New Children's Rosary in Lincolnshire, England

We are happy to share that a new Children's Rosary met for the first time on February 2, 2025, at St. Hugh's Church in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England. This group will be meeting on the first Sunday of each month at 5:00 p.m. The group leader shared that 3 families attended with 7 children total. The group has younger children, so she shared an interesting idea to engage the younger children:

I made a big rosary out of silicone cupcake cases and the children placed a pom pom in the case for each prayer, which was a good way of including the younger children who can't yet join in all the prayers verbally. 

Consecrate Yourself and Your Children to Jesus through Mary

On this beautiful feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, consider Consecrating yourself to Jesus through Mary. Importantly, also consider Consecrating your children or grandchildren. 

We have Consecration Certificates available HERE. These certificates were made after consultation with Bishop John Keenan. 

Mass Offered for Seminarians on February 1, 2025

On February 1, 2025, a Mass was offered for all seminarians with the intention that they grow in holiness and lead us in love. Seminarians need our prayers, and what a beautiful way for the world’s children to support these men called by God by praying for them. In 2024, we featured a seminarian’s vocation story almost every month, and how inspired we were by each man’s faith journey and message to the faithful!  We are so grateful to be able to continue featuring seminarians throughout 2025. This month, we introduce Samuel Saava, a postulant with the Missionaries of the Holy Apostles in Cromwell, Connecticut, USA. 

My name is Samuel Savva, and I am 20 years old. Currently, I am living and studying at the small but beautiful Holy Apostles College and Seminary, located in Cromwell, Connecticut. I am also a postulant with the Missionaries of the Holy Apostles (MSA), whose charism is to promote, form, and accompany vocations to the priesthood, religious life, and lay ministries in the Church. We are a missionary society, with several priests and brothers stationed in Cromwell, CT (running Holy Apostles College & Seminary is our primary apostolate in the US), as well as a large presence internationally, in various other countries. As of now, I am completing my second year of undergraduate philosophy studies, after which, God willing, I will continue on to Theological Studies, after completing my novitiate and taking first promises.

My vocation story started when I was very young. As a child and teen, I would often reflect about what I would do as a grown-up, and the priesthood was very attractive to me. However, I also felt very deeply drawn to marriage. When I was 15, though, I went through a very difficult social crisis, in which the “vocation plans” which I had hoped and dreamed of, especially regarding marriage, literally came crashing down. It was in the aftermath of this that I seriously began questioning what I would do with my life regarding a vocation, and because of the situation, my heart was very open to any possibility. Unaccountably, I began experiencing a deep draw and attraction toward the priesthood, something that stemmed from deep inside my soul, and that only grew stronger as time went on. Eventually, I started actively discerning with my home diocese, and became involved in their vocation programs and activities. Simultaneously, I graduated high school, and, feeling unready to begin seminary, but still wishing to discern where God was leading me, I came to Holy Apostles College and Seminary, where there is a program for young men to live alongside the seminarians and experience first hand seminary life as they discern. During the year that I spent in this program, God began to show me many signs that I was not called to serve as a diocesan priest but rather as a religious. Increasingly I felt a great sense of peace, joy, and wholeness in my soul regarding this, and felt led by God to embrace this vocation, which I had not really had a chance to discern previously. Under the guidance of several holy priests and friends, eventually the Lord led me to joining the Missionaries of the Holy Apostles, whose abundant joy, charity, and faithful service to God and the Church made a profound impact on me, and in whose company I felt the peace of Christ leading me to strive for sanctity.

As a priest, simply put, I hope to give my life in service to Our Lord and to His Holy Church, under the protection of Mary, my mother. I hope to spend the rest of my life loving and serving those around me with the heart of Christ, and with profound charity and zeal for the salvation of souls, so that one day I and all those I have encountered can rejoice together as brothers and sisters in eternity with Our Lord. As an MSA, I also hope to particularly minister to those discerning their vocation, whether to religious, married, or single life, assisting them on this crucial, exciting, but often difficult journey. Lastly, I hope to be of service in renewing and encouraging the priestly and religious vocations of those already consecrated, as well as married couples, so that there may be a new flourishing of holy priests, religious, and families in the Church and the world!

We humbly ask that you please keep Samuel Savva in your prayers.

New Children's Rosary at Kitgum Mission Parish, Gulu Archdiocese of Uganda

The Children's Rosary was launched at Kitgum Mission Parish in the Gulu Archdiocese on January 19, 2025. Over 200 children attended.

A Mass Was Offered on January 25, 2025 for All the Members of the Children's Rosary

A Mass was offered on January 25, 2025 for all the members of the Children's Rosary and all who help the Children's Rosary. We continue to have a Mass said for this intention on the 25th of each month. The Eucharist is such a powerful gift from Our Lord that when we wanted to extend thanksgiving to all of you we knew of no better way to express gratitude. May Our Lord's love be poured down on all of you through the powerful sacrifice of the Holy Mass. 

The picture above is a new Children's Rosary group in Pakistan. They are in the Faisalabad diocese and meet weekly at St. Thomas Catholic Church, Essa Nagri.

Children's Rosary Informational Meeting for Ireland and UK

 

Children's Rosary Meeting December 29, 2024 in Dormitz, Germany

 

We recently received pictures from the Children's Rosary group in Dormitz, Germany. They meet on the last Sunday of each month. The pictures included in this post are from the meeting on December 29. The group leaders were very excited with the turnout from their past meeting. Often there are children that come from a distance to attend the Children's Rosary. Their presence is a joy. The group leaders always remained hopeful children from their local village would attend as well. Two local families had come 12 months earlier. The group leaders had hoped to see them again. The December meeting marked their return. It was a great grace to have them. Praise God for these gifts which are so precious.

Novena for Christian Unity January 18-26, 2025

Novena for Christian Unity through the Intercession of Bl. Maria Gabriella  

God please hear our supplication through the intercession of Bl. Maria Gabriella for Christian unity. May each of us and the Children's Rosary be an instrument in Your hands to knit all that has been pulled apart into one tapestry of prayer, love and peace doing all according to Your holy Will. 

Remembering the words from Scripture when Our Lord prayed, "May all be one; even as You Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me". (John 17:21) Amen.

For 9 days, please say 3 Glory Be prayers each day accompanied by the prayer above.

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity begins on January 18th 2025. It has been a tradition for the Children's Rosary to pray in a special way for Christian Unity in a Novena.  As Bl. Gabriella dedicated her life for the intention of Christian Unity it seemed particularly special to pray through her intercession. 

A Rosary will be prayed each day of the novena before a first class relic of Bl. Gabriella for the intention above and for those individuals joining us in this novena. 

Bl. Gabriella was born in 1914 and died at the age of 25 in 1939.  She was beatified on January 25th by Pope John Paul II 1983.

Children's Rosary at Heroldsbach Shrine in Germany Celebrates Its Second Birthday!

 

The Children's Rosary at Heroldsbach Shrine in Germany has been meeting for two years on the first Saturday of each month. In honor of their anniversary, the children met for the Rosary, and there was also a Mass.  During the Mass they prayed in a special way for the Children's Rosary. 

There was time for fellowship and refreshments after the Children's Rosary. It is beautiful to see this group reaching the milestone of two years. May God bless these children and families as well as all those who help to coordinate these efforts. 

For more information about the Children's Rosary in Germany, visit: kinderrosenkranz.com

Christmas Day at the Children's Rosary in Trowbridge, England

 

The Children's Rosary in Trowbridge, England, shared this note from their Christmas and Epiphany meetings:
The little basket contains spiritual gifts given to baby Jesus for Christmas (we did this from Christmas Day until Epiphany). Instead of making New Year's resolutions for ourselves, both the children and adults were encouraged to offer a gift to Jesus when the roses were offered to Our Lady, "Mama Mary we offer these roses as a sign of love and humility (or whichever fruit), please help us to bring our gifts to Jesus to fruition". We suggested things like kneeling for our prayers, bowing our head at the name of Jesus, a daily act of kindness, refraining from distracting others in prayer, honouring Jesus by receiving him on the tongue. If people weren't sure what gift to offer we told them to pray during the rosary and ask Jesus what he would like.

Children's Rosary January 2025 Newsletter

Click Here to View our Children's Rosary® January 2025 Newsletter

Consecration Journey Led by Bishop Donal McKeown Off to Great Start

It is not too late to join the journey. The response to this Consecration Journey led by Bishop Donal McKeown has been tremendous. There is something special about being led by a Shepherd on a spiritual journey. Entering the Jubilee year grants extra graces and a plenary indulgence for participating in a diocesan spiritual exercise, mission, or formation activity, as long as the other requirements for receiving the plenary indulgence are fulfilled as well.

It is not too late to start. The first three days are included below. 

Day 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYIM82IGhVY&t=22s

Day 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zq89jDlv8Ks&t=311s

Day 3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8laINfCcAFM&t=131s

There are two ways to participate, either on YouTube or Facebook. Each day is led at 7:00 p.m. local time in Ireland (2:00 p.m. Eastern Time). If you cannot join at that time, watch as soon as you are able. While there averages around 500 people LIVE over the two mediums, we are seeing that over 3,000 people are tuning in over the 24-hour period. Given that each person joining often represents a household, we happily recognize that the number of people actually participating may be closer to 10,000.

This journey can be done by adults, and young people can also participate. Parents and grandparents can also make the journey on behalf of a child or grandchild. We have worked closely on the development of a Consecration certificate for parents and grandparents to use to Consecrate those under their authority. 

All information and links detailing this Consecration journey can be accessed at https://derrydiocese.org/consecration.

Tune in Each Day at 7PM local time in Ireland Streaming on Youtube

A Second Option is to Unite in this Journey on Facebook

Daily on Facebook

Everyone is Welcome to Join!

For those outside the Derry diocese who wish to use the accompanying book (Child Consecration: To Jesus through Mary—Following in the Spirit of St. Thérèse, the Little Flower), it can be purchased from Silverstream Priory, Co. Meath, Ireland, EWTN Great Britain, or other locations on the link below. Having the book is not essential as prayers and daily readings will be available online. For those not in Ireland, view our website to find the closest place to obtain the book.

Join Bishop Donal McKeown in Making a 33 Day Consecration Journey

Join the Upcoming Consecration Journey Led by Bishop Donal McKeown of Derry Ireland

Bishop Donal McKeown and the priests of the Diocese of Derry are commencing a 33-day Consecration to Jesus through Mary of the Derry Diocese, beginning this Thursday, January 9, until the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, Tuesday, February 11, 2025.  
In this Year of Jubilee, when we are being called to be Pilgrims of Hope, Bishop Donal is focusing this Consecration journey on encouraging family prayer. He invites individuals and families from the Diocese to join him on this Consecration journey. He has also kindly extended the invitation to anyone outside the Diocese of Derry who may wish to accompany him.
Bishop McKeown will be live on Diocese of Derry Facebook and YouTube each evening at 7pm local time in Ireland (2PM Eastern Time). 
All information and links detailing this Consecration journey can be accessed at: https://derrydiocese.org/consecration 

Tune in Each Day at 7PM local time in Ireland Streaming on Youtube

A Second Option is Unite in this Journey on Facebook

Daily on Facebook

Everyone is Welcome to Join!

For those outside the Derry diocese who wish to use the accompanying book (Child Consecration: To Jesus through Mary—Following in the Spirit of St. Thérèse, the Little Flower), it can be purchased from Silverstream Priory, Co. Meath, Ireland, EWTN Great Britain or other locations on the link below. Having the book is not essential as prayers and daily readings will be available online. For those not in Ireland, view our website to find the closest place to obtain the book.  Must watch video  below featuring Bishop Keenan sitting down with Bishop McKeown to discuss the upcoming Consecration Journey. Bishop Keenan led his Diocese using the Child Consecration book in 2021. In this interview he sits down to discuss his experiences and the fruits that he saw first hand. Bishop McKeown discusses all his hopes for this journey. Click HERE.

Premiere of International Children's Rosary Video on EWTN

We excited to share on the Feast of the Epiphany the premiere of the International Children's Rosary video filmed in the Diocese of Mityana, Uganda. The children featured are part of the Children's Rosary from St. Denis school in the Mityana Diocese. They meet daily to hold their Children's Rosary. The pictures below are all taken from the new International Children's Rosary video.

To Read More About This, Click on Our Newsletter for the Full Announcement

Ideas for the New Year 2025: Epiphany Saints

 Epiphany Saints (a Franciscan Tradition)

• Wrap a box and put a hole big enough to allow a hand to enter
• Place slips of paper with a Saint, Feast Day, any additional information you desire
• Bring this to your Children’s Rosary meeting in January
• Say a Prayer to the Holy Spirit
• Allow each child to pick a saint
• Explain to each child that this is their special saint for the year. They should research the saint and ask for the saints help and intercession

If you need help thinking of saints to put on your slips of paper, we have a long list of saints on our Children's Rosary blog.

Christmas Children's Rosary at Knock Shrine held on December 23, 2024

We received this lovely report from the Children's Rosary at Knock Shrine in Ireland.

We gathered for our special December Children’s Rosary in the Apparition Chapel in Knock on December 23rd.

We were so blessed to be able to honour Baby Jesus, our Blessed Mother, and St Joseph right where the Holy Family appeared in 1879 to a group of 15 people, both young and old. Jesus appeared in the form of the Sacrificial Lamb on the Altar in front of the Cross, surrounded by angels. St. John the Evangelist was also present.

Our children came dressed as angels and shepherds to offer the Rosary and to prayerfully welcome and give glory to Baby Jesus, reenacting the joyous Nativity scene on Christmas night in Bethlehem.

Prayers Honoring the 7 Times Jesus Spilled His Precious Blood

Many may be familiar with the twelve St. Bridget prayers which are said for one year and honor each blow Jesus received during His Passion.  Throughout my childhood, I often saw my mother saying these one year prayers. Some time ago I heard of the twelve year prayers of St. Bridget. These prayers honor the 7 times Jesus spilled His Precious Blood for us. One of the members of the Children's Rosary brought them to my attention. On January 1, 2014, I began the twelve year St Bridget prayers. Today eleven years have been complete with just one year remaining until its completion. There are promises attached to these prayers which are included below. While the prayers themselves are approved by the Church for use, I have not been able to find a source to definitively show ecclesiastical corroboration of the promises. The promises are beautiful, and one may be in awe at such incredible generosity from Our Lord. Yet such gifts underscore the importance of spending time daily with Our Lord praying and honoring his life and passion. Today attending Holy Mass at Our Lady of Sorrows in Hartford, CT, my mom, who had never seen this Church before, upon seeing the crucifix, exclaimed that it was the same image as was on her St. Bridget prayer booklet. She was always carrying this book in my childhood and regularly would say the St. Bridget prayers. 

May I humbly share the promises and prayers in the event others may want to start the prayers.

Our Lord made these promises to anyone who recited/prayed these

Prayers for 12 entire years*:

1. The soul who prays them will suffer no Purgatory.

2. The soul who prays them will be accepted among the Martyrs as though he had spilled his blood for his faith.
3. The soul who prays them can choose three others whom Jesus will then keep in a state of grace sufficient to become holy.

4. No one in the four successive generations of the soul who prays them will be lost.

5. The soul who prays them will be made conscious of his death one month in advance. *

 

If the soul praying these prayers dies before the entire 12 years of prayers have been completed, 

 

the Lord will accept them as having been prayed in their entirety, because the intention of the soul as to complete them as directed. If a day or a few days are missed due to a valid reason, they can be made up for later, at the soul's earliest opportunity.

The 12 Year Prayers:

O Jesus, now I wish to pray the Lord's Prayer seven times in unity with the love with which You sanctified this prayer in Your Heart. Take it from my lips into Your Divine Heart. Improve and complete it so much that it brings as much honor and joy to the Trinity as You granted it on earth with this prayer. May these pour upon Your Holy Humanity in Glorification to Your Painful Wounds and the Precious Blood that You spilled for them.

First Prayer: The Circumcision

Pray 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, then:

Eternal Father, through Mary's unblemished hands and the Divine Heart of Jesus, I offer You the first wounds, the first pains, and the first Bloodshed as atonement for my and all of humanity's sins of youth, as protection against the first mortal sin, especially among my relatives.

Second Prayer: The Suffering on the Mount of Olives

Pray 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, then:

Eternal Father, through Mary's unblemished hands and the Divine Heart of Jesus, I offer You the terrifying suffering of Jesus' Heart on the Mount of Olives and every drop of His Bloody Sweat as atonement for my and all of humanity's sins of the heart, as protection against such sins and for the spreading of Divine and brotherly Love.

Third Prayer: The Flogging

Pray 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, then:

Eternal Father, through Mary's unblemished hands and the Divine Heart of Jesus, I offer You the many thousands of Wounds, the gruesome Pains, and the Precious Blood of the Flogging as atonement for my and all of humanity's sins of the Flesh, as protection against such sins and the preservation of innocence, especially among my relatives.

Fourth Prayer: The Crowning of Thorns

Pray 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, then:

Eternal Father, through Mary's unblemished hands and the Divine Heart of Jesus, I offer You the Wounds, the Pains, and the Precious Blood of Jesus' Holy Head from the Crowning with Thorns as atonement for my and all of humanity's sins of the Spirit, as protection against such sins and the spreading of Christ's kingdom here on earth.

Fifth Prayer: The Carrying of the Cross

Pray 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, then:

Eternal Father, through Mary's unblemished hands and the Divine Heart of Jesus, I offer You the Sufferings on the way of the Cross, especially His Holy Wound on His Shoulder and its Precious Blood as atonement for my and all of humanity's rebellion against the Cross, every grumbling against Your Holy Arrangements and all other sins of the tongue, as protection against such sins and for true love of the Cross.

Sixth Prayer: The Crucifixion

Pray 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, then:

Eternal Father, through Mary's unblemished hands and the Divine Heart of Jesus, I offer You Your Son on the Cross, His Nailing and Raising, His Wounds on the Hands and Feet and the three streams of His Precious Blood that poured forth from these for us, His extreme tortures of the Body and Soul, His precious Death and its non-bleeding Renewal in all Holy Masses on earth as atonement for all wounds against vows and regulations within the Orders, as reparation for my and all of the world's sins, for the sick and the dying, for all holy priests and laymen, for the Holy Father's intentions toward the restoration of Christian families, for the strengthening of Faith, for our country and unity among all nations in Christ and His Church, as well as for the Diaspora.

Seventh Prayer: The Piercing of Jesus' Side

Pray 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, then:

Eternal Father, accept as worthy, for the needs of the Holy Church and as atonement for the sins of all Mankind, the Precious Blood and Water which poured forth from the Wound of Jesus' Divine Heart. Be gracious and merciful toward us. Blood of Christ, the last precious content of His Holy Heart, wash me of all my and others' guilt of sin! Water from the Side of Christ, wash me clean of all punishments for sin and extinguish the flames of Purgatory for me and for all the Poor Souls. Amen.

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Feast of St. Bridget