This past year was full of blessings for the Children's Rosary. As many may just be discovering the Children's Rosary we would like to share some of the journey this past year. We have seen new Children's Rosary groups forming in different parts of the United States and also other countries such as Argentina, Guatemala, Paraguay, Peru, Russia, Panama, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Italy, Venezuela, Mexico and Colombia. There has also been extensive spread of the Children's Rosary in countries where we already had a presence such as in Uganda, Pakistan, Kenya, Vietnam, Tanzania, Philippines and the United States.
One of the areas we have seen the largest spread is within Spanish speaking communities. The interview by Asher (age 10) on Nuestra Fe en Vivo on EWTN helped to introduce the Children's Rosary to many throughout the world that spoke Spanish. This year we were able to visit Mexico and visit and pray with one of the new Children's Rosary prayer groups. This was an incredible joy!
The Children's Rosary received a special gift this year. We were invited to hold a Children's Rosary during Divine Mercy Sunday at the National Shrine of Divine Mercy. The children were able to lead approximately 20,000 pilgrims in prayer. The Rosary was led by children in both English and Spanish. The children also sung our theme song "Rosary Children" with the pilgrims.
This being the 100th Anniversary of Fatima we saw a historic event unfold. Children's Rosary materials were brought by hand first to Fatima and then carried directly to Russia in the spring of 2017. In October of 2017 the first meeting of the Children's Rosary was held in Russia!
Two thousand seventeen brought the release of our Children's Rosary Joyful Mysteries CD. Included along with the Rosary led by the children was an original song called "Catherine of Siena". To Learn More Click HERE.
We received a beautiful gift from EWTN this year. We received this note:
"Our Poor Clares will offer a Day of Prayer for you and your family and all the families and children involved in the Children's Rosary. It will be on September 29th, Feast of the Holy Archangels. The nuns will offer their rosary, holy hour and all the prayers and good works of the day for all of you". This was an unexpected gift but one for which we are most grateful.
Another highlight from this year was the release of our new Children's Rosary video called: A View From Heaven. The video is an invitation to individuals from around the world to unify prayers from their homes with the children praying in their Children's Rosary prayer groups.
To watch the Video in English click HERE.
To watch the Video in Spanish click HERE.
Individuals who would like to add their twinkling gold light to the View from Heaven map can do so on any one of our three websites: www.childrensrosary.org also available in Spanish (www.rosariodeninos.org) and French (www.rosairedesenfants.org).
The Children's Rosary also participated in several events which have become a yearly tradition. The Children's Rosary was invited this past year to participate in the Global Rosary Relay for Priests on the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Many children unified prayers with Shrines across the globe praying for our priests. We also continued our Advent tradition of inviting individuals and families to place Patiently Waiting signs in their windows so those around them might know where their hearts can be found in the time approaching Christmas. This year we had people sending in pictures of their Patiently Waiting signs from such countries as Italy, Vietnam and the Philippines.
One of the most precious gifts this year were all the groups who celebrated their 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th year anniversaries. With many new groups forming, it is easy to focus on the "new" groups but one must never forget the faithfulness in prayer that so many children and group leaders carry in their hearts. The world may question why such sacrifices are needed. When obstacles present themselves and hard times come there are a thousand reasons to give up. Yet despite all this, groups continue to meet. This faithfulness creates the grace that allows this prayer group movement to continue to spread... to reach deeper and further. It is for this reason that postings continue. For it is in sharing the blessings that are coming that we see the fruits of so much sacrifice. These graces we are not owed, yet Our Lord in His goodness showers them down upon us. We must not hide our light but share it and so the posts continue.
The list below of posts are my favorites. In some cases they represent events, or blessings and others struggles we have passed through. I humbly thank you all for joining us on this journey. Thank you for your prayers, Masses offered, sacrifices made with the goal of bringing our little ones to prayer and in doing so help to strengthen not only the faith of our children but also our families and parishes.
Top Ten Posts of 2017
First Children's Rosary Meeting in Russia
A Child's Devotion to St. Joseph
Special Release of Our New Video: A View From Heaven
A Day of Incredible Blessings at the National Shrine of Divine Mercy
Come on a Journey with the Children in Vietnam Day 1
Under the Protection of Our Mother
Mercy In Action: The Children Visit a Leper Colony on Divine Mercy Sunday
Doing Less so You Can Do More
Bearing Fruit
Release of Our Children's Rosary - Joyful Mysteries CD
It is so hard to limit the posts as there have been so many blessings. These are honorable mentions:
Children Reaching Out to Other Children
A Child Makes a Request That Seems Impossible But Is It?
Meet the Children's Rosary at St. Peter Lemongo Church in Kenya
Have You Ever Been to Interior Alaska?
A Celebration in Kenya
St. Francis Shelter
Palm Sunday in Pakistan
A Prayer to Our Lady Spoken 15 Years Ago by St. John Paul II
A Procession for Our Lady
A Day Of Prayer For the Children's Rosary
An Investment in Our Future
A Visit To Mexico
12th Day of Christmas
Visit To the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament
A Child's Cross Made Out of Snow
Come on a Journey with the Children in Vietnam Day 2
May God continue to Bless You as You and The Children bring The World to Jesus and His Most Holy Mother!
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