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Saturday, November 29, 2014

Joining Together in Prayer

Children's Rosary at Assumption Church in Umoja, Kenya
Today we would humbly like to invite you to begin a 33 day Consecration to Jesus through Mary.  The journey begins today November 29th and will end with a Consecration on January 1st the Feast of Mary Mother of God. Last year many members of the Children's Rosary joined together to make this Consecration even members of our Children's Rosary groups in Kenya were able to participate.  This year we are inviting members to renew their Consecration and for those who have joining the Children's Rosary this year to begin the journey for the first time.

Thank you all so much!

There are a number of Children's Rosary groups meeting over the next few days please consider joining the children in prayer.  The children always pray for those unifying prayers with them.

Saturday November 29th
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. Mary's Church in Corvallis Orgon 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
Sunday November 30th
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. Thomas Church in Thomaston CT 11AM ET
Children's Rosary at St. John the Evangelist Hopkinton MA 11:15 AM 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 December 1st
Children's Rosary at Our Lady of Grace Home for Children in Meru, Kenya at 10 AM 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 Lagos 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 ET held in front of the Blessed Sacrament.

Children's Rosary at Rose of Mystica House in Edmeston, NY 4:30 PM ET

Tuesday December 2nd
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 EST
Wednesday December 3rd
Children's Rosary at St. Augustine Church in Iba Estate Lagos, Nigeria 1PM ET

Friday, November 28, 2014

Let's Help Religious Book and Gift Stores

Do you know where your closest religious book and gift shop is located?  May I humbly ask you to find out.  The future of these little shops depends on it.  You might wonder why it matters if these little brick and mortar shops exist when there is the internet with inexpensive prices and merchandise that comes right to your door... fair question.  If one knows exactly what they are looking for, the internet may be the most efficient and possibly most inexpensive way to get what you want.  But what if the book or picture that would truly touch your heart you have not seen yet?  What if while you were walking through one of these shops you stumble on something completely different from what you were looking for and in that moment the Holy Spirit is able to guide you in a new direction.  Maybe on that turn around the corner you see just the right thing for your child that they absolutely would love.  A gift that doesn't involve a battery but stirs their soul and leads them on the road to sanctity.  What if the person who happens on this store never set out to look for a religious gift at all and in looking through the store finds a spiritual awakening after years away from religion.  This is leaving out the most important piece that exists in a religious store that is completely absent on the internet.  There is a person there.  
Grace and her brother both members of the
Children's Rosary doing some
shopping for Christmas

Most of these shops are run by a family or a few individuals.  Not only do they want to help and answer questions there whole lives have been sacrificed and put on the line to be right there at just that special moment to help you. They have prayed and given up material dreams to help others on their spiritual journey. You may not realize that such sacrifices have been made.  Several years ago I knew very little about these stores or the people behind them.  However, over the past two years my children and I have attended the Catholic Marketing Network Trade show.  This past year I was a presenter at the Educational Day.  I had the blessing to meet these store owners.  They were deeply prayerful people.  Folks that would give their shirt off their back for you.  They were praying like crazy and drawing on their deep faith that help would come as times have been getting very difficult for them with big box stores, the internet and general lack of interest in religious items. As the children and I sat at our informational booth for the Children's Rosary. We were able to meet individual owners.  My minds eye goes back to a young married couple just opening a shop.  Two best friends in their twenties who had opened a store and were full of excitement.  A wonderful women who lectored at our daily Mass each day with a southern drawl.  An elegant women named Olga with a northern European accent who so wanted to help spread the Children's Rosary.  So many sweet people.  The last is an older man with a weathered face from Maine. He loved the Children's Rosary materials but sadly his shop had just closed.  We were too late to help him.


Yes many of these stores are closing.  I was told by a new store owner in Connecticut who just opened in Derby CT that she has seen 20 stores close in this state. She worries that she will be able to stay open as well.  It is a sad situation for sure.  

Okay so there is a value to these stores but you may wonder what can you do.  What will one purchase do to save all the little shops hanging on across the United States and beyond?  This is where I would humbly ask you to look at the situation as a child would.  A child sees someone in need and doesn't worry that their help is small, they simply want to help.  The rest is for people who know more to worry about.  It is in the smallest little ways that a tide of change can come.... an arm of help extended to these little stores.  As we know, the folks who began these little stores did not do this to make money but to touch hearts.  When they see someone in their store finding a treasure that touches their heart this goes a long way to sustaining them both financially but also spiritually.  

St. Anthony Book and Gift Shop, Derby CT
Each of us can surely help.  Members of the Children's Rosary are in a perfect position to help these stores.  While the internet and big box stores are the final nail in the coffin so to speak the real problem is that fewer and fewer people are praying.  When folks aren't praying what need do they have for Rosaries and other spiritual items that support growth in ones prayer life.  When prayer is gone quickly the glamour of the world distracts us.  However, when prayer comes back a thirst also returns to read and learn.  A hunger to understand Scripture and to read it.  An interest in saints and the rich faith we share.  This blossoming is so beautifully evident with children.  We have seen this thirst for all things that draw our heart to higher places in the little ones that come to the Children's Rosary.  The more time they spend with Our Lady and Our Lord in prayer the more They lead them to things that will continue to draw their hearts towards heaven.  Very quickly the children want little statues of Jesus and Mary, a special Rosary, a little scapular or miraculous medal. They love books on saints and the stories of the Bible.  They love music that involves prayer and celebration of their faith.  Yes it all begins to come together again.  So I write to you on the busiest shopping day of the year in the United States with people keeping vigil outside electronic stores for the best deal.  I wonder who thought to visit the little shop around the corner that sells religious gifts.  Presumably the presents that are being purchased are for the holidays and wouldn't it be fantastic if some of them had something to do with Christmas. 

A few weeks ago I had the blessing to meet the Children's Rosary group leader from Naples Florida and three of her children.  We spent the day at the Basilica of Mary Queen of the Universe in Orlando, FL.  During the day we visited their bookstore.  The children wandered around looking at the many books and gifts there.  With a $5.00 limit of what they could spend it was a hard decision as many presents were held for some time and then put back. It had to be right.  Mom made an offer the children could choose an additional present but it would be kept for Christmas.  Grace who is her 12 years old daughter had asked for a statue for Christmas of Our Lady.  There was no rapid decision though and we would spend an hour enjoying looking at everything they had and then we would come back after a visit to the Rosary garden for  a final pass.  This family of 6 had the tradition that each child could have 3 presents for Christmas and one would always be about their faith.  Indeed these children would not have been more excited in a toy store.  Her 6 year old son loved every minute in the Basilica store.  It was so beautiful to watch.

Indeed I think one would be surprised to see how many beautiful things are in these shops. The store owners certainly take so much time and prayer picking each thing out that they carry.  The store owners I met were also very willing to help with getting the word out about the Children's Rosary both by putting up flyers or spreading news of this by word of mouth. Indeed these little stores are powerhouses of prayer and faith.  For all agreed they have been tried these last years through a great deal of suffering and struggle.  Maybe we can help them and lighten the burden they have been carrying and visit their stores.  Let them know you are a member of the Children's Rosary and that we are praying for them.

Thank you all.

Your Friend in Christ,
Blythe

For those who would like to buy our Children's Rosary materials in a gift shop we have a list of places that carry our books and CDs.  

Other Posts You may enjoy:

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Feast of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal

"O Mary conceived without sin pray for us who have recourse to thee."

Today is the beautiful Feast of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal.  May we ask for special graces today. On November 1st, our Children's Rosary at St. Thomas Becket Church in Cheshire, Connecticut USA invited two seminarians to attend their monthly Children's Rosary.  
The two seminarians beautifully joined the children in prayer of the Rosary.  

After the prayers the seminarians gave a little talk on the Miraculous Medal.  As today is the Feast of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal it seemed a perfect time to highlight both this meeting of their group and also the Miraculous Medal.  As the name would imply many wonderful graces and blessings have been attributed to the wearing of this medal. 

History
The origins of this medal date back to the 1800s when Our Blessed Mother appeared to St. Catherine Laboure in France. Catherine was a young nun in the order of the Daughters of Charity and lived in Paris.  On the evening of July 18th 1830 a young child awoke Catherine and led her to the chapel within the convent.  Once there Catherine sees Our Lady. Mary speaks to Catherine and promises to give her a mission in future visits.  Again the unknown child leads Catherine back to her room. The design of medal would later be revealed to Catherine during an apparition on November 27th 1830. Catherine was told to commission a medal and the exact design was given to her. She was also told that special graces would be given if the medal was worn around the neck.

The Miraculous Medal is an approved sacramental.  

Our Blessed Mother promised: "those who wear it will receive great graces; abundant graces will be given to those who have confidence." 

Catherine Laboure is now a Saint within the Catholic Church and her body is incorrupt.

It is interesting that Our Lady mentions extra graces  are available if one wears the medal around ones neck.  One of the members of the Children's Rosary mentioned that the miraculous medal she wore around her neck was often the subject of conversation and inquiry as she would work as a cashier in a small grocery store.  She marveled at what wonderful conversation it sparked.  Indeed Our Blessed Mother makes use of these moments to open a door to conversation of faith.  Mother Teresa of Calcutta was known to routinely give out miraculous medals.  In the book, My Sister Saint Therese by Sister Genevieve of the Holy Face (Celine Martin).  Therese's sister recounts: "The Saint was always on the alert in distributing medals of Our Lady, and she had strong faith in their power.  While still in the world, she tutored two little girls who were in need, and each of them wore on their breast Our Lady's medal fastened there by Therese herself.  She also succeeded in persuading an unbelieving charwomen to wear one of these medals."

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

I Am Thankful For....

"I am thankful for my mom and dad because my mom and dad help me do things.  I am also thankful for the Earth because if we did not have the Earth we would have to live on Mars which is not a very good planet and Mercury and Venus are awfully hot.  I am also thankful for God because without Him we would not be here right now because God made every single one of us.  I am thankful for a lot of things."
He is right Venus is really hot.
 This is a letter written by a seven year old member of the Children's Rosary. It gave me a chuckle to see how the mind of a little one sees things.  Yet it was a comfort to see that God was not forgotten.

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Mass Offered Today for Members of the Children's Rosary

John Paul II New Orleans, LA 1987
A Mass was offered today by the Capuchin Friars for all the members of the Children's Rosary and all those who help the Children's Rosary.  We continue to have a Mass said for the this intention on the 25th of each month. The Eucharist is such a powerful gift from Our Lord and that when I wanted to extend thanksgiving to you all I knew of no better way to express my gratitude.  May Our Lord's love be poured down on all of you this day through the powerful sacrifice of the Holy Mass. 

Thank you all and God Bless you!

Monday, November 24, 2014

Relevant Radio Interview About the Children's Rosary

Tomorrow morning tune in to hear about the Children's Rosary on the Morning Air show. The show will air live at 8:15 AM CT.
One can listen to the show online at this LINK.
We are very grateful for all those at Relevant Radio for helping to spread the Children's Rosary.

Saturday, November 22, 2014

Celebrating Music on the Feast of St. Cecilia

Children singing "Rosary Children" at the end of a Children's Rosary
 at St. Thomas the Apostle Church
Today is the Feast of St. Cecilia the patron Saint of music.  Last year on the Feast of St. Cecilia we were so blessed to be able to share a beautiful song written for the Children's Rosary on our website.  The song is called "Rosary Children".  It is a beautifully simple song with a melody that winds its way into your heart and does not leave.  The words of the song are full of love and hope.

This past summer we released 2 CDs which contain this song.   Children's Rosary groups around the world have begun singing this song as they finish their Rosary.  There is a wonderful appreciation for the role of music in our relationship with Our Lord.  Through saints and mystics we are told that  wonderful singing and music exist in heaven and there are times song seems to raise our hearts to a heavenly place where we meet God.  

There is also an appreciation that children love music.  Our theme song was a unexpected gift but one which we have seen touch many hearts.  One sweet story which was relayed to me by our Children's Rosary group leader in Hanover, Pennsylvania speaks of a 70 year old women who has been attending the Children's Rosary each month.  The women so loved praying with the children as they lead the Rosary.  The group meets the third Sunday of the month in front of the Blessed Sacrament. When word came to the group that there was a new theme song which the children could sing at the end of the Rosary this lovely older women jumped in that she wanted to play the guitar for the children.  This women had recently decided to learn the guitar and was taking a course.  In her class she was told to pick one piece which she would spend the semester learning how to play.  Her selection: Rosary Children.  Hearing this story I was so touched.  No matter what our age Our Lord finds the most beautiful way to work through us.  I can imagine the time and effort this women would need to spend to learn a new instrument and a complete song.  Yet Our Lord helps us and smiles upon us when we want to do something difficult to praise and honor him.

Currently we are working on three more songs that have been written for the Children's Rosary.  Right now several musicians are working on the instrument portions of the songs and we hope to also include both adults and children singing as well. We hope to include more of this original music on our upcoming Joyful and luminous CDs.

In a special way we thank Our Lord for granting us so many gifts of music for our prayer group movement.  We continue to pray through the intercession of St. Cecilia that all may be as Our Lord and his Mother envisioned... all for the Glory of God. Amen.

Helpful Links:
Sheet music for the song Rosary Children click HERE.
Listen to the song Rosary Children
Recording of the song Rosary Children

"We are not the sum of our weaknesses and failures. We are the sum of our Father's love for us." John Paul II

A beautiful reminder of Our Father's love for us is just behind the children leading the Rosary.

The children will be gathering to pray over the next several days.  Please consider joining them in prayer.  The children always pray for those unifying prayers with them.
Saturday November 22nd
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 South CArolina 10:30 AM

Children's Rosary at St. Mary's Church in Corvallis Orgon 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

Sunday November 23rd
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. Thomas Church in Thomaston CT 11AM ET
Children's Rosary at St. Patrick's Church in Tacoma, WA 11:30 AM PSTChildren'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 November 24th
Children's Rosary at Our Lady of Grace Home for Children in Meru, Kenya at 10 AM 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 Lagos 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 ET held in front of the Blessed Sacrament.

Children's Rosary at Rose of Mystica House in Edmeston, NY 4:30 PM ET

Tuesday November 25th
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 EST
Wednesday November 26th
Children's Rosary at St. Augustine Church in Iba Estate Lagos, Nigeria 1PM ET
Thursday November 27th
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

Other posts you may enjoy:

Friday, November 21, 2014

Children Using Their Talents to Praise the Lord


This is a very sweet picture of the first meeting of the Children's Rosary group at St. Marguerite Parish in Brookfield, Connecticut.  I particularly love the little girl in the left corner presumably holding her little brother.  Indeed children are so beautiful about stepping up when a need arrises.  Last fall a wonderful gift was given to the Children's Rosary.  Fr. Lawrence Tucker in prayer felt inspired to write a song for the Children's Rosary which he called: Rosary Children.  From the moment we heard him sing the song we knew it was a special song.  It has now become our theme song for the Children's Rosary prayer group movement.  The next question was who could help to record such a wonderful song.  A group of children stepped forward. Several of the children are in the picture above.  A few of the children had sung before but for some this would be their first time.  Little Marianne in the red sweater bottom right was just 4 years old yet she would learn the song and help in its recording.  Indeed each child was eager to help Our Lady in any way that they could.  Last year on the Feast of St. Cecilia we released the song on our website so groups could listen to it.  Later we would release two CDs which included the song.  

This evening on the eve of the Feast of St. Cecilia the patron saint of musicians many of the children that recorded the song "Rosary Children" will meet for a Children's Rosary in Brookfield, CT.  A wonderful way to remember the gift Our Lord gave us with the song and also their ongoing desire to give their love and prayers to their loving Father.

Today we have several Children's Rosary groups meeting.  Please consider joining the children in prayer.  The children always pray for those unifying prayers with them.

Friday November 21st
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

Children's Rosary group at St. Marguerite Parish in Brookfield CT 4PM ET

Other posts you may enjoy about the recording of our song "Rosary Children":
Pure Joy Comes from the Lord

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Presentation of Mary

Caleb pictured in green is one of our younger members of the
Children's Rosary
Today after Mass a familiar face came into the back corner of the chapel: a sweet grandfather and his little granddaughter.  Every day they arrive just after Mass and spend at least an hour in the chapel.

Several of us usually stay to pray the Rosary and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy after Mass. Today I was enjoying very much watching this little girl no older than a year old toddling around beneath a first class relic of St. Faustina and a large Divine Mercy picture.  The little girl would make her way sometimes crawling sometimes walking with the help of her grandfather over to the kneeler and look up to Jesus and a beautiful statue of Our Blessed Mother.  There were several vases of flowers beneath the pictures and she would look at those as well.  All the while we were praying in the background.  The wonderful soft sounds of the Rosary a backdrop for her exploration.  

I was reminded of a little boy (pictured above in green) who from a tender age of several months old used to come to Mass with his mother.  As he grew she would push his carriage back and forth as we prayed the Rosary after Mass.  As he grew he began coming to the Children's Rosary.  He would watch the older children praying and kneel with them.  Often he would place a rose before Our Lady at the end of the decade taking turns with the other children.  I began to marvel at what a wonderful thing it is to grow up spending time in Our Lord's home.  So often you enter a chapel and it is empty during the day.  For an hour each morning during the week there is a grandfather and a little tiny child learning to walk keeping Our Lord company.  I can imagine Our Blessed Mother smiling to see such a sweet soul and a grandfather who lovingly brings his little granddaughter to Church.  As I was praying today in Church I began to wonder when is the moment when a child has their first lasting memory.  Would't it be wonderful if one of the first memories a child has is looking into the eyes of Our Lord and hearing the prayers of the Rosary echoing in the background.  Such experiences must create a wonderful garden for virtue to grow and flourish in a soul.  

Recently more and more I have been thinking about our Children's Rosary CDs which have little ones praying the Rosary with soft instrumental music behind.  In many ways the prayers are like a lullaby one might play for a child.  I began to wonder if such prayers gently prayed in the background would be wonderfully soothing for a a baby or young child.  So often our children our exploring in their own room or laying down trying to fall asleep.  It might be a wonderful thing to put the Children's Rosary CD on so they might be bathed in the sound of prayers.

Tomorrow as we celebrate the Presentation of Mary I am reminded of the wonderful role St. Anne and St. Joachim played in raising a pure soul which would bring Our Lord into this world.  To contemplate bringing children to Our Lord's home to spend time and just be with Our Lord is something beautiful to reflect on.  Many may not be able to come to the Church each day but you might consider a monthly or weekly Children's Rosary.

We are blessed to have a first class relic of St. Anne visiting our home.  Tonight in a special way I would like to pray for all members of the Children's Rosary and in a special way all parents and grandparents that we may be given the grace and assistance to help guide our own children and grandchildren in holiness. Amen.



Monday, November 17, 2014

Children's Rosary at St. Patrick's Parish in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania

Children's Rosary at St. Patrick's Parish
11.17.2014
The Children's Rosary at St. Patrick's Parish in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania held their second Children's Rosary tonight and sent along this picture.  They meet the third Monday of the month at 5:45 PM in front of the Blessed Sacrament. It is beautiful to see how Our Blessed Mother leads her children to her Son present in the Eucharist.  This group started after hearing about another Children's Rosary group in the neighboring town of Avondale, Pennsylvania.  In a special way I would like to thank the members of the Children's Rosary at St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother in Avondale for helping this new group get started.  

"When the Son of Man Comes Will He Find Faith on this Earth?"

Children's Rosary at St. Augustine Parish
Lagos, Nigeria
This quote was part of the Gospel reading this past Saturday.  It concludes the beautiful parable of the Godless Judge and the poor widow seeking a just decision.  

He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor regarded man; and there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, `Vindicate me against my adversary.' For a while he refused; but afterward he said to himself, `Though I neither fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow bothers me, I will vindicate her, or she will wear me out by her continual coming.'" And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God vindicate his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will vindicate them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, will he find faith on earth?" (Luke 18: 2-8)

It is said, "God made us without us, but he will not save us without us. " (St. Augustine)  Indeed Our Lord is thirsting for us to come to Him with complete faith and trust in Him.  He will not disappoint or turn a deaf ear as we are told in Scripture.  These little children who meet daily as a Children's Rosary in Nigeria are a beautiful witness of faithfulness to prayer.  They are our only Children's Rosary group that meets daily.  What a beautiful gift from our world.  All these prayers from these children are such a spring of grace.
As the Children's Rosary continues to spread it is wonderful to see so many children finding Our Lord in prayer and seeing that they can bring all their worries and troubles to Him and find love and tenderness waiting for them.   

Please consider joining the children in prayer.  The children always pray for those unifying prayers with them.

Monday November 17th
Children's Rosary at Our Lady of Grace Home for Children in Meru, Kenya at 10 AM 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 Lagos 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 ET held in front of the Blessed Sacrament.

Children's Rosary at Rose of Mystica House in Edmeston, NY 4:30 PM ET

Children's Rosary at st. Patrick's Parish in Kennett Square PA 5:45 PM ET


Tuesday November 18th
Children's Rosary at St. Anthony Church in Taylor Mill, KY 9:30 AM EST
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 EST
Wednesday November 19th
Children's Rosary at St. Augustine Church in Iba Estate Lagos, Nigeria 1PM ET
Thursday November 20th
Children's Rosary at St. Augustine Church in Iba Estate, Lagos Nigeria 1PM ET

Children's Rosary at Resurrection Parish in Rye, NY 5PM 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

Saturday, November 15, 2014

Resources to Help those with Disabilities Pray

The Children's Rosary is a prayer group movement for children.  Looking back on our first prayer group meeting it would seem Our Lady always intended children with disabilities to have a special place in the Children's Rosary.  Although the group was small when it began several of the children had disabilities.  The group grew in a special way involving all children of every ability.  As founder of the movement, I too have an inherited disability with my joints preventing me from driving or using my hands for many activities.  Two of our three children have disabilities one an inherited physical condition that is progressive in nature and our other child suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). So indeed there was an awareness that children are called to prayer no matter what their abilities.  In a special way we have incorporated things into the Children's Rosary to include children who might be unable to lead the prayers. One example is the inclusion of roses at the end of each decade.  A child is asked to place a rose at the foot of Our Lady at the end of each decade.  Those children who for whatever reason can't lead the prayers are able to be involved and show in a special way how much they love their mother Mary.  The prayer group also provides a wonderful place for children of different abilities to support each other.  It is so moving to see a little child taking the hand of an older child with a disability and together leading prayers.  Likewise some of the older children also find a sense of belonging when they can help an uncertain littler child.  No matter what the age and ability all come together with a heart open to love and prayer.


Recently we recorded several Children's Rosary Cds. A mom of four who leads a Children's Rosary, shared that her 16 year old son who has Attention Deficit Disorder(ADD) has struggled for years with the Rosary.  He would try to pray at home but became frustrated as it was difficult for him to finish and it would take him up to an hour. His mom was looking for something to help him.  She received our Children's Rosary CDs as a gift and her son began using them.  He was so excited as he could finally pray the Rosary daily and complete it without frustration.  It was then that I began to see the CDs as a resource for those that struggle praying the Rosary due to disability. 
Another resource that we have to help pray the Rosary is a Diagram created with help from the children.  Recently we also heard that this has been helpful with a child with dyslexia.  His mom shared that he began using the diagram which has different colored beads..moving his fingers along the diagram. This diagram we offer free on our website.  

Friday, November 14, 2014

Keep Things Simple

"Keep things simple. Follow Our Lord like a child and skip along behind Jesus. Leave any troubles in His hands." (Titus Brandsma)
Consider joining the children in prayer.  The children always pray for those unifying prayers with them.

Friday November 14th
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 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 November 15th
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. Mary's Church in Corvallis Orgon 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

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Thursday, November 13, 2014

Mass Offered Today for Members of the Children's Rosary

One of the Children's Rosary group leaders who runs a Children's Rosary in a parish named after Our Lady of Fatima has given a wonderful gift to the Children's Rosary.  On the 13th of every month she has a Mass said for members of the Children's Rosary. She began this at the beginning of the year and has requested them through December. 

Today we have several Children's Rosary groups meeting.  Please consider joining the children in prayer.  The children always pray for those unifying prayers with them.

Thursday November 13th
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
Children's Rosary at St. Paul's Church in Fenton Missouri 7PM