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!