TAKING IT TO THE STREETS

Parishioners from Saints Simon and Jude Catholic Church distributed religious items and shared information about the Catholic faith at the Huntington Beach Pier Plaza. Daniel Bukaty and other trained members of St. Paul Street Evangelization (SPSE) handed out more than 150 rosaries, crosses, and miraculous medals during the event. Bukaty reported that the group held conversations with more than 20 people from various faith backgrounds, including visitors from Canada, Brazil, and different parts of the United States.

The participants are members of SPSE, a grassroots organization that trains Catholics to share their faith in public spaces such as parks and farmers markets. The movement has expanded from a single team in Michigan to hundreds of teams across the United States and internationally.

In Orange County, SPSE groups have formed at Holy Family in Orange and Our Lady of the Pillar in Santa Ana. These efforts are led by Luis A. Chavez, director of Parish Evangelization and Faith Formation, and Fortune Guzman, the diocesan coordinator of parish evangelization.