.” Call 651-450-4311. May 5 (Tuesday) HEALING MASS at Church of St. Peter, 2600 N. Margaret St., No. St. Paul. Celebrant Fr. Jim Livingston. Rosary 7pm, Mass 7:30PM. Call Peter 651-353-4311. May 12 (Tuesday) HEALING MASS at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church, 155 county Rd. 24, Wayzata, MN. Celebrant, Fr. Jim Livingston. Rosary 6:30PM; Mass 7PM. Call Teresa at 763-553-1343. May 15 (Friday) EMMAUS, Church of St. Mark, 2001 Dayton Ave., St. Paul. 8-9:30pm. Adoration, Confession, praise and worship. Call 651-645-5717. May 19 (Tuesday) HEALING MASS at St. Patrick’s Church, 1500 Vine Street, Hudson, WI. 6PM. Call 715-381-5120. May 19 (Tuesday) HEALING MASS at St. Gabriel the Archangel Church, 1310 Main Street, Hopkins. Celebrant Fr. Jim Livingston. Rosary 7 pm; Mass 7:30 pm. Call Barb 952-933-8423. YOUR VOLUNTEER GIFTS NEEDED We are seeking volunteers to help out with our summer conference in a variety of ways. Your help and prayers will make this a successful event. Your help is also appreciated for the Pentecost Mass on May 24. If you can bring a snack or dessert to share during fellowship after Mass, we would greatly appreciate it. Please call Barb at 763-571-5314 NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. Postage PAID Twin Cities, MN Permit No. 2967 CCRO Summer Conference FREEDOM TO FOLLOW JESUS Fri.-Sat. August 7-8, 2015 Trinity School at River Ridge 601 River Ridge Parkway Eagan, MN 55121 A conference on deliverance ministry and the Unbound model with Lloyd and Nancy Greenhaw. Topics include: THE NEED FOR DELIVERANCE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE NEW EVANGELIZATION THE 5 KEYS TO FREEDOM AND POWER Baptism in the Holy Spirit * Praise & Worship * Testimonies * Healing Ministry * Charismatic Mass Music by Jim Roland REGISTRATION OPENS IN MAY. VISIT WWW.CCRO-MSP.ORG FOR MORE INFORMATION OR CALL 763-571-5314. Please let us know if you can volunteer during the Conference. Thank you!
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