Children’s Rosary Unites Children in Prayer in Nigeria and the United States

On Tuesday, February 1, 2022 Children's Rosary groups in Shendam, Nigeria united in prayer with children in Boone, Iowa, USA. This past week, schools across the US celebrated Catholic Schools week and one Children's Rosary group leader at Sacred Heart School in Boone, Iowa, had the idea to reach out to another Children's Rosary group in Nigeria to see if the two could pray together. In coordination with Fr. Paul Miapkwap, arrangements were made for the 97 students at Sacred Heart School in Boone Iowa to unite in prayer with 310 students at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Shendam. 

The children united in prayer of the Rosary at 10:00 a.m. in Boone, Iowa, and 5:00 p.m. local time in Nigeria. 

In attendance for the Children's Rosary at Sacred Heart Cathedral was Bishop Davou Dung of Shendam as well as four priests, three Reverend Sisters, and 95 students of the Catechetical Training Institute. 

Fr. Paul Miapkwap relates, “The children all knew they would be uniting in prayer with other children from the United States, but the experience of seeing them and actually praying with them was completely different. They were really encouraged!”

Fr. Miapkwap also recounts, “Our children were so excited to pray with the children of Boone, lowa[; it was] an opportunity to see each other and pray together showing the Universality of the Church. They pray for more opportunities to be united with other children in different parts of the world.” 

Deb Frazenburg also had an encouraging message. “This experience was impactful for our children here in the US. It was a joyful event that has invigorated us. One of my students even asked if we might increase the frequency of our Children’s Rosary meetings after seeing the children in Nigeria. When our students heard some of the schools in Shendam have a Children’s Rosary daily, it inspired us to want to meet more often.”