Patrick Madrid reads a letter fromLisa, a 58-year-old woman who’s been homeless for eight years and is struggling to find her way back to the Catholic Church. Her story is raw, heartbreaking, and full of desperation, but also full ofhope.
Lisa’s Story: A Struggle for Survival & Faith
Lisa grew up Catholic but, in a desperate situation, ended up joining a Lutheran church because they offered her financial help. She always felt conflicted about it and never stopped believing in the Catholic faith. After 15 months, she left the Lutheran church, but now she’s worried: “is she still in good standing with the Catholic Church?” She’s alone, battling lupus, and moving from place to place in Los Angeles, listening to Relevant Radio as her lifeline to the faith.
Her biggest fear is that when her time is up, she won’t be “in right standing with the Church” when she meets Christ.
Patrick’s Response: A Virtual Hug & A Roadmap Home
You can hear the compassion in Patrick’s voice. He immediately reassures her:
The Church wants you back. There’s no shame, no judgment… just open arms.
Step 1: Make a Good Act of Contrition. If she can’t get to confession yet, she can pray this powerful prayer and trust in God’s mercy.
Step 2: Use theRelevant Radio App. There’s a Confession Helper to guide her when she’s able to go.
Step 3: Get Help Locally. Patrick is personally working to connect Lisa with Catholic people in her area who can help her get back to Mass and hopefully find stable housing.
What About the Lutheran Church?
Patrick acknowledges the kindness of the Lutheran pastor who helped Lisa. He encourages her to pray for him and those who assisted her, recognizing their generosity. He also reassures her: she wasn’t rejecting Catholicism; she was just trying to survive.
Big Takeaways
God’s mercy is bigger than our mistakes. Lisa’s story is proof that it’s never too late to come home.
The Church must help the homeless.The Church is meant to be a refuge, especially for the most vulnerable.
We need to take action. Lisa’s story isn’t unique: there are countless people strugglingright now who need help from the Body of Christ.
Pray for Lisa
Patrick promised to follow up with Lisa and get her the help she needs. Let’s join in prayer for her and for all those who feel lost and abandoned. If you know someone who’s struggling,be the person who reminds them they’re loved.
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