All Ireland Rosary Rally 2025

 

The fortieth All Ireland Rosary Rally was held on June 7, 2025, at Knock Shrine. Asher and I had the great blessing to attend the event. Over 10,000 people attended the event. 

Members of the Children's Rosary led the Rosary in the Shrine. The seats were full as the children led the prayers and the speakers outside broadcast the young voices across the campus. 

Some of the children leading the rosary were very young, but their prayers were strong and confident. 

Asher and I spent a good bit of time at the Children's Rosary booth where we had the joy to meet Children's Rosary group leaders and children from across the country and even a Children's Rosary from northern Scotland.

Children's Rosary at Knock Shrine June 6, 2025

On 0ur first full day in Ireland, we were able to travel from Dublin to Knock Shrine and participate in the monthly Children's Rosary, which is held on the first Friday of every month. The Children's Rosary was held in front of the Blessed Sacrament. There was lovely music in between the decades with one of the teenagers present playing the guitar and singing "Ave Maria." The children took turns placing flowers before a statue of Our Lady. There were many in attendance to see the children leading the prayers. It was beautiful to participate in the Children's Rosary at this important Marian Shrine. 

Irish Hospitality

 

On June 5 we arrived in Dublin. The monks in Silverstream Priory hosted us for our first night in Ireland. They graciously invited us to their liturgies, and Asher was able to join them for a communal dinner. Ruth Byrne, shown above in front of Silverstream Priory, met us on the morning of Friday, June 6. She was the first person to initiate a Children's Rosary in Ireland in 2018. We met at the World Meeting of Families in Dublin seven years ago. She graciously offered to take a day off from work and drive Asher and me to Knock Shrine. This was a 3 hour drive. We had a lovely time together, which included a wonderful lunch at the Shrine in Knock and a Children's Rosary. She then drove back to Dublin only to return the following day with her son for the All Ireland Rosary Rally. We also were hosted by Catherine for our nights at Knock. We experienced the fullness of Irish hospitality. 

Meeting to Help Spread the Children's Rosary in the Pankshin Diocese of Nigeria

We had the opportunity to meet Br. Emmanuel Kamshinen from the diocese of Pankshin, Nigeria, while we were visiting in Rome. Fr. Paul Miapkwap had provided the introduction. We shared with Br. Emmanuel some of our Children's Rosary books and also some handmade rosaries. Bishop Michael Gokum of Pankshin had reached out to us with interest in promoting the Children's Rosary in his diocese. We had sent him rosaries to help with these efforts. After Br. Emmanuel completes his studies in Rome, we are excited to collaborate on the initiation of more groups in his diocese. 

Prayers for the Members of the Children's Rosary at Santa Maria in Trastevere, Rome

During a visit to Santa Maria Church in Trastevere, we attended Mass and also lit a candle for all the members of the Children's Rosary. A woman approached us who was visiting Rome. Her name was Dominica Bean. She had recognized our Children's Rosary T-shirts. It turns out she is one our rosary makers. We have over 250 rosary-making groups providing handmade rosaries to the Children's Rosary. These rosaries are given to help spread the Children's Rosary. 

Radio Maria World Family in Rome

 

One of the producers from EWTN Rome brought us to the offices of Radio Maria World Family. This is the headquarters for all the Radio Maria Stations. The photo above includes Fr. Ma, who runs Radio Maria China. More of the Radio Maria team is shown below.

The Children's Rosary has been leading a an hour of prayer on Radio Maria USA since 2014. This occurs on the second Saturday of each month at 3:00 p.m. Central time. Children's Rosary members also lead a Rosary each Saturday at 12:30 p.m. on Radio Maria Ireland. We are looking to expand our involvement with Radio Maria hopefully to include Radio Maria UK and other countries. 

A Providential Meeting with Fr. Manabat in Rome

 

We had the tremendous blessing to meet with Fr. Zenki Manabat in Rome. Fr. Zenki has had a Children's Rosary group in his Cathedral parish in the island of Batanes in the Philippines since May of 2021. There is a weekly Children's Rosary at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, and there are 6 additional Children's Rosary groups in the outstations of his parish. He shared some pictures of this Children's Rosary from the Cathedral.

Fr. Zenki, mentioned that he celebrates daily Mass at 5:00 a.m. and that members of the Children's Rosary lead the rosary each day before the Mass at 4:45 a.m. 

Fr. Zenki also gave a great gift to the Children's Rosary. He said he will be offering one Mass a week during his lifetime for the members of the Children's Rosary, the work of the Children's Rosary, and the benefactors of the Children's Rosary. 

Papal Audience June 4, 2025

On June 4 Asher and I set out for St. Peter's Square for the Pope's General Audience. We each had a red ticket, which allows access to the Square. We were in line around 7:45 a.m., and the Pope was set to begin his remarks at 10:00 a.m. 

It was a warm morning, and in our rush to get out of the house, Asher did not drink anything, and I had one sip of water. We were not sure if water was allowed inside the Square, so we did not bring water. Take note that this was not a wise decision. I play back in my mind our walk down to the Square, and the little missteps we had that delayed us here and there. The crowd was thick and moving very slowly toward security, which allows you entry into St. Peter's Square. As we approached the security check, Asher began to speak to a Spanish-speaking priest next to us. To our surprise he offered us two white tickets. These allowed access to sit up on the platform next to the Pope. 

The priest not only gave us the tickets, but seemed to know his way through all the check points and brought us to the section where you see Asher seated above. It was a tremendous blessing, and the providence of our meeting with Fr. Antonio Vallejos keeps rolling over in my mind. If we had not had some missteps getting to security we might never have met him.

It had been our hope to give our Children's Rosary materials to the new Pope, but so many had told us that given he was only 3 weeks into his pontificate, access to him would be almost impossible. Yet we did not lose hope throughout the trip that we could make him aware of the Children's Rosary. During the time while we were waiting, Asher and I began to pray the Rosary. 

The Holy Father entered the Square in an open jeep. He slowly made his way around the crowd and up onto the elevated area where we were standing. Holding our Children's Rosary flag, I waved it at the Holy Father. 

After greeting some Church leaders, he took his place for catechesis. This was translated into multiple languages.

After his lesson, he went to the far side of the platform to greet recent brides and grooms. This greeting took more than an hour. Although Asher and I each had a hat, the heat was beginning to take its toll on us. We had a fantastic position at the rail. We were in the first row, and we knew if he walked to our side of the platform, we might have access to give him our materials. As he greeted the newlyweds, sometimes someone would give him a gift, and these he passed to the Swiss guards accompanying him. Asher and I resumed praying our rosary and had now started our fourth rosary. We were feeling weaker in the sun with no water, so we offered up that last rosary that Our Lord would supply for the strength that we lacked. We had just finished the second luminous mystery when I knew something was wrong. I was now draped over the rail for support, but I could feel all strength leaving. Things started going black, and then I was down. I woke up and there was a doctor bent over me and other medics around me. With my joint disability I was scared as people were grabbing at my arms and taking my pulse and other things. As I suffer from a condition that creates severe joint instability, I knew that such manipulations could dislocate joints. The doctor poured water in my mouth, and this revived me. I was determined to return to my place on the rail. We had a miracle in receiving the tickets, and I did not want something to ruin this. However, the doctor was kind but firm that I needed to go to the Vatican ER. Although I knew it was not a good idea, the men around me pulled me up by the arms. I could tell my left elbow was injured from this, but given I had fallen to the ground, I was remarkably uninjured from the fall. The dense crowd and Asher had cushioned my fall. 

Asher wanted to come with me, but I told him it was fine to stay at the rail. Several Italian speaking men carried me in a wheelchair down the many steps to the Vatican ER. There I found a German medical team. They spoke English and were most gentle and caring. They gave me more needed water, gave me an ice pack, and let me rest. I realized that I had no way to reach Asher as he has a cell phone but I did not. After about 30 minutes he appeared at the door to my relief. 

He would share with me that the Holy Father had walked near him and had looked directly at him twice. Asher was holding our Children's Rosary materials in his hand and the Holy Father gestured to the Swiss guard to take the materials. Asher gave our materials, which included our Children' s Rosary book, Child Consecration book, A Soul Prepared through Suffering book and our Children's Rosary informational flyer. 

When we reached the place where we were staying, we were exhausted but also overwhelmed with joy. Asher saw a message from the Holy Father's sacristan who we had by chance met three days earlier. He confirmed that he had given our materials to the Holy Father. Thus in just a few days, the Holy Father had received our materials twice! We went to Mass later that day, and we were surprised to hear the Gospel was the story of the Wedding Feast at Cana. This was the last mystery we prayed before I collapsed. I could see that indeed Our Blessed Mother had taken care of us. There was suffering but also great joy. The impossible, it seemed, was possible. 

Papal Mass June 1, 2025

God's Providence never fails in its designs. Indeed this is true, and our experiences with the Papal Mass on June 1 and the Papal Audience June 4 bear witness to this. Let us begin with the Papal Mass. In anticipation of this trip to Rome, we have been praying intensively that we might have the opportunity to share with Pope Leo XIV about the Children's Rosary. We sent a letter the day after his election. Although our trip to Rome was only 2 weeks after his election, we still held out hope we could get some information to him. Early in our trip we heard from one of the Vatican diplomats that thousands of letters are coming in daily and that there are too many to process as they normally do. Yet this news did not foil our hopes. 

As the day for the Papal Mass came, we tried to see how feasible it would be for us to attend. The Mass was open to the general public and would be outside. The weather has turned here in Rome, and we are in full summer heat. One of the priests of the Vatican described sitting in the chairs or standing in St. Peter's Square as an "horno" or oven. Further, given my disability and inability to stand for so many hours at a time, we were nervous. Since we had no special tickets, we thought it unlikely we would get a seat. Asher had the idea to bring a chair from the place we are staying. We decided not even to try to get into St. Peter's Square but to stay just outside. We left early with Asher carrying the chair. As we got nearer to St. Peter's but still outside the square, we were stopped by security and turned away because the chair was not allowed. As the chair was not ours, we could not leave it and had to take the 20 minute walk back to where we were staying. As we walked, mobs of people passed us descending on the Square. We were headed in the wrong direction. Knowing I could not go without a seat due to my joint disability for what could be many hours, I stayed behind and Asher headed back, now behind thousands of others. I was crushed. But even in those sad moments I knew that this was an opportunity to give to Our Lord this disappointment and not give up hope. 

Asher returned safely. He had found a spot outside the square with some shade, and to his surprise he even saw the Pope (photo at the top). Since he was outside the official Square, he did not receive communion although he attended Mass. Thus when he returned we headed out again to a Church with a Sunday Mass. At the end of Mass, I felt an urge to share with the celebrant some information about the Children's Rosary. As we spoke, he mentioned to us that he was the Pope's personal sacristan for his daily Masses. Sharing with him our rather sad story from the morning, he offered to share our materials with the Holy Father. 

Thus, we see that if we had been allowed to have access to the Papal Mass in the morning, we would never have had this meeting with the Holy Father's sacristan. Indeed, God's Providence never fails in its designs.

Greetings from Rome on the Feast of the Ugandan Martyrs

The Feast of the Ugandan Martyrs has been special to us. On this day, six years ago, we were leaving for a monthlong visit to East Africa which included almost two weeks in Uganda. During our time in Uganda, we traveled with Deacon Denis Ssenkasi, now Fr. Denis Ssenkasi. Last evening we had the blessing to have dinner with Fr. Ssenkasi again as he is studying in Rome. When he is home in Uganda, he helps to oversee the Children's Rosary at St. Peter Julian Eymard formation house in Jinja. 

Jubilee of Families 2025

 

Divine Providence was at work with our meeting with Cardinal Eijk Friday. We found out Thursday that the cardinal was in Rome, and we were able to attend his lecture on bioetheics at the Augustinianum. Cardinal Eijk has been a wonderful friend to the Children's Rosary and wrote the Preface for the Child Consecration book. We spoke today about encouraging formation of Children's Rosary groups in the Netherlands and the upcoming translation of the Children's Rosary book in Dutch. We are grateful to Cardinal Eijk, who facilitated the publishing of the Child Consecration book in Dutch.

Yesterday we attended the Federation of Catholic Family Associations (FAFSE) Conference. We had the opportunity to meet again Bishop Denis Nulty from the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin, Ireland. 

We also were able to meet with our friend, Catherine Wiley, from the Catholic Grandparents Association. 

We continued to visit friends during our visit. We had dinner with Fr. David Kaluah from Mombasa, Kenya. He is studying in Rome. We stayed in his parish during our 2019 trip to Kenya. He has helped launch Children's Rosary groups. During dinner he mentioned under is dress shirt and collar he was wearing a Children's Rosary T-shirt. He was kind enough so show it for the picture. 

In addition to seeing old friends, we are meeting new people. We typically take an evening walk in St. Peter's Square where we pray the Rosary. On our way home we met Bishop Abba Lesanuchristos Matheos from Ethiopia. We told him about the Children's Rosary. We were delighted to receive an email from him this morning. As of yet we have had no Children's Rosary groups in Ethiopia but would welcome the opportunity to begin groups there. 

Newsletter- Rome 2025

 Please see our Newsletter for news from our Children's Rosary Jubilee trip to Rome. Click HERE.

Novena to the Holy Spirit Begins May 30, 2025

Novena to the Holy Spirit

Dearest Holy Spirit, confiding in Your deep, personal love for me, I am making this novena for the following request, if it be Your Holy Will to grant it:(mention your request). 

Teach me, Divine Spirit, to know and seek my last end; grant me the holy fear of God; grant me true contrition and patience. Do not let me fall into sin. Give me an increase of faith, hope and charity, and bring forth in my soul all the virtues proper to my state in life.

Make me a faithful disciple of Jesus and an obedient child of the Church. Give me efficacious grace sufficient to keep the Commandments and to receive the Sacraments worthily. 

Give me the four Cardinal Virtues, Your Seven Gifts, Your Twelve Fruits.
Raise me to perfection in the state of life to which You have called me and lead me through a happy death to everlasting life.
I ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen. 
(novena obtained from EWTN website)

The Friday after Ascension Thursday is the day Mary and the Apostles began the very first novena to the Holy Spirit.  May we too begin a novena this day calling down the Spirit to blow through our hearts, families, and world as it did at the very first Pentecost.  The picture above we took this week at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Asher and I will be uniting with you from Rome during this novena and will conclude at Our Lady's Shrine in Knock, Ireland. 

Consider including our Children’s Rosary petition in your novena:  

MAY THE CHILDREN’S ROSARY,THOSE ASSOCIATED WITH THE CHILDREN’S ROSARY & THEIR FAMILIES, INCLUDING OUR PRIESTS, OUR BISHOP AND OUR HOLY FATHER, THE POPE, BE THE EXTENDED HANDS OF OUR BLESSED MOTHER AND HER SON.  MAY WE GATHER A GREAT MANY SOULS, ESPECIALLY YOUNG PEOPLE, FOR THE LORD.  MAY WE EXPERIENCE RENEWAL OF FAMILY PRAYER AND SPREAD IT ACROSS THE GLOBE. IN A SPECIAL WAY WE ASK THE HOLY SPIRIT TO GUIDE EACH ONE OF US ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD.

Benvenutti a Roma!

These were the welcome greetings we have received since arriving in Rome. Asher and I will be here until June 5 when we will be traveling to Ireland for the All Ireland Rosary Rally. 

We arrived safely yesterday, albeit with a very tight connection through Dublin. Thank you to those who prayed for us. Those prayers were heard. We carry with us rosaries, Children's Rosary materials and Children's Rosary flags (thank you, Mary Ann). 

We are excited to be in the seat of the Catholic Church in these days leading up to Pentecost. Yesterday we attended Mass at St. Peters after leaving the airport and went through the Holy Door open for the Jubilee. I prayed in a special way for the members of the Children's Rosary during Adoration at the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament at St. Peter's Basilica. 

Today we met with the EWTN team in Rome and did a segment for their Vaticano show about the Children's Rosary. 

The view behind us during the interview was perfect. After the interview we darted into St Anne's Church just in time before our friend Fr. Anthony was leaving the Confessional. He so kindly translated the Children's Rosary book into Arabic. 

We have found a lovely farmers market just a block from where we are staying which has been our sustenance. All the yummy vegetables are in season now.