A Cleveland Catholic has been promoting an unusual kind of ministry for the last several years — and it’s caught the attention of a lot of motorists. Now, it’s also caught the attention of the Catholic Moment newspaper:

Joe Cannon, 83, wants to deliver the Divine Mercy message to as many people as possible, including motorists heading toward Indianapolis on U.S. Highway 421 south and U.S. Highway 136 east.

In 2002, he launched a billboard campaign in his home of Cleveland, Ohio, featuring an image of Christ as the Divine Mercy. To date, about 590 billboards have gone up in 11 states.

“I want to bring Jesus into the streets, where he should be,” Cannon said. “I want people to see him. When people are driving down the street, I want them to yell, ‘There’s Jesus!’”

Ten billboards went up in the Indianapolis area Oct. 29, to be displayed through Nov. 25.

A former traveling salesman who went on to be a Cleveland city councilman, Cannon first heard the Divine Mercy message in 1992 while listening to a speech. He was inspired to start handing out pamphlets about Divine Mercy in his parish, Our Lady of Good Counsel in Cleveland.

In 1996, he commissioned a 32-foot tall, 16-foot wide banner with an image of the Divine Mercy on it and had it displayed in Cleveland’s public square.

“I’ve known Joe for the last 25 years,” said Father Leroy J. Moreeuw, CPPS, pastor of Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, who blessed the banner. “I’ve been here at the parish for the last 12 years, and Joe has been a daily communicant. He’s just a good, solid Catholic man.

“He has really made this billboard project his apostolate,” Father Moreeuw said. “I think it keeps him young. He has carried his banner in more than 50 parades and at the March for Life. He is a great promoter of the Divine Mercy — Lord knows that we need it. He is always trying to get his billboards into new areas.”

The billboards give Cannon’s name and an 800-number to call. He says that when people see the image on his billboards, they want to know more. Some call to tell him their stories, while others are interested in getting billboards in their area. Everyone who calls receives literature from Cannon on the Divine Mercy.

“I’ve received more than 900 phone calls in response to the billboards,” Cannon said. The billboards have been in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, New York, Minnesota, South Dakota, California, Texas, Colorado, Kansas and, now, Indiana.

The second phone call Cannon ever received was from a woman whose son had been murdered. She had seen a Divine Mercy billboard and wanted to know why he had put it up. Cannon said he was trying to get the message out, and that particular spot was available.

The woman said her son had died on the spot where the billboard stood. She had been praying to Jesus Christ for a sign that her son was in heaven and she saw the billboard as her sign.

“My goal in life is to bring Jesus out into the open where everyone can see him,” he said. “We’ve been hiding him for too long. Don’t get me wrong. It’s great to have the image in the churches, but we also need it out in the streets for people to see him who wouldn’t normally see him.”

Billboards can cost from $350 up to $2,500, depending on the location and other factors. Funding comes from items sold on Cannon’s Web site, an annual party and private donations.

Curious for more information? Check out Cannon’s website.