A Missionary Spirit

On February 6, Asher and I attended a liturgy at St. Maron's Maronite Catholic Church in Torrington, Connecticut. The Pastor, Fr. Fadi Khawand, was very excited to see a Children's Rosary begin at his parish. However he humbly asked that children come to his parish to demonstrate a Children's Rosary and pray with his parishioners in order to expose everyone to the idea. After the Children's Rosary meeting in my own home parish on February 7, I mentioned to Stephanie, the mother of one of our most faithful members at the West Hartford Children's Rosary, about Fr. Fadi Khawand's request. She wrote Saturday evening, February 14, to say that her daughter, Peyton, was available to help. Thus with very little notice we gathered the materials and roses for a Children's Rosary on February 15. Only Peyton was able to come, but she was not intimidated. She led the Rosary prayers beautifully and placed flowers before a picture of Our Lady at the end of each decade along with other adults who were uniting in prayer from the pews. 

At the end of the liturgy that followed the Rosary, Peyton gave parishioners a rose from the Children's Rosary. There were many smiles in the Church this morning, and people were visibly joyful to hear a sweet young voice leading the Holy Rosary. Two families were interested in forming a Children's Rosary at St. Maron's Church. Another parishioner asked that we make a visit to her Church in a neighboring town. Praise God that the response was very good. At the heart of this effort was a child who said yes when asked to help bring more children to prayer. Peyton has a missionary spirit for Our Lord, and after todays experience she was overjoyed to visit another Church and invite yet more children to pray. 

Across from where we sat in the pews during Mass there was a large stained glass window of St. Thérèse the little flower holding an arm full of roses. As I looked at Peyton she seemed a beautiful reflection of St. Thérèse, a patron of missionaries.

Mass Offered on February 13, 2026 for the Holy Souls in Purgatory

A Mass was offered today for the Holy Souls. Currently the Children's Rosary has had three monthly Masses offered on the first of each month for seminarians that they will grow in holiness and lead us in love, on the first Saturday for renewal of family prayer, on the 25th of the month for all the members of the Children's Rosary and all who help the Children's Rosary.

We now have a monthly Mass offered for the Holy Souls in Purgatory on the 13th of each month.

Remembering Jeff Batter

On February 6, Jeff Batter passed away unexpectedly. He was a dear friend to the Children's Rosary and spouse of one of our Children's Rosary group leaders, Cheryl Batter. Jeff helped in recording the instrumental portion of our Children's Rosary theme song and recorded a version of the song with his vocals which is present on our Sorrowful Mysteries Children's Rosary CD. He also helped in recording multiple other songs that appear on our Children's Rosary CDs. He provided all of this help generously as a gift. Please keep him in your prayers. A link to information about his upcoming funeral can be found HERE.

Children's Rosary February 2026 Newsletter

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Children's Rosary® February 2026 Newsletter

Join Us for a Children's Rosary on Radio Maria February 14, 2026

 

Plenary Indulgence Available on February 9

February 9 is the Feast of St. Maron, who is the founder of the Maronite Catholic Church. This is an eastern rite Church in full communion with the worldwide Catholic Church. Pope Benedict XVI instituted the ability for the faithful to obtain a Plenary Indulgence by visiting a Maronite Church on February 9 in honor of this special Feast. Yesterday Asher and I attended a Divine Liturgy at St. Maron Church in Torrington, Connecticut. 

The evening was an early celebration of St. Maron's Feast. A wonderful Lebanese meal followed. Fr. Fadi Khawand is originally from Lebanon and was previously assigned to St. Joseph Church in Beirut where we have a Children's Rosary prayer group. Fr. Khawand is very excited by the idea of starting a Children's Rosary at his current parish in Torrington. We were able to share with him handmade rosaries and Children's Rosary books in both English and Arabic to help in his efforts to begin a group.

Remembering Jackie Tiul

On the Feast of the Presentation, beloved Children's Rosary group leader Jackie Tiul passed away after a long battle with cancer. Jackie led a Children's Rosary prayer group for many years at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Waterbury, Connecticut. Her group always met on the first Saturday of each month. Despite her illness, she was faithful to leading this group. She will be dearly missed. Please remember Jackie in your prayers. Her funeral will be held on February 9.

Information can be found about the wake and funeral HERE.