Mass Offered on September 1, 2026 for Seminarians

A Mass was offered on September 1, 2026 for all seminarians that they will grow in holiness and lead us all in love. Every month, we have a Mass offered for this intention. As our seminarians will be the future shepherds and our children are their future flock, it seemed a beautiful way for the children to help with their prayers.  It is our goal to feature a different seminarian on the first of the month every month by inviting him to share something of himself and giving all our readers the opportunity to pray for him. This month, we are featuring Brother Basil Sheplong Menyen, a seminarian from the Diocese of Shendam, Nigeria(shown above). Brother Basil, was part of the Children's Rosary when he was a child and he took a leadership role in his group. He shares how the prayer group has been bearing fruit years later in supporting his vocation to the priesthood.

My name is Brother Basil Sheplong Menyen; I am from Shendam Plateau State Nigeria. I started the Children’s Rosary in 2016 when Fr. Paul Miapkwap was transferred to my Parish at St. John of the Cross Shimankar, in Plateau State Nigeria. The daily prayer of the children rosary formed my faith and kept me rooted in prayer even while I was away for my university studies. By God’s grace, I completed my university education and obtained a BSc. in Economics and also finished the One year mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). During this period, the zeal to work for God continued to burn in my heart. I discerned my vocation and I was admitted into the seminary. I have just completed my Spiritual year studies, and God willing, I will begin Philosophy I in October, 2026. I believe the effectiveness of the Children Rosary prayer has sustained me a great deal in my formation. It taught me simplicity, devotion to Our Lady, and perseverance in prayer, and these are helping me now as I prepare for the next stage of my priestly formation. I was inspired by the recent journey of your son Asher to Africa and some European countries to spread the Children’s Rosary; Fr. Paul has shared the stories with us. I pray to spread it in my own little way too. Thanks

We humbly ask that you please keep Br Basil Sheplong Menyen in your prayers.

Asher Begins Seminary

Last Tuesday Asher's grandmother, Seth and I dropped off Asher at Our Lady of Providence Seminary in Providence, Rhode Island. This is where the Archdiocese of Hartford sends their seminarians who are entering college. The seminarians live at Our Lady of Providence and have some classes there but the majority of their classes are at Providence College. There are 31 young men living at the seminary. Please keep Asher in your prayers as he begins this journey towards priesthood. He sees his vocation in many ways as a fruit of the Children's Rosary. 

Interestingly, Asher received a parish assignment to help with Confirmation classes at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in Providence, Rhode Island. 

Asher was 4 years old when the Children's Rosary began. He has participated in the Children's Rosary and also helped to spread it. After graduating from High School last year, he spent one year traveling in Europe and Africa visiting Children's Rosary groups and helping to start new groups. For those who would like to read about Asher's missionary year spreading the Children's Rosary through 20 countries click HERE.

When is Too Early to Introduce the Rosary?

Recently Liam, age 2, attended a Children's Rosary meeting at the Church of St. Thomas the Apostle in West Hartford, Connecticut. He is shown above in the blue shirt. It was his first time attending, and he came to kneel on the pillows with the other children as the rosary began. His mom accompanied him. He beautifully placed a rose at the foot of a statue of Our Blessed Mother at the end of one of the decades. The children around him were praying and taking turns leading. 

Two weeks later I saw both Liam, his mother, and younger brother at an event at the Domestic Monastery in Avon, Connecticut. She shared with me that since the Children's Rosary, Liam has not stopped carrying around his Rosary. She showed me some pictures to show how the Rosary was moving through his fingers as he rode in a train ride at a local fair.

Then at snack time he could not hold both his cookies and his Rosary, so the Rosary was placed on top of the container of cookies.

Walking with mom, he had one hand held by is mom and his other tightly clasped his Rosary. 

Even during time in the stroller, the Rosary was brought for outings.

At the end of the Children's Rosary meeting, each child was invited to take a rose home that had been given to Our Blessed Mother. Liam placed his rose by a statue of Our Blessed Mother in the entry way of his home. This is where the Rosary is placed when not with Liam. 

I marveled at this story, and his mother, Mary, also was thrilled to see this transformation and love of the Rosary at just 2 years old. As the Rosary beads are a sacramental, even the act of carrying a rosary brings blessings, so it is indeed a wonderful development. The formation of faith and devotion is something that is hard to predict, but early exposure to prayer indeed brings a harvest of blessings. When is too early to introduce the rosary? The answer is it is never too early. Thank you, Liam, for giving witness to this!

New Children's Rosary Groups Form in Kenya

 Fr. Wachira was recently assigned to a new parish and he requested the help of Fr. Cleophus in training animators for new Children's Rosary groups in the parish where he was assigned in Kenya. Fr Cleophus was able to visit St. John Kajiado Parish, Ngong Diocese and help initiate 6 new Children's Rosary groups. The training sessions were held between August 10-15, 2026. Here are some of the pictures from his visit.

These are the 6 groups that were established and when they will be meeting:

1.St. Marys Terosei Training date 10/8 Meeting time every Saturday 8:am 

2. St. Peters Soit Naibor Training date 11/8 Meeting time Saturday 2:00pm 

3. St Joseph the Worker Sajironi Training date 12/8 Meeting time: Sunday after Mass 

4. Good Shephered Enkorika. Training date 13/8 Meeting time Sunday 3:00pm 

5. St. Johns Kajiado Main Parish Centre Training date 14/8 Meeting time Saturday 8am and 2pm 

6. St. Anthony of Padua Inyornyor Training date 15/08 Meeting time Sunday after Mass

Children's Rosary Presentation in Johannesburg, South Africa August 22, 2026

We are excited to share that a Children's Rosary presentation was given on August 22, 2026 to 689 catechists and 12 religious in attendance at an Archdiocesan meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa. Thank you to Gail Walters for her coordination of the Children's Rosary participation in the day. This included all aspects including the presentation and assembly of over 700 gift bags which included a Children's Rosary book, prayer card and handmade rosary.

Thank you to the full South Africa team who helped to make this day a success. Manushri and Claudette were integral to the slide preparation. Greggs was part of the Children's Rosary team that answered questions about the Children's Rosary, distributed materials and gathered critical contact information from those with interest in bringing the Children's Rosary to their parishes. 

Gail shared that many in attendance could not stop expressing their appreciation and interest. We ask for prayers that the seeds that were sown that day will bear great fruit. 

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

A Mass was offered on August 25, 2026 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. 

The picture included in this post was taken of the Children's Rosary at the Cathedral Parish in Shendam, Nigeria. Fr. Paul Miapkwap shared that the Children's Rosary at the Cathedral is growing.

Reunião Informativa sobre o Rosário das Crianças para Falantes de Português

 

Neste domingo, teremos nossa próxima reunião informativa sobre o Rosário das Crianças em português. O horário da reunião será às 20h, horário local de Portugal, Inglaterra e Irlanda. Serão 15h, horário local, em Nova Jersey às 16h horário local de São Paulo, às 20h em Luanda, e às 21h em Maputo. Todos são bem-vindos; por favor, convide quem voces acham que teria interesse e considere compartilhar isto com essas pessoas.

Assunto: Encontro do Rosário das Crianças para Falantes de Português
A Hora: 16 de agosto 2026 08:00 PM Portugal
Entrar na reunião do Zoom
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88569948241?pwd=JxlbPXxpkIg0XFZIhWXmAFbjmXqktU.1

ID da reunião: 885 6994 8241
Código de Acesso: 936757