Sixth Day of Christmas 2021

 

The Octave of Christmas seems to pass so quickly. One must savor the moments. Members of the Children's Rosary in Derry, Ireland participated in the Children's Rosary "Patiently Waiting" Campaign. They sent us a picture of their home with the "Patiently Waiting" sign in the window (see video below). This sign remained in their window through Advent. On Christmas they replaced the "Patiently Waiting" sign with one that read "Christ is Born" (see above). We are grateful to all those who participated in this year's "Patiently Waiting" Campaign. 

The video explaining the "Patiently Waiting" Campaign is below or one can click HERE.

A Journey from Kenya to Tanzania to Retrieve Rosaries for the Children

 

Today we received this beautiful picture of the Children's Rosary at St. Mary's Church in Simba, Kenya (see above). Br. Cleophus traveled 6 hours to Moshi, Tanzania to retrieve 2,000 handmade rosaries we had sent. These rosaries were part of a shipping barrel we had sent to Fr. Ruwaichi in Tanzania. 

Br. Cleophus' trip was one that began yesterday (December 27) leaving on the journey at 3AM. Br. Cleophus returned safely to Kenya today (December 28) with the rosaries. The children were very excited to each receive one. Fr. Wachira held a Mass today at St. Mary's Church in honor of the Holy Innocents. Fr. Wachira offered the Mass for all the Children's Rosary group members all over the world. 

May everyone have a blessed fourth day of Christmas!

Christmas with members of the Children's Rosary at St. Stephen School, Kenya

Br. Cleophus sent pictures from his visit to members of the Children's Rosary at St. Stephen School. 

The school was named after St. Stephen whose feast was December 26th.

We had an opportunity to visit this school while in Kenya in the summer of 2019. St. Stephen school is in very rural region of Kenya bordered by a large wild life preserve with no fences. There are no formal roads leading to this school. When we visited we shared rosaries with them and they shared their beautiful handmade necklaces with us. They are members of the Maasai tribe and live primarily by herding small animals. 

St. Mary's Messenger Magazine Features Children's Rosary "Patiently Waiting" Campaign

We are excited to share that St. Mary's Messenger recently featured an article about the Children's Rosary "Patiently Waiting" Campaign in their Christmas 2021 issue.

St. Mary's Messenger is a magazine similar to Highlights but with Catholic content for children ages 7-12 years old. We have a subscription in our home. A special thank you to St. Mary's Messenger for helping us invite more people to participate in our yearly "Patiently Waiting" Campaign.

 

Happy Feast of the Holy Family 2021

 

During the Octave of Christmas the Feast days come one after the other.  It is such a blessed time of the year one might become overwhelmed.  However, the Feast of the Holy Family is something that deserves particular attention.  Something that I became aware of at least a year after the Children's Rosary formed was that the chapel where the first meeting of the Children's Rosary was held some 10 years ago is named after the Holy Family.  In our parish we rarely call it by its formal name the Holy Family Chapel but rather call it simply our chapel and so its true name was not known to me until shortly after the Children's Rosary began.  In reflection it seemed a perfect home for the Children's Rosary.  For children are the heart of the family and the family is the lungs of the Church.  If our families are strong then our church will be strong.  And so I could see the wisdom of Our Lord in bringing the children to prayer in a space dedicated to the Holy Family.  Through these little innocent prayers the coals in our families of love and peace would be stoked and a renewed commitment to family prayer would begin.

The pictures in this post were taken at the December 2021 meeting of the Children's Rosary at Holy Family Chapel at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in West Hartford, Connecticut USA. This is the chapel where the Children's Rosary began.  At our last meeting one of the children decided to dress as an angel. The children gathered around the Holy Family placing roses as they led each decade of the Rosary. 

We wish you a blessed Feast of the Holy Family and may many graces flow into your families. 

A Christmas Gift from the Children's Rosary 2021

 

Merry Christmas from the Children's Rosary. Here in West Hartford, Connecticut, USA, the home of the Children's Rosary, we had a white Christmas. Snow began falling just after midnight on December 24 and continued through the morning allowing everything to have a beautiful coating of white snow.

We thank all those who participated in the Children's Rosary "Patiently Waiting" Campaign. People sent us pictures with Patiently Waiting signs in their windows from Scotland, Ireland, England, Kenya and the USA. These signs can now be taken down and replaced with ones that read "Christ is Born." These can stay up for the whole Christmas Season.

We have a special gift from the Children's Rosary. A Christmas Mass was celebrated for all the members of the Children's Rosary and all who help the Children's Rosary at 8:00 p.m. on December 24.

Patiently Waiting in Simba, Kenya

 

Yesterday we received this picture from Simba, Kenya. One of our Children's Rosary group leaders at St. Mary's Church had placed a "Patiently Waiting" sign in his window. He joins others across the globe who are participating in the Children's Rosary Patiently Waiting Campaign. The sign which reads "Patiently Waiting" is a gentle reminder of where our hearts can be found as we prepare ourselves for the coming of Christ. 

On Christmas Eve, these signs will be taken down and new ones will be put up that read "Christ is Born!"

To learn more about the Children's Rosary Patiently Waiting Campaign click HERE. 

We also have a new Patiently Waiting Invitation Video. Click HERE to view or watch below:

Patiently Waiting in Scotland

We recently received the image above from Glasgow, Scotland. This family is participating along with others across the globe in the Patiently Waiting Campaign. This sign which reads "Patiently Waiting" is a gentle reminder of where their hearts can be found as we prepare ourselves for the coming of Christ. We also recently received the picture below from Paisley, Scotland.

On Christmas Eve, these signs will be taken down and new ones will be put up that read "Christ is Born!"

To learn more about the Children's Rosary Patiently Waiting Campaign click HERE. 

We also have a new Patiently Waiting Invitation Video. Click HERE to view or watch below:

Patiently Waiting in Connecticut, USA

 

We are excited to show people participating in the Children's Rosary Patiently Waiting Campaign in Connecticut, USA.

The rectory at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in West Hartford, Connecticut has their sign up in the window (see the brick building above). This is the home parish of the Children's Rosary. Below are several more homes with Patiently Waiting signs. We are grateful to the many people who are participating.

 

During Advent individuals are invited to place a Patiently Waiting sign in their windows. This sign is a gentle reminder of where our hearts can be found as we prepare ourselves for the coming of Christ. On Christmas Eve, the sign will be taken down and a new one put up that reads "Christ is Born!"

It is absolutely beautiful to pair the Patiently Waiting sign with a Nativity as was done in the top picture. 

To learn more about the Children's Rosary Patiently Waiting Campaign click HERE.

We also have a new Patiently Waiting Invitation Video. Click HERE to view or watch below:

Patiently Waiting in County Louth, Ireland

One our new Children's Rosary group leaders sent a few pictures from County Louth. The children are participating in the Children's Rosary Patiently Waiting Campaign. The note we received today said:

Our children from Philipstown Early Children went home with their own Christmas crib ...Patiently Waiting

On each little box are the words "Patiently Waiting". These children join others from around the world who are participating in the Children's Rosary "Patiently Waiting" Campaign. During Advent individuals are invited to place a Patiently Waiting sign in their windows. This sign is a gentle reminder of where our hearts can be found as we prepare ourselves for the coming of Christ. On Christmas Eve, the sign will be taken down and a new one put up that reads "Christ is Born!"

It is absolutely beautiful to pair the Patiently Waiting sign with a Nativity as the children have done or put a Nativity outside.

To learn more about the Children's Rosary Patiently Waiting Campaign click HERE.

We also have a new Patiently Waiting Invitation Video. Click HERE to view or watch below:

Patiently Waiting Campaign Video

This Advent Place a Patiently Waiting Sign in Your Window

Join the Children's Rosary by putting a sign in your window as a beautiful reminder of where our hearts can be found as we prepare ourselves for the coming of Christ. On Christmas replace the sign with one that reads: Christ is Born.

We are excited to release our new Children's Rosary Patiently Waiting Invitation video. To view the video click HERE or view below:

Join us for a Christmas Novena 2021

Christmas Novena

Prayer to the Miraculous Infant of Prague

In anticipation of Christmas December 25th consider saying this 9 day Novena from December 16th-December 24th.  

O Divine Infant Jesus, Who said: “Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you.” Through the intercession of Mary, Your Most Holy Mother, I knock, I seek, I ask that my prayer be granted.

(Make your request) *

O Divine Infant Jesus, help me know how close You are to me and how powerful is Your embrace. Help me to trust that You hold the whole world in Your hand. I place my every need and care in Your hands. I ask that you fulfill my request according to Your holy will. 

(Make your request)

O Divine Infant Jesus, help me know how close You are to me and how powerful is Your embrace. Help me to trust that You hold the whole world in Your hand. I place my every need and care in Your hands. I ask that you fulfill my request according to Your holy will. 

(Make your request)

Miraculous Infant of Prague, have mercy on us.

*For all those who help the Children’s Rosary through time, talent or treasure may they receive Christmas peace and joy. joy.

Children's Rosary Informational Meeting Dec 14 2021, Ireland

Join us this Tuesday for our Children's Rosary informational meeting via Zoom at 8pm local time in Ireland. Those interested in starting groups and/or finding out more information please attend. We also extend an invitation to those involved with existing Children's Rosary group. We will highlight some December specific items and provide an opportunity for sharing of questions and experiences. Hope to see you there. The link follows below: 

Topic: Children's Rosary Informational Meeting, Ireland
Time: Dec 14, 2021 03:00 PM Eastern Standard Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86828225798?pwd=VlhEVDF6ZytzZU10d3BWQmhkbFgxUT09

Meeting ID: 868 2822 5798
Passcode: 913875

Children's Rosary Informational Meeting for Scotland and the UK on December 13, 2021

Join us this Monday for our Children's Rosary informational meeting via Zoom at 7 pm local time in the UK. Those interested in starting groups and/or finding out more information please attend. We also extend an invitation to those involved with existing Children's Rosary group. We will highlight some December specific items and provide an opportunity for sharing of questions and experiences. Hope to see you there. The link follows below:

Topic: Children's Rosary Informational Meeting, Scotland and UK
Time: Dec 13, 2021 02:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84893097803?pwd=Nk1zNllVcElWR0NGc25LNDY2SUJvZz09

Meeting ID: 848 9309 7803
Passcode: 642137

Patiently Waiting in Manchester, England

Scarlett-Maria is preparing her family's window with a Patiently Waiting sign. She joins others from around the world who are participating in the Children's Rosary "Patiently Waiting" Campaign. This sign is a gentle reminder of where our hearts can be found as we prepare ourselves for the coming of Christ. On Christmas Eve, the sign will be taken down and a new one put up that reads "Christ is Born!"

To learn more about the Children's Rosary Patiently Waiting Campaign click HERE.

Children's Rosary December 2021 Newsletter

 To view our December Newsletter click below: 

Children's Rosary® December 2021 Newsletter

Participate in the Day of the Little Candles December 7 2021

 The Day of the Little Candles or Día de las Velitas is a custom practiced all over Colombia in honor of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary. The way each state in Colombia celebrates the Day of the Little Candles varies according to the region. 

On the evening of December 7th, lanterns are put in front of homes and in the streets with candles inside. There are processions to honor the Immaculate Conception.  They carry a statue of the Virgin Mary through the streets finishing at the Church where they end by saying the rosary. 

Beginning in 2012 we have celebrated the Day of the Little Candles. We invite members of the Children's Rosary to also put out candles or lanterns in honor of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Here is a LINK of how to make the lanterns in English. Here is the LINK in Spanish.

Children Receive a Rosary during Advent in Pakistan

We received some beautiful pictures this week from the Children's Rosary in Kaly Wala Dera Pakistan. The children were able to receive a Rosary. We are so grateful to those who help in sending rosaries to Children's Rosary groups around the world. 

Children's Rosary November 2021 Newsletter

 

To view our Newsletter click below: 

Children's Rosary® November 2021 Newsletter