T-shirt evangelization

Last updated on: July 15, 2015 at 12:56 am by Deacon Greg Kandra

T-shirt evangelization 2015-07-15T00:56:31-04:00 Deacon Greg Kandra

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I’m hardly what you’d call a fashion plate. But there’s one item of clothing I own that consistently turns heads, sparks a reaction and earns comments and compliments.

It’s this:

I got this t-shirt last year at the Catholic Media Conference in Charlotte, N.C. They were giving them away at a booth set up by a group of Poor Clares who are raising money to build a monastery in North Carolina.

I wore this shirt today around Walt Disney World. A father on a bus said, “Hey, I like your shirt.” An older woman in line at a restaurant said, “Nice shirt!” The cashier at the bakery at our resort smiled and said, “I really like that t-shirt.” A stranger passing me in the hall of our hotel said, cheerfully, “Great shirt!” This happened about a half a dozen times today—which is roughly six times more response than I get for anything else that I wear.

Occasionally, people ask me where I got it. I usually point them to the back, where it announces:

“Help us build his Eucharistic throne. Ask me how.

www.stjosephmonastery.com”

This is hardly a scientific survey, and it may mean nothing more than people are happy to see something in Orlando that doesn’t have on it the image of a mouse, a duck or a dog. But I think in our increasingly secularized age, folks may be relieved to see some public sign of religious belief. The shirt, in its odd little way, bears witness. It poses a rhetorical question that may be very much on peoples’ minds right now. It provokes, challenges, nudges. It reminds us of something that is too often forgotten—or dismissed. And it places in your face an idea that is many would prefer to keep in the margins or, maybe, behind closed doors.

Unfortunately, I don’t think the Poor Clares are selling these shirts online, but if you want to send a message like this to the world, visit Cafe Press. This page has several similar shirts for sale (including one that says “got Mass?”)

And to learn more about the Poor Clares monastery, and support their work, check out the video below and visit their home page.

This & that

Previous Post

July 15, 2015

Archbishop writes pastoral letter to clergy on preaching

Next Post

July 15, 2015 Beating cancer, serving the church

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category "Mad Men" 9/11 advent All Things New Amazing video amazing videos amazon america Anglicans Anti-Catholicism art ascension thursday ash wednesday Atheists baltimore Bible Bishops Blogging bonnie engstrom Books bridgeport Brooklyn Chaplains children christian art christmas Church Churches CNEWA Converts criticism Deacons Death Penalty easter eastern christian Eastern Christians Ecumenism Education education Eucharist Europe euthanasia Evangelization Exorcism Family Feasts Gay rights Good Friday Great links Great Moments in Journalism Hanging with the saints heather renshaw Hispanic Catholics Hispanics History homelies Homilies Humor Hymn of the Week Immigration indianapolis Inspiration Interfaith news ireland Jesus Jews Journalism Judaism lent Liturgy logos Marriage Mary Media Medical news Mental health Middle East Monks Movies Music Muslims My world and welcome to it New Evangelization new york News Nuns Parenting Parish life peoria Persecution politics Politics Pope pope francis pope john paul Prayer Preaching Priests Pro-life Quote of the day radio rebecca frech ripp Ripped from the headlines rippred from the headlines Sacraments saints Scripture sex abuse Sex abuse crisis SEX ABUSE CRISIS TAGGED WITH: SEX ABUSE CRISIS The people in the pews the visitation project theatre This & that Thomas Merton Trappists TV Uncategorized uncategorized VATICAN Vatican vocation Vocations Voices & Views Women Worth a thousand words Writing Year of Faith year of mercy young people

Select a Month December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does the Hebrew word 'Yahweh' mean?

Select your answer to see how you score.

I AM The Almighty Eternal King God is Love

Books by This Author Books by Deacon Greg Kandra

See All Titles »