Madonna of the Streets Ministry News
Thanks to the support of many, the vision of one, Madonna of the Streets Ministry continues to grow in many ways, through the blessed guidance the Lord provides. We would like to share with you how we are growing, perhaps even the more practical details, and will occasionally update this page with news of interest.
June 28, 2007
A letter from Michael Grogan
Dear friends of Madonna of the Streets,
Over the past five years it has been a tremendous joy to see so many disadvantaged and delinquent young people receive the gift of Jesus through “Madonna of the Streets” ministries and your support. Who would have thought five years ago that more than thirty young people would be baptized and come to meet Jesus through Mary? So many of you through your prayers, your volunteering to chaperone, food donations, clothing, and monetary donations, have put your love for God hidden in the hearts of our young people into a living concrete action.
This past year I have lived and worked with young people in the Highbridge section of the Bronx. On May 26, 2007 (The Vigil of Pentecost) seven of our young people, after a period of spiritual preparation, were baptized, and four of them also made their First Holy Communion (click for photos). Many people ask me how it is possible to take a tough kid from the street and change his heart. The answer is that I do not - I am only capable of prayer and love; only God can change a human heart.
One of these young men was homeless, jobless and hopeless when I first met him. One of our contributors graciously gave him a job, which enabled him to rent a room. This love opened his heart and made him receptive to coming to prayer group two times a week. Now, Joel, previously abandoned in the streets, met “Madonna of the Streets” who mothered him to the baptismal font.
Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta used to say, “In the poor we need to see Jesus and be Jesus.” Loving Jesus is the key, and this achieved through change, conversion, and prayer.
May the Blessed Virgin Mary continue to teach us to see Jesus and be Jesus to everyone we meet, especially his poor.
In the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary,
Michael Grogan
May, 2007
Madonna of the Streets is pleased to announce that six youths will be making their Baptism and two will be making their Holy Communion on Saturday, May 26th, at 6pm. This will take place at Sacred Heart Church.
November, 2005
Michael has been working with 18 youths, preparing for Baptism at the Easter Vigil. They regularly attend mass and classes at St. Francis of Assisi Parish.
Michael has been working with 18 youths, preparing for Baptism at the Easter Vigil. They regularly attend mass and classes at St. Francis of Assisi Parish.
On Dec. 8th, two parishes in South Bronx will be consecrated to the Blessed Mother; St. Francis of Assis and Sacred Heart Parish. Rosaries, miraculous medals and more will be given out.
Michael spoke at a parish in Buffalo last weekend. He was visiting a friend there.
The youth group of Saint Mary’s Parish, run by Pat McConough, organized a food drive. They collected over a ton of food, 21 turkey's and some supplemental cash donation. The ministry is very grateful.
Michael is very excited about a boxing program that is in the works. This program will be held at St. Francis of Assisi Parish on Sunday evenings. No mass - no class. He has a friend that is a professional boxer, who will be giving instruction. Some equipment will be donated and some will be purchased.
Michael will bring 10 boys to a Youth 2000 retreat at Holy Rosary Parish run by the Franciscans on Dec. 9,10, 11.
September, 2005:
Michael has recently acquired a post office box as an additional means of communication. The address is,
Michael Grogan, Box 964, Bronx, New York 10451
August, 2005:
On the last Friday of July, Michael went to the subway at about 11AM. Someone had given him a pamphlet about Saint Leopold just a few days before. Michael then passed 3 black youths. They started to follow him with the intention of robbery. Michael began a conversation with the boys and told him he was going to confession, mass and to say the rosary. He asked if they wanted to join him. He began to tell the boys about Saint Leopold and about his ability to read people's hearts. The boys listened and Michael feels as though and incredible evangelization experience was happening. A week or so later he ran into one of the boys and he said to Michael "Do you have that rosary for me". Michael now has some new friends in the Bronx.
Michael has taken two hiking trips to Bear Mountain with the boys. The day always begins with mass. Michael makes sure that the boys attend mass before he will take them on these trips. The experience is one of great joy for these underprivileged youths.
Four younger boys from the building attended summer camp with the Mother Theresa Missionaries of Charity. Each day was a blessing to these boys and they were sorry when camp ended on August 11th. They want to attend again next year.
Friday, August 19th began with mass in Michael's apartment. Thirteen boys from the apartment and neighborhood attended. Father Gene Fulton gave a heart- moving homily that was appropriate for the lives that these youth live. They are poor, some are drug dealers, some don't have a place to live, some have dropped out of school, and much more. This was the first mass that some of these boys ever attended. The apartment was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. One of the boys had tears in his eyes when he thanked Michael. After the mass, they all hopped into a van, provided by the Mother Theresa sisters, and took a day trip to a beach house in Bayville. This house was provided by a friend of Michael's. Well, the boys had a day that they will never forget. They had a barbecue and they went swimming in the Long Island Sound. The day was one of great joy for all of the boys. For some, it was their first trip out of the Bronx. There are pictures of this day on this website. God is good.
URGENT REQUEST - Madonna of the Streets is in desperate need of toiletries and food. There is great need for perishable items such as meat, vegetables and dairy. One mother told Michael that she has not been able to wash her children's clothes for over a week. Michael gave her half of the bottle of detergent that he had. To DONATE please call 718- 294-6707. Thank you.
Michael has been working with 18 youths, preparing for baptism at the Easter Vigil. They regularly attend mass and classes at St. Francis of Assisi Parish.
July, 2005:
There was a beautiful mass and house blessing. Some young people from Madonna of the Streets and from the apartment building attended. The diocesan priest from the neighborhood was very touched by this experience.
Michael got three young men, ages 13, 14 and 15, involved in Saint Rita’s Summer Camp run by the Missionaries of Charity. Two of the three boys are being prepared for Baptism at the end of the summer. The boy’s enjoy the camp and look forward to each day.
The parents of these three boys had to come to register these boys for camp. It was beautiful to see the parent’s praying with the sisters in the chapel.
These same three young men as well as others come to our prayer group on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
On Friday evenings, the 7-12 year old young children come to pray, sing songs, watch movies, etc.
When Michael first came to this new location his focus was to work with the young in gangs but he now feels his mission is to prevent involvement with gangs and violence.
This Sunday Michael will be taking these young boys on a hiking trip.
Carlos has been on his own since he was 12 years old. He has been stabbed, hit, has tattoo’s all over. He has had an extremely difficult life. He now works for Domino’s and rents a studio apartment. He has been joining in the prayer group and will be going hiking on Sunday.
Madonna of the Street’s is off to a fantastic start.
June, 2005:
Michael officially moved in to his new apartment on June 1, 2001.
Michael officially moved in on the Feast of the Visitation – when Mary visits Elizabeth.
From the moment Michael went to University Avenue apartment - It was very clear that there are forces (not People) that don’t want Michael in the place but Light triumphs over Darkness
There was bad plumbing, pipes broken and there was a flood.
There was wires hanging
The apartment had been raided for guns and drugs, one month previous.
A woman had passed away in the apartment.
Most tenants do not stay long.
The door to the apartment would not open for one hour several times. Michael was stuck out in the hall.
The lock was changed.
The apartment was filthy.
Four young men from the building came to help and a new prayer group was started.
These boys did not know anything about Faith.
A new refrigerator and a new oven arrived on Monday.
Major work began on Tuesday.
The apartment building will be blessed this evening.