The Children's Rosary Welcomes Our Lady of Czestochowa

Procession of Our Lady of Czestochowa led by
the Children's Rosary

A traveling Icon of Our Lady of Czestochowa which has journeyed from Poland through Russian and across Europe arrived in the US on August 24th 2013.  It has been traveling to Churches throughout the Northeast.  This past weekend the Icon was hosted by the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Waterbury Connecticut.  The Icon was brought into the Basilica led by members of the Children's Rosary and the Knights of Columbus.  The Basilica is a special home to the Knights of Columbus as their founder Ven Fr. McGivney celebrated his first Mass in the Basilica.  

Once Our Lady of Czestochowa was carried up the aisle and seated on the altar, the Children's Rosary led hundreds who had gathered in prayer of the Holy Rosary.  At the conclusion of the Rosary the children humbly carried vases of flowers and placed them before Our Lady. This was followed by Holy Mass celebrated by pastor Fr. Bevins and Fr. Peter West.  Fr. West of Human Life International has been traveling with the Icon while it is in the United States.

Members of the Children's Rosary placed flowers before Our Lady
at the conclusion of the Rosary

The story of Our Lady of Czestochowa affectionately called the Black Madonna holds that St. Luke painted the image on a cypress table used by the Holy Family.  The Icon was later discovered in a cave by St. Helen and brought to Jerusalem.  The icon later traveled to the Ukraine where it remained for approximately 600 hundred years until its final resting place in Poland in 1382.

Pope John Paul II visited Our Lady of Czestochowa four times during his papacy.

Members of several different Children's Rosary groups were able to attend the Procession and Children's Rosary on November 30th at the Basilica.  One of the special prayer intentions of this ocean to ocean pilgrimage of Our Lady of Czestochowa is one of respect life at all stages.  Seeing the children leading a Rosary before Our Lady was such a wonderful celebration of life.  These little ones as young as 5 led the Rosary.  Seeing these little faces one feels in the heart that our children are a treasure given to us and their prayers are particularly special to their Heavenly Mother and her Son.

The Icon of Our Lady will leave the Northeast in the New Year and begin its migration across the US. Every day more parishes are added to its journey.  Please consider inviting Our Lady to your parish.  In a special way this night I pray that members of the Children's Rosary from across the US will consider inviting Our Lady to visit their parish.  

Thank you as always dear Friends in Christ.

More information about the traveling Icon: http://www.fromoceantoocean.org/
Those interested in scheduling  a vist please contact: blackmadonna@hli.org