Children's Rosary Lenten Journey in Dormitz, Germany

 The Children's Rosary in Dormitz, Germany shared some of the activities they did with their Children's Rosary groups for Lent and leading up to Easter. The children were encouraged to keep count of the 40 days of Lent. Ideas for prayer, fasting and almsgiving were created as gifts for the children to give to Jesus. 

The group also shared pictures of the children placing intentions in the intention box and leading the prayers at their Children's Rosary meeting.

After their prayers everyone had time for fellowship and something to eat. 

First Meeting of the Children's Rosary at St. Elias Church in Baabda, Lebanon

A New Children's Rosary met for the first time on March 25, 2026 at St. Elias Church in Baabda, Lebanon. This is our second Children's Rosary group in Lebanon. Fr. Youssef Abi Zeid Consecrated the new group to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary. 

Six children attended. Fr. Youssef relates this little story. I asked the first and only small child, what intention do you want us to write for you, because he still doesn't know how to write. "St Joseph" he answered. I told him don't you want to pray for mom and dad? He nodded affirmative. "Who else?" I asked. He answered again "St Joseph"!!! 

We are most excited to welcome this new Children's Rosary and we thank all those who helped to organize the formation of this new group. 

New Children's Rosary at Stift Heiligenkreuz, Austria

We are excited to announce the formation of a new Children's Rosary at Stift Heiligenkreuz. Translated from German this means Holy Cross Abbey. It is the oldest continuously active Cistercian monastery in the world. The name of the abbey originates from a relic of the True Cross which was donated in 1188. This abbey is approximately 18 miles from Vienna. 

The first meeting of the Children's Rosary at Stift Heiligenkreuz was January 21 the feast of St Agnes. Pater Leo Maria de Andrés Brunete O.Cist. sent us a picture from their third meeting on March 25, 2026. 

We had the blessing to stay at Stift Heiligenkreuz in 2022. It has long been a hope that a Children's Rosary could begin there. 

The Visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo Concludes

Asher Kaufman, at 18, set out on June 28 for a yearlong trip to help spread the Children's Rosary in Europe and Africa. He spent the months of July, August and the first two weeks in September in France. He arrived in Uganda on September 15. From Uganda he traveled by car to Rwanda on September 28. After a week in Rwanda there was once more a return for more travel in Uganda. On October 11 he arrived in Tanzania and on October 26 traveled to Kenya. A visit for three weeks to Madagascar followed on November 7 and then South Africa. He spent several weeks in Cameroon. His journey has now led him to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 

On the Friday after my return from Kisantu, I was given a rather important meeting at the chancery of the Archdiocese of Kinshasa. I was to meet Fr. Alois Kondo, the priest in charge of pastoral affairs for the archdiocese. It was his secretary with whom I had spoken the first time I visited the chancery.

The question, however, was how to get to that part of town in time for the 10:00 a.m. meeting. Kinshasa is an immense city, and this time Fr. Apollinaire was not available to drive me. One of the young men from the formation house at which I am staying volunteered to accompany me to the offices; we would take the motorcycle taxis which are so proliferous on every street and alley. The motorcycle taxis, which I came to know as boda bodas in Uganda, are quite renowned, or perhaps I should say notorious, for their cheap prices and highly questionable safety standards. When I was in Uganda it was not at all surprising to see three or even four people riding on a boda boda. One time I recall seeing five people all crammed on one motorcycle. This is because the driver will pick someone up at a stop, set a price with them, and set off for the requested destination; then, someone else might hail them down, and if they are going in the same direction, hop on as well, and so it goes on. In general, helmets are not worn since with passengers getting on and off so frequently, it is rendered quite impossible. Nevertheless, accidents do happen. I remember being at Fr. Alex Musoke’s parish in Mutukula and seeing a young man at Mass who was paralyzed from his waist downwards after he had been hit from behind by a car while riding a boda boda. Further, I learned afterward that on the very same day I traveled to the chancery, the fourteen-year-old daughter of the cook who prepares the meals at Fr. Francois’s residence was involved in a serious accident on her way to school, and her face, arms, and legs were grievously injured with cuts and deep gashes.

However, as I say, there was no other option for getting to the chancery in a timely manner; any four wheeled vehicle would necessarily take at least twice as long due to the traffic.

Riding a taxi motorcycle is in itself a rather exhilarating experience, though the first time in Uganda I found it more terrifying than anything. This was because I had never ridden a motorcycle before. I remember saying to Br. Henry, “Where do I hold on?”

He laughed and responded, “Nowhere! You just sit there!”

At first I was incredulous and insisted on holding tightly on to the underside of the seat, probably more for psychological necessity than for any real safety benefit.

However, the moment that I think must make everyone fall for the boda boda eventually is when one comes upon a long straightaway with few cars or a slowly winding downhill slope; the driver lets the speed climb, the wind whips across your face and through your hair, and you almost feel as though you’re riding on a cloud…

Alas, these moments arrive rather seldom. Instead, most boda boda journeys involve weaving between cars, dodging around craters and bumps in the road, and occasionally getting blasted in the face by a dark cloud of black exhaust from some ancient truck just in front.

It’s advisable to bring a hairbrush and moistened cloth to rearrange one’s hair afterward and wipe off the layer of grit and dirt that accumulates on the front of one’s face (see below).

We arrived at the chancery somewhat late, but Fr. Konde still made time to see us. He was gracious and receptive to the Children’s Rosary, telling me that as soon as he has final approval for the cardinal to start groups, he would let me know but nevertheless permitting us to reach out to and visit priests in the archdiocese to tell them about the Children’s Rosary in anticipation of final approval.

A few days later, I paid a visit to the School of Mother Vincenzia Cusmano; I brought rosaries, and we had a meeting in the chapel of the school campus with interested children to pray the Rosary. It was the first meeting of the Children’s Rosary group there, which will meet weekly. We were able to officially start the group as that school was actually located in the Kisantu diocese, whose bishop had given me approbation already. The sisters were happy with the results of the meeting, and so was I, especially to have a group definitively started after having worked through so many of the preliminary necessities.

That evening, I also had an appointment with the pastor at the Parish of the Blessed Sacrament, one of the biggest and most well-known churches in Kinshasa (parish shown above). The circumstances that led to this meeting were rather curious.

Back when I was a volunteer at La Salette in July, I met a priest named Fr. Mupapat Thadee from the Society of the Blessed Sacrament; as it turned out, he was Congolese but working in France at La Mure, a town not far from La Salette (also the birthplace of St. Peter Julian Eymard, the founder of the order). He was interested in the Children’s Rosary and even came to our informational session in August.

I thought to reach out to him when I arrived in Kinshasa because he was a member of the same order that was putting me up and because he was Congolese. For a few days I received no response; then, about a week later, I received the surprising response that Fr. Thadee was himself in Kinshasa on vacation and that he was assisting in a parish, the Parish of the Blessed Sacrament, run by his order. He had already spoken to the priests there about me and the Children’s Rosary, not even knowing that I was staying at the seminary about 11 kilometers away.

This was great news, and we immediately made plans for me to visit Fr. Thadee at the parish; however, the meeting did not come off due to scheduling difficulties, and by the time I was able to come on Wednesday, Fr. Thadee had already left for France. However, he had already talked extensively to the pastor about the Children’s Rosary such that he was eager to see me and to start a group. This was an amazing development because as I say, this parish is one of the largest in the archdiocese. It has all-day adoration, and the catechism program is so large as to almost be on par with a school; 500 children participate. To start a Children’s Rosary at this parish would be a wonderful grace. We promised to stay in contact regarding when the cardinal gives approval.

The next two days, I had two more important meetings. One was at the school of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.This was the first school I had visited when I arrived in Kinshasa, and it was in the Kisantu diocese. Like we had done previously, we gathered the children (this time four classes) in the chapel and prayed the Rosary together. 

These children were younger than the first group, but I was quite impressed at how devoutly they prayed and how little disturbance they made. This school will be meeting monthly.

On Friday, I again went into downtown Kinshasa, this time to a school for deaf children and those unable to speak. I went to meet with a priest named Fr. Mavakala that a brother in Cameroon had put me in contact with. 

This priest had previously had a parish but now worked exclusively in this school. Since I had been in contact with him, I wanted to have the opportunity to meet him before I left and give him materials in person. He invited me to his office and told me we would stay in contact about the possibilities once the cardinal responds.

That evening I spent some time packing up my bags and preparing for my departure the next day. It had been really quite a remarkable visit to the Congo, though delayed by visa difficulties and logistics planning, it had been actually a spiritually rejuvenating and productive visit.

I said goodbye to Fr. Francois and Fr. Apollinaire as well as everyone at the Blessed Sacrament formation house and prepared for the next leg of my journey.

To see all of Asher's dispatches from his journey click HERE

Anniversary Novena of Masses begins on April 1st 2026

 
Dear Friends,

This year the Children's Rosary turns 15 years old on April 10, 2026. It has become a yearly tradition to offer a novena of Masses leading up to the anniversary for the fulfillment of Our Lady's plans for the Children's Rosary. Then from April 11-April 18 we have Masses offered in thanksgiving. This year we have 36 Masses arranged toward the novena. There is still time to add a Mass. Please contact your local Church and ask if there are any open Masses during our novena. Usually there is a customary donation when requesting a Mass. 

From April 1 through April 10: Masses offered for the fulfillment of Our Lady's plans for the Children's Rosary. (no Mass on Good Friday)

From April 11 until April 19: Masses offered in thanksgiving

There are many projects coming to completion for the Children's Rosary which we look forward to sharing with you. This is a witness of the power of the sacrifice of the Holy Mass. Thank you to those who have helped with arranging Masses. Please consider adding to our number of Masses. Please email Blythe if you have arranged a Mass blythe.kaufman@gmail.com

Gratefully,

Blythe

Mass Offered on March 25, 2026 for the Members of the Children's Rosary

Happy Solemnity of the Annunciation! A Mass was offered today for all the members of the Children's Rosary and all who help the Children's Rosary. We continue to have a Mass said for this intention on the twenty-fifth of each month. The Eucharist is such a powerful gift from Our Lord that when we wanted to extend thanksgiving to all of you, we knew of no better way to express gratitude. May Our Lord's love be poured down on all of you through the powerful sacrifice of the Holy Mass. 

New Children's Rosary at St. Elias Church in Baabda, Lebanon

We are excited to announce that a new Children's Rosary will meet for the first time on March 25, 2026 at St. Elias Church in Baabda, Lebanon. This is our second Children's Rosary group in Lebanon. In honor of the Solemnity of the Annunciation of Our Lord it is particularly special to have this new Children's Rosary forming.