Encounter’s mission is to form missionary disciples who encounter Jesus Christ in the poor and bring Him to them – most of all by being a loving, prayerful presence for our brothers and sisters experiencing homelessness. More simply, Encounter missionaries desire to more radically repent and believe the Gospel. We form missionaries chiefly through prayer, fellowship, and street ministry.
Our profound hope as Catholic Christians is ever-deeper union with the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a heart that uniquely loves and identifies with the poor. He knows the destitute by name, and wants to be known by name. He is so close to the poor in their loneliness, addiction, and sickness that whatever we do for them, we do for God. As we journey into Christ’s Sacred Heart, we rely in a special way on Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart, who shows us how to stand at the foot of the Cross and share in the Suffering Servant’s passion.
So, Encounter missionaries desire friendship with people living on the margins of society, especially the chronically homeless, who are acutely afflicted by the “leprosy of loneliness.” We want to know their names and stories, and we want them to know our names and stories. In short, we want to encounter Christ in the poor.
Prayer
In the words of Pope Saint Paul VI, "Only your personal and profound union with Christ will assure the fruitfulness of your apostolate, whatever it may be." So, Encounter strives to prioritize prayer – before, during, and after street ministry. In addition, we host spiritual retreats, often co-hosted by the Daughters of Mary of Nazareth in Quincy.
Fellowship
Receiving the heartaches of the homeless can be spiritually and emotionally taxing. Christian fellowship allows ministry to be sustainable. Communion with fellow believers refreshes our souls and enables us to "love until it hurts." We cultivate fellowship through our street teams, socials, and intentional communities.
