How to Start a Children's Rosary

If there isn't a children's rosary near you consider starting one.  Our Lady has continued to show us through the apparitions in Lourdes and Fatima that she is calling our children to prayer and in a special way the rosary.   Our Lady of Fatima chose to convey messages to the world through children.  With the beautiful guidance of Our Blessed Mother let us follow her example and bring our children to her.  Through her Rosary she will draw them close to her Immaculate Heart and protect them from the harshness of the world.  She will also sanctify families and parishes in this way.  

Steps to Begin a Children's Rosary in Your Parish

1) Obtain permission from your Pastor to begin a children's rosary group
2) Choose a location (usually in a church or parish center but does not have to be limited to those locations)
3) Choose a regular meeting time (Monthly or if interest exists weekly)
4) Invite a small group of families and children to your first children's Rosary and consider putting a notice in your Church bulletin(usually these groups begin small and with time they will increase in size)*
5) Register your children's rosary with us by email at blythe.kaufman@gmail.com or by mail at 146 Four Mile Rd West Hartford CT 06107 USA (In this way  we will have a central list of all children's rosaries formed and those looking for a children's rosary will easily be able to find one).

Guidelines for Your First Children’s Rosary

1) Begin by consecrating your new group to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary.

2) Bring the children together in front of those gathered and have them kneel (pillows are a welcome addition for them to kneel on)

3) In turns have a child stand and lead a decade of the rosary (if a microphone is present this is a nice way for their soft voices to be heard)

4) The child should say the first part of each prayer: 

Hail Mary, full of grace.  Our Lord is with thee.  Blessed art thou among women,  and blessed is the fruit of thy womb,  Jesus.

The entire group then responds together:

Holy Mary, Mother of God,  pray for us sinners,  now and at the hour of our death.  Amen.

A similar alternating arrangement should be used for the Our Father prayer and Glory Be. 

5) An optional addition is the use of flowers (roses or any other flower).  This is particularly nice for smaller children not able to lead or children with disabilities preventing them from leading.  At the end of each decade a child is asked to place a flower at the foot of a statue of Mary if available (otherwise just place the roses in a small pile on the ground in front of where the children are praying).  While the child is placing the flower an adult is saying, “Mary we humbly place this flower at your feet and ask for the gift of... Faith”  if one were saying the first glorious mystery.”  The gifts asked for correspond to the fruits of the mysteries.

* In the past many people have found that those people invited individually tend to be more responsive to attending a newly formed children's rosary.  Additional publicity such as notices in bulletins and announcements after Mass have been helpful as well.

Any questions please contact Blythe at:
Email:  blythe.kaufman@gmail.com 
Address: 146 Four Mile Rd West Hartford CT 06107 USA
Phone: (860) 561-4881