Looking for God

In This Newsletter

1. “Looking for God” by Griffin Rain

2. Upcoming Events

3. Volunteers Needed

Looking for God
By Griffin Rain

God is at work everywhere and in every person. Are we looking for Him? In evangelization are you just bringing the faith to others, or do you look for God already working in their lives to draw them to Himself? I often see evangelization as this search for God in the lives of those that I meet. When I find Him, I help them to see Him. How great of a joy it is to be able to look for God's work everywhere I go. How clever God is to leave His trace everywhere for the seeker to find.

How do people not see God? Often they do not want to see Him or they are looking only for a reduced version of God that fits into their box. Instead of man being made in the image and likeness of God, they (man) have made God into their image and likeness. The box that they put God in has holes and needs your help to open it up. Can you see Christ shining through in the darkest places? If we do not seek, we will not find. “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Mt 7:7-8)

Some people are not looking for God, but they are looking. What are they looking for? More often than not they have replaced the Creator with the creature. They have begun to look for pleasure in only the finite things that are here, but St. Augustine says in his treatise on John, “One who finds pleasure in truth, and happiness, in justice, and everlasting life, is drawn to Christ, for Christ is all these things.” 

In Acts 17, St. Paul preaches the gospel to the people of Athens. He looks around at all of their shrines to different gods and finds a shrine to the unknown God. He uses that to proclaim Christ to them. Will we look around in our evangelization efforts to find where people are already looking for God? I see many areas in which people are looking for the perfect God through imperfect means. This will let them down, and that is where the true God can come in. When the finite doesn't fulfill, we long for more.

An example I find often with young people is the search for a perfect relationship. They are often looking for a perfect person to fulfill them. Will they find him or her? No! Only God is perfect. When we don’t have God, we will look for what he offers in many other areas. Look at the worship that people give to relationships, politics, money, fame, etc. They have put something in the first place in their life. Can it win against God?

The world needs to know the way in which Christ is present to us. Before that, we must know Him. Where do we see Christ within the Church so we can more easily see him outside the Church?

In his encyclical Mysterium Fidei, as well as in the Second Vatican Council Document Sacrosanctum Concilium, St. Pope Paul VI speaks on the presence of Christ primarily in the liturgy, but also outside of the liturgy while, among other areas, performing works of mercy to the least brethren.

In the liturgy and the prayer of the Church, we have a real way of drawing close to Christ who makes himself present to us. He is made present to us through the Eucharist, his Word, his gathered people, and the minister who acts in persona Christi. In all of these we are more closely conformed to the life of Christ and learn to see Him. As we know Him, we can go out.

As we are sent out from the Mass and go through the world, we will see signs of His handiwork. When we know Him and what He looks like, we can more easily see Him at work in the world. We are on a mission to bring Christ's presence into the world, but He is already there as well. The world blinded by sin has become blind to His presence and so it needs those who can see to show the way. We go out to reconcile the world to Christ and help them to see Him eye to eye once more, in reconciliation.

Upcoming Events

One-Year Anniversary of the Street Disciple House - Join us this Sunday, November 2nd at 6pm for a potluck to celebrate one year at the Street Disciple House. We will have a large pot of chili, and we invite people to bring sides, desserts, drinks, etc. It will be at the Street Disciple House at 2126 W Michigan St, Milwaukee, 53233.

Summer Mission - We have a new program for college students and others who will be off for the summer. Why spend your summer flipping patties for minimum wage when you could be turning souls toward God for heavenly wage? What to expect:

• Life in Community - You will live alongside fellow Catholic men, committing to a rhythm of shared life, recreation, and deep accountability.

• Developing Prayer Life - Pray together with housemates daily and receive formation in the spiritual life.

• Growth in Freedom - ​​True freedom comes not from doing what you want, but wanting what God wants. Receive formation in conquering the spiritual vices that hold you back and growing in the capacity to hear and obey God’s will.

• Direct Evangelization - Share the Catholic faith with those outside of the Church in direct apostolic work, both through street evangelization and other direct forms of evangelism.

For more information or to apply, visit streetdisciple.org/summer.

Lunch in the Park - We will be serving food at King Park (1531 W Vliet St, 53205) on Saturday, November 15th, from 11:00am to 1:00pm. Volunteers are needed on two teams - Kitchen Team and Evangelist Team. Please contact us if you can make it. We begin at the Street Disciple House at 11am.

Missionary Associates Dinner  – Join us for our next Missionary Associates Dinner on Monday, November 24th. 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 at the Street Disciple House located at 2126 W Michigan St, Milwaukee, WI, 53233. The schedule for the event is as follows:

• Evening Prayer 5:30pm - 5:45pm

• Short talk from Griffin with discussion 5:50pm - 6:10pm

• Dinner and socializing 6:15pm onward

If you can't make it this time, plan for the 4th Monday of each month. If you would like to be on our text updates list, please text (414) 235-7307 your name and we will add you.

Come and See – We are encouraging men who are interested in our way of life to visit for a come and see. We encourage longer visits such as a week-long visit. We are open to having visitors most weeks so if you have a week that will work for you, contact us and we can have you for a visit. To set up a visit call/text (414) 235-7307 or e-mail [email protected]

Men's Open House Discipleship Nights - Join us for the Men's Open House Discipleship Nights on Friday's at the Street Disciple House. This takes place every week unless otherwise noted. See the schedule & speakers for upcoming nights here. It is an open house, so come when you can. You do not need to be there for the whole night. Feel free to invite friends! The schedule is as follows:

• 5pm - Doors open

• 5:30-6:30pm - Dinner

• 6:40pm - Evening Prayer

• 7pm - Formation talk by guest speaker

• 8:15-10pm - Social/games/etc.

• 10pm - We will conclude with Night Prayer

If you would like to help with organizing the night, communication, cooking, finding speakers, etc., please let us know!

Discernment Group - We are hosting a Discernment Group that meets every other week on Saturday evenings. We are currently finishing the book A Living Sacrifice: Guidance for Men Discerning Religious Life, and we will be starting a new book next month. Please contact Griffin at (414) 235-7307 if you would like to be a part of this group.

Volunteers Needed
(Call or text 414-235-7307 to help)

Bible Study in the Park - Wednesdays at 12:45pm @ Cathedral Square Park. We are looking for other Catholics who would be interested in helping to lead Bible studies in the park. We have been doing this for several months now and it is going well. It is mostly attended by homeless individuals after the Open Door Cafe at the Cathedral. If a different day works better for you, the Open Door Care takes place every day except for Saturday and brings a lot of people to the area who are not only hungry for food, but also for the truth of the gospel.

Catechism Nights - We are hoping to start Catechism Nights for current Catholics to grow deeper in faith (this is not OCIA), but we can only start them if we have help. It could take place either on Tuesday, Saturday, or Sunday evenings. If you are interested in helping out, please reach out to the number above.

Recurring times for evangelization:

• Fridays - Evangelization after 12:05pm Mass in front of Gesu Church @ 12th and Wisconsin Ave.

• Saturdays - Big group evangelization in a high foot traffic area

Join our new Street Evangelist Group Chat

This group is primarily for posting events or days and times for evangelization. If you have days that you would like to go out and evangelize, please post in the chat and hopefully someone else would be available to accompany you for evangelization.

Click Here to Join GroupMe

Needed Items
(Follow the links below to donate)

• Financial Donations

  • Help support us going to SEEK2026 to promote our new Summer Mission program to college students! (see details above under "Upcoming Events")

• Street Disciple House Items

  • Twin-sized bunk bed frames

  • Tall ladder

• Street Evangelization/Preaching Items

  • Amazon List (pamphlet racks, camera battery, note-taker Bible)

• Financial Donations for Missionary Formation & Operation of Street Disciple House

• 2x4 or 2x6 wood pieces for the Weekly Way of the Cross (we are currently in need of many wood pieces!)

About the Missionaries of the Real Presence

The Missionaries of the Real Presence aims to assist in the apostolic renewal of the Church by intentionally discipling men living in community and encouraging missionary vocations in the Church. We participate in Christ’s evangelizing work for the salvation of souls, especially seeking out those who have been spiritually neglected. We introduce people to Jesus through intentional conversation, preaching, teaching, and prayer. We engage in direct evangelization in the public forum on the city streets, on public transit, and in homes, and share the good news of Christ with those we meet. All of this flows from a life of prayer and union with Jesus as our source.

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.

If you want to learn how we evangelize, consider watching videos on our YouTube Channel, Missionaries of the Real Presence.

Check out our Facebook or our Instagram.

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