May We Be Sensitive to the Promptings of the Holy Spirit

The Liturgical seasons are so rich with meaning.  As the Christmas season comes to an end with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, we savor each day.*  It is a beautiful blessing that we have many groups meeting this Sunday on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.  This is also the first luminous mystery of the Rosary.  The fruit of that mystery is openness to the Holy Spirit.  In a special way over these days may we pray to be sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Amen.

Friday January 9th
Children's Rosary at St. Mary's School in Orange TX 7:05 AM CT
Children's Rosary at St. Mary's School in Pontiac, IL at 9AM CT 
Children's Rosary at St. Augustine Church in Iba Estate Lagos, Nigeria 1PM ET
Saturday January 10th
Children's Rosary of St. Michael the Archangel Parish and held in the Kibera slum in Langatta Nairobi Kenya 10 local time
Children's Rosary at ST. Michael's Church in Garden City, SC at 10:30 AM ET
Children's Rosary at St. Mary's Church in Corvallis, Oregon 12 PM PT
Children's Rosary at St. Augustine Church in Iba Estate Lagos, Nigeria 1PM ET
Children's Rosary at the Daughters of Charity Convent in Bridgeport, CT 2:30 PM ET
Children's Rosary at St. Peter Claver Church in West Hartford, CT 3:45 PM ET
Sunday January 11th  (Feast of the Baptism of the Lord)
Children's Rosary at Our Lady and St. Patrick's Parish in Nottingham, England 9AM local time (4AM ET)

Children's Rosary at Assumption Church in Umoja, Kenya 7AM ET
Children's Rosary at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in South Windsor, CT 8:45 AM ET
Children's Rosary at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in West Hartford, CT 9:45 AM ET
Children's Rosary at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in New Britain, CT 11AM ET
Children's Rosary at St. Thomas Church in Thomaston CT 11AM ET

Children's Rosary at St. Patrick's Church in Tacoma, WA 11:30 AM PST

Children's Rosary at St. Augustine Church in Iba Estate Lagos, Nigeria 1PM ET
Children's Rosary at the Daughters of Charity Convent in Bridgeport ,CT 2:30 PM ET
Children's Rosary at St. Anthony Church in Lorain, Ohio 3PM ET in front of the Blessed Sacrament

Monday January 12th

Children's Rosary at Our Lady of Grace Home for Children in Meru, Kenya 10AM ET
Children's Rosary at Holy Trinity Academy in Shenandoah, PA 12:20 PM ET
Children's Rosary at St. Augustine Church in Iba Estate Lago Nigeria 1PM ET
Children's Rosary at Holy Family Church in Gladstone Michigan 4:30PM  ET
Children's Rosary at St. John the Evangelist Church in Mahopac, New York 4:30 PM 

Children's Rosary at St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother Church in Avondale, PA 6PM ET
Children's Rosary at St. Patrick's Parish in Murphy's, CA 7PM ET

Tuesday January 13th

Children's Rosary at St. Anthony Parish in Taylor Mill, Kentucky 9:30 ET
Children's Rosary at St. Augustine Church in Iba Estate, Lagos Nigeria 1PM ET
Children's Rosary at Holy Redeemer Parish in Menominee, Michigan 6PM ET

Children's Rosary at St. Paul's Parish in Fenton Missouri 7PM CT
Wednesday January 14th
Children's Rosary at St. Augustine Church in Iba Estate, Lagos Nigeria 1PM ET
Thursday January 15th
Children's Rosary at St. Augustine Church in Iba Estate Lagos Nigeria 1PM ET
The Children's Rosary at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Brentwood, California will meet at 6:30 PM ET in front of the Blessed Sacrament.
Children's Rosary at Resurrection Parish in Rye, NY will meet at 5PM ETThe Children's Rosary at St. Martin Church in Kingsville, Texas will meet at 6:30 PM

* The Christmas season ends on the Feast of the Baptistm of the Lord according to the US College of Bishops.  To see the calendar click here. 

Three Kings Day Surprise!

While many think of Kings journeying great distances led by a star to place treasures before the Baby Jesus on Three Kings Day, the Children's Rosary had a surprise this year.  A visitor was at the door who had traveled through the snow to visit the children.  He was waiting for little hands to pull open a box to reveal..... the child JESUS!!

Infant of Prague 

After carefully unwrapping Him the children found his crown and tenderly placed it on His head.  The statue is known to many as the Infant of Prague.  The arrival of Our Lord on the Three Kings Day brought wonderful excitement to the house.  The statue was meant as a gift for the Children's Rosary sent by a member of the Children's Rosary with a hope that the children might enjoy having Him present during meetings.  It was a wonderful blessing for us and a further evidence that Our Lord will not be outdone in His generosity.  For the children their thoughts have been on bringing presents to the crib of Our Lord and for Him to arrive in such a way was something very sweet.  Indeed Our Lord and His Mother have such a tenderness.  In looking at the pictures of the children opening the big box I am reminded of the boxes which were packed two weeks ago and sent to Kenya full of Rosaries and cards with hopes they might arrive by today.  Not anticipating that we would be the one opening a box ourselves this day.  Beautiful lessons of love Our Lord is teaching the children.  Also just noticed another sweet thing.  Kostin's picture of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, which he found by the side of the road where she was put out for the dump pickup, is present to the left side of the photo above.  Indeed even the Saints seem to have gathered to see Our Lord placed before the children with His crown in place.

My humble prayer for us all tonight is that we can each place the newborn Jesus in the first place in our life.  In this way He can lead us all to salvation. Amen.

Humbly Bringing Our Gifts Before the Lord

Drawn by a 10 year old member of the
Children's Rosary

Cause of Our Joy

May I share some wonderful news.  The Children's Rosary will air tomorrow January 4th on the show "Cause of Our Joy".  The show airs each Sunday from 7-8AM ET on WACE 730 AM located in Chicopee, Massachusetts USA.  The host Joe Ott will begin the program with the Children's Rosary theme song "Rosary Children" followed by the Children's Rosary.  The second half of his program tomorrow will be an interview about the Children's Rosary.  As we are in winter, the station will go full power at 7:15 AM broadcasting the program through portions of New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts and Connecticut.  Prior to 7:15 AM in the winter the show airs low power and can be heard only in the Springfield region of Massachusetts so if you tune in and the station does not come in please try back at 7:15.  As the days become longer, as we move through winter, the show will begin with full power.  It is particularly special that the Children's Rosary will air tomorrow broadcast from Springfield Massachusetts area as this is the anniversary of the passing of Theresa Marie Banas.  Terrry, as she was known to many, was a member of the Children's Rosary and regularly prayed for us.  She had a strong lifelong devotion to the Rosary.  She led the Rosary each Saturday in a rehabilitation center and also belonged to a weekly adult Rosary group.  It is fitting that she was buried in a cemetery named after the Holy Rosary.  Terry remained single through her life and was a wonderful support to her brother who is a priest at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Granby, MA.  

In speaking with Joe about the show and Terry he beautifully suggested we offer the Rosary tomorrow in memory of Terry, as the children's prayers would be going out both on her anniversary and over the region she lived in her whole life.  

The blessings would continue.  Joe Ott shared that he would like to begin his hour program each week airing the Children's Rosary.  This unexpected gift comes after a great many prayers have been said by members of the Children's Rosary from around the world.  It has been our prayer to bring our recorded Children's Rosary to the airwaves.  We have seen beautiful fruits come through these innocent children and their tender voices praying the Rosary.  

In marveling and thinking about this beautiful gift that was given to the Children's Rosary prayer group movement, one begins to contemplate the name of the show: Cause of Our Joy.  This is taken from the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  One of her invocations is Cause of Our Joy. Indeed Our Lady is always helping us when we come to her in prayer.  In a special way on the observed Feast of the Epiphany tomorrow may Our Blessed Mother carry these prayers of the children to the very crib of Our Lord and present them to Him.

Mass Offered Today for Renewal of Family Prayer

Children's Rosary in East Berlin, CT

A Mass was offered today for Renewal of Family Prayer. In a special way the Children's Rosary has been praying since our first anniversary for renewal of family prayer.  We have said over 850 Novenas to different saints asking for their intercession and help renewing family prayer in our families.  We also have a Mass offered on the first Saturday of the month for the same intention.  One of the members of the Children's Rosary was so kind to sponsor a Mass each month for this intention for one year.  As more and more children come together in prayer of the Rosary in their Children's Rosary prayer groups we pray that prayer also blossoms in their homes as well and throughout the world.  Pope John Paul II was fond of saying, "As the family goes, so goes the nation and so goes the whole world in which we live." 

"No One is Excluded from the Joy Brought by the Lord" -Pope Francis

At the close of 2014 there is much to be thankful for. This year has brought many new Children's Rosary groups sprinkled across the globe.  Each one a special gift from Our Lord.  There is also celebration of groups that are now reaching their one and two year anniversaries and some even longer.  There has been the taste of pure joy and the reality of great suffering.  Pope Francis says it well in his Apostolic Exhortion Evangell Gaudium “No one is excluded from the joy brought by the Lord. The Lord does not disappoint those who take this risk; whenever we take a step towards Jesus, we come to realize that He is already there, waiting for us with open arms." 

We should not be afraid of our weaknesses and doubt when we are trying to help Him.  It is not always easy to take a chance such as starting a Children's Rosary prayer group or continuing a group when many challenges arrise. Yet Pope Francis reminds us to have confidence in the Lord and realize that when we are weak and dependent on the Lord this is when He can work most perfectly. Much like a child who depends entirely on his or her parents. Pope Francis goes on to say, "Nobody can go off to battle without confidence, we have already lost half the battle and we bury our talents.  While painfully aware of our own frailties, we have to march on without giving in, keeping in mind what the Lord said to Saint Paul: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2Cor 12:9). 

Over the next week we are blessed to have many Children's Rosary groups meeting.  These groups cover each one of us in a blanket of prayers.  

FridayJanuary 2nd (First Friday)
Children's Rosary at St. Mary's School in Orange, TX 7:05 AM CT

Children's Rosary at St. Paul's School in Odell, IL 8:35 AM CT

Children's Rosary at St. Mary's School in Pontiac, IL at 9AM CT 

Children's Rosary at St. Stephen Church in Lilburn, GA 9AM CT

Children's Rosary at St. Augustine Church in Iba Estate Lagos, Nigeria 1PM ET

Children's Rosary at St. Joseph Parish in Adrian, Michigan 5PM ET

Saturday January 3rd (First Satruday) 
Children's Rosary at St. Mary's Church in Corvallis, Oregon to meet at 9AM Pacific time
Children's Rosary at St. Agnes Church in Naples, Florida to meet at 9:30 AM ET
Children's Rosary at Blessed Sacrament Church in Walpole, MA 9:30 AM ET
Children's Rosary to meet at Our Lady of LaSalette Parish in Sulphur, Louisiana to meet at 9:30 AM CT 
Children's Rosary of St. Michael the Archangel Parish and held in Kibera Slum in Langatta Nairobi, Kenya to meet at 10AM local time. 
Children's Rosary at St. Peter the Apostle Church in Rushden, Northants England 3PM GMT or 10 AM ET 
Children's Rosary at Sacred Heart Church in East Berlin, CT to meet at 10AM ET

Children's Rosary at St. Bridget Church in Cheshire CT 12:30 PM ET

Children's Rosary at St. Augustine Church in Iba Estate Lago Nigeria 1PM ET

Children's Rosary at Sacred Heart Church in Middleboro MA 2PM ET
Children's Rosary at the Daughter's of Charity in Bridgeport, CT 2:30 PM ET

Children's Rosary at St. Thomas Becket Church in Cheshire CT 3PM ET

Children's Rosary at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish Shriub Oak 4:45 PM ET

Children's Rosary at Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Hartford CT 5PM ET

Children's Rosary at St. Luke Parish in Ogallala Nebraska 4:30 PM CT

Children's Rosary at St. Edward the Confessor Church in Richmond Virginia 4PM

Sunday January 4th
Children's Rosary at Our Lady and St. Patrick's Church in Nottingham, England 9AM local time  (4AM ET)
Children's Rosary at St. Luke's Church in Ogallala, Nebraska at 8:30 AM ET
Children's Rosary at St. Thomas Church in Thomaston, CT 11AM ET
Children's Rosary at Holy Trinity Church in Harlan Kentucky 11:30 AM 
Children's Rosary at St. Augustine Church in Iba Estate Lago Nigeria 1PM ET
Children's Rosary at St. Bernard Church in Mount Lebanon, Pennsylvania at 2PM ET
Children's Rosary at the Daughter's of Charity in Bridgeport, CT 2:30 PM ETChildren's Rosary at St. Anthony Church in Lorain, Ohio 3PM ET in front of the Blessed Sacrament.
Children's Rosary at St. Joachim Parish in Madera, California 5:30 PM ET
Children's Rosary at Assumption Church in Umoja, Kenya 2PM local time 
Children's Rosary at Immaculate Conception Church North Delta, British Columbia 6PM ET
Monday January 5th
Children's Rosary at Our Lady of Grace Home for Children in Meru, Kenya 10AM ET
Children's Rosary at Holy Trinity Academy in Shenandoah, PA 12:20 PM ET
Children's Rosary at St. Augustine Church in Iba Estate Lago Nigeria 1PM ET
Children's Rosary at Holy Family Church in Gladstone Michigan 4:30PM  ET
Children's Rosary of St. John the Evangelist Church in Mahopac, New York 4:30 PM ET

Tuesday January 6th

Children's Rosary at St. Augustine Church in Iba Estate, Lagos Nigeria 1PM ET
Children's Rosary at Holy Redeemer Parish in Menominee, Michigan 6PM ET
Wednesday January 7th 
Children's Rosary at St. Augustine Church in Iba Estate Lagos Nigeria 1PM
Thursday January 8th
Children's Rosary at St. Augustine Church in Iba Estate, Lagos Nigeria 1PM ET
The Children's Rosary at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Brentwood, California will meet at 6:30 PM ET in front of the Blessed Sacrament.
The Children's Rosary at St. Martin Church in Kingsville, Texas will meet at 6:30 PM

A Message of Thanksgiving!

This past summer the Children's Rosary group leader, Inez,  from Immaculate Conception Church in North Delta British Columbia, Canada traveled through Kenya visiting our established Children's Rosary groups and also helping to begin more.  Inez traveled with her 16 year old daughter, her niece and her husband.  They were our ambassadors extending love and also sharing time in prayer.  Inez carried with her more than 1,000 Rosaries giving them out to the children.  

Children lining up to receive a Rosary

The video above is of the children from our Children's Rosary at Holy Trinity Church in Karobangi, Kenya.  They began their Children's Rosary close to 2 years ago.  They have a message of thanksgiving for the rosaries they received this summer.  

These rosaries are such a blessing.  I remember shortly after this group began receiving a note from the group leader that with so many children wanting to participate she only had rosaries for the older children and many of the younger ones thus did not come as there was not enough for them.  To think of little ones wanting to pray and hold a Rosary in their hand yet there were not enough to go around.

The rosaries hand delivered by Inez were so warmly received and this Christmas we sent a box with more.  The message above from the children is one of thanksgiving but for all of us watching there is another message coming through...one of HOPE.  

Our future is bright.  

There has been sacrifice this year through so many who are part of the Children's Rosary.  Faithfulness through prayer and a tireless effort to reach out to more children not only in Africa but in our home parishes.   There have been times when we wonder if our little effort or prayer made a difference.  May I let the children speak for me.  Yes, it all makes a difference.  

The reality of this video is the culmination of each and every prayer said.  Inez shared with me that she had a thought one night almost a year ago...wouldn't it be wonderful to spread the Rosary during her summer trip to Kenya.  That night she found our Children's Rosary website and there on our list were two established groups exactly where she would be traveling.  Divine Providence?

Inez distributing the Rosaries

This was a gift.  Months of preparation would follow which involved coordinating with our two Children's Rosary group leaders Irene and Antonine in Kenya.  Inez would make more connections that would allow her to meet more beautiful people and help to begin more groups.  Yet all the while faithful Children's Rosary groups were meeting all over the world providing the prayers that would safely carry her from Canada to Africa and back home again.  The grace would not stop there the excitement she experienced in Kenya was carried home to her own parish Children's Rosary group.  Again I cannot underscore enough that for many of us including myself the trip she made would be almost impossible.  For my own part, my health is not very good.  Yet together working as one Our Lord accomplishes more than the individual parts.  We work as one.  Always supported in prayer.  It is a beautiful way to begin the New Year knowing so much good is happening.  That we are part of something that is unfolding and bringing so many prayers to the crib of Our Lord.  With Our Blessed Mother beside us and our rosaries in hand we truly have nothing to fear.  

Thank you all so much for all you do.  Please never question the value of your prayers.

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