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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bishop Ssemogerere

Happy Feast of the Ugandan Martyrs! Today we wanted to release a new video which was filmed during our visit to Uganda last June. After a full day of visiting Children's Rosary groups in Luweero, Uganda we were blessed to be able to meet with Bishop Ssemogerere of Kasana-Luweero Diocese. We are grateful for Bishop Ssemogerere's support of the Children's Rosary. 

To watch the video click HERE

Come with Us in Prayer as We Journey to Africa

Dear Friends,
We share news of a very special trip that is planned. Monday, June 3rd, the Feast of the Ugandan Martyrs, we will leave for Africa. We will visit Children's Rosary groups in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda for almost a month, leaving Uganda on June 29th, the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, arriving in the US on June 30th. We humbly write to ask for your prayers. As many of you know, I have a genetic disability affecting my joints. These last days and weeks in preparation for this trip I feel Our Lady has obtained graces in a special way that I might fully appreciate how fragile I am. There has been been illness and many new injuries. This has made it crystal clear that of my own strength I could not go on this trip. It will only be through the grace of God. 

Fr. Jude, whom we will be visiting in Uganda, said it beautifully, "We need to say a novena....remember we have to plan with Our Lord."  Thus we share this novena with hopes many will join us. 

30 day novena June 1st - June 30th. This is the intention:

May this trip being made by Blythe Kaufman and her family to Africa bear fruit that will remain. 

May they each remain in God’s love and may they travel carrying love to those they meet. 

May a mantle of protection cover them. 

May they be strengthened through grace to do the will of God and seek in all things to glorify God.

May the Holy Spirit be with them and guide them.

May this trip help to spread the Children’s Rosary throughout Africa and the world. Amen. 

Please say this intention along with the following prayers 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, 1 Glory Be

While we have included three prayers to be said daily with the intention, we invite individuals and groups to pray as much as you can with this novena. We will need it. Know that we are carrying you spiritually with us. Visit the Children's Rosary blog to follow along with the trip: www.childrensrosary.blogspot.com. In some of the regions we will visit in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda there may be no internet so expect a more complete report when we return. 

Please note, if you start the novena late do not worry, each prayer has incredible value. 

Thank you!!!

Your Friend in Christ,

Blythe

Materials leave for Emmaus Catholic Mission Today!

Today a package was sent out to Emmaus Catholic Mission in Hola, Kenya. We received word from Fr. Nasamaka that he hopes to initiate a Children's Rosary there during the first weekend in Advent. He hopes to begin groups at St. Joseph Primary School and the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Emmaus. As Christmas approaches, it is exciting to imagine bringing these new Children's Rosary groups to the Baby Jesus.

We have a list of individuals in various parts of the world who want to begin groups but need materials. If you would like to sponsor a package many children would be very grateful.

Donations can be made electronically HERE.
Checks can also be made out to Children's Rosary and sent to:
Children's Rosary
PO Box 271743
West Hartford, CT 06127 USA

Thank you for your generosity and kindness.

"The children followed me needing rosaries ..."

During the Christmas holidays we sent a statue of Our Blessed Mother and the Baby Jesus for the Children's Rosary group in Entarara, Kenya.  The group there has grown from 50 children to 250 children.  An additional package of 30 Rosaries was sent.  Br. Cleophus relates that the statue was given to the children and 22 of the Rosaries. But eight Rosaries he kept to share with a church some distance from the group in Entarara. This remote Church, St. Michael Shartuka Catholic Church, is close to his home at least a days journey from the region of Rombo, Kenya. In this parish the children have never had exposure to the Rosary. Br. Cleophus was able to visit with them and share the eight rosaries he had remaining. (see picture above) They were very excited to receive them and expressed interest in beginning a Children's Rosary prayer group. As Br. Cleophus was leaving he relates, "the children followed me needing Rosaries but I did not have."  

Hearing of the children running after Br. Cleophus wanting a rosary of their own we were excited to recently put together another box for Br. Cleophus with even more Rosaries.  This time the package contains over 200 handmade rosaries. We are so grateful to those who lovingly make these Rosaries and donate them to the Children's Rosary.  We try to get each one into the hands of a child. We were also able to send some Children's Rosary books that explain how to begin a Children's Rosary prayer group as well as some Children's Rosary bookmarks.

We continue to invite people to unify prayers with the children when they meet in their prayer groups. The schedule of meetings is present on our website www.childrensrosary.org
The meetings are listed in your local time zone.  When a group is meeting it will show up as a blue flashing light on the View from Heaven map. You can hit the button "Join in Prayer" and become a gold blinking light. The Children's Rosary group in Entarara meets each Sunday. I hope you will consider joining them in prayer or one of our other Children's Rosary prayer groups meeting each day.

Other Posts you May Enjoy:
How to Start a Children's Rosary 
Satan's Most Worn Tool: Discouragement
Resources to Begin a Children's Rosary 

First Children's Rosary in Uganda!

We are excited to share that we have a new Children's Rosary group in Uganda.  They met for the first time yesterday at Our Lady of Fatima (Mwera) Parish in Kiyinda Mityana Diocese.  Approximately 40 children came together for the first meeting. Fr. Jude Ssali, pictured above with the children, shared that the new group was Consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary. In this way the group is under the protection and guidance of Christ and his Mother.

We are so excited to welcome this new Children's Rosary group from Uganda!

Other Posts You May Enjoy:
How to Start a Children's Rosary
"Where Sin Increased, Grace Overflowed All the More"
Theme Song for the Children's Rosary

Mass Offered On August 1st 2016 for Seminarians

A Mass will be offered tomorrow for all seminarians that they will grow in holiness and lead us all in love.  This is something the Children's Rosary does on the first of each month. As our seminarians will be the future shepherds and our children are the future flock it seemed a beautiful way for the children to help. 

The children pictured above are part of our new Children's Rosary in Olmapinu, Kenya. This group was begun by, Br. Cleophus, a seminarian in Kenya. Each group he has begun now has two group leaders and meets weekly.

14 New Children's Rosary Groups Form in Kenya!

We have received some wonderful news this week.  Br. Cleophus has shared that 14 new Children's Rosary groups have formed in the region of Rombo, Kenya.  This is a rural region near the border of Tanzania with many small outposts and communities.  The picture above was taken on June 12th 2016.  This is the new Children's Rosary group at St. Mathias Mulumba Maili Tatu.  

Please continue to keep Br. Cleophus in your prayers as he has been recovering from an infection in his spinal cord.  Despite this serious illness he continues to try to be present with the children when they meet to pray.  The meeting on June 12th pictured above  he attended after being discharged the prior day from the hospital.  

We hope in the coming weeks to continue to feature some of these new Children's Rosary groups that have formed in Kenya.

Other Posts You May Enjoy:
How to Start a Children's Rosary
Children's Rosary Book
Pure Joy Comes from the Lord

On the Shoulders of the Good Shepherd

Recently we were introduced to a Sister Mary who has begun an orphanage in Tanzania.  The orphanage is named after St. John Vianney.  Through a series of emails we shared with her the Children's Rosary prayer group movement.  Providentially she was visiting the United States and will be returning to Tanzania on April 30th.  

We have been praying for some time that a Children's Rosary might begin in Tanzania after meeting a missionary priest this past summer who spoke about the region.  Yet shipping materials to Tanzania is both difficult and expensive especially to more rural regions that do not have postal delivery.  Yet Our Lord would take care of every detail.  Through a series of beautiful threads woven together we are now in communication with a priest from Rombo, Tanzania and now Sr. Mary who lives in a nearby region. If you read our earlier post from yesterday you will recognize the name Rombo, Kenya.  The towns are neighbors separated by a national border.  The question of how to get materials to the priest in Rombo, Tanzania was resolved by our providential meeting of Sr. Mary who is returning to Tanzania in just over a week.  

With a unique moment of opportunity to bring Children's Rosary materials to the region of Tanzania we asked Sister Mary how many Rosaries she would need. She gave us a number.  At first we did not know if we had that many to send.  The children began counting.  Providentially several packages had arrived last week with Rosaries.  

As each new box was filled with Rosaries the children counted.  Three large boxes in total filled.  All the rosaries requested were all accounted for and when the final count came in the the goal was met plus twelve extra Rosaries.  The twelve extra Rosaries brought a smile to our faces.  Had the apostles been helping us as well?  Indeed we felt more than ever that Our Lord had been seeing to every detail.  We were on His shoulders and the tasks that lay before us had been arranged so that the children could fulfill the request.  Such a task might have seemed too big and with such short notice but the children were not alone... Our Lord was helping.  

On Saturday my husband read from the Bible to our children during family prayer.  The portion of the Bible we had reached that night was Psalm 92.  

"I shout for joy at your handiwork. 
How great are your words, O Lord, 
how very subtle your designs."  (Psalm 91: 5-6)

As we do each night we ask each person in the family to pick out the part of the reading they like.  Our youngest son Asher liked the portion I have included above and in particular the phrase, "How very subtle your designs".  He commented that to some God's designs may seem subtle or small but to another they may be big and very important.  The people who sent the Rosaries to us may not have known when they would be used.  Yet Our Lord through His designs and handiwork would allow everything to be present and ready when the request came.  Today we rejoice in the kindness of Our Lord who chooses to carry us on His shoulders when we are in need.

New Children's Rosary in Rombo, Kenya

Today we received some beautiful pictures from our new Children's Rosary group in Rombo, Kenya. This new group held their first meeting in March of 2016 at the St. Charles Lwanga Mission in Rombo.  We are very excited about the formation of this new group.  Efforts began to begin this group as early as October of 2015.  A seminarian named Br. Cleophus reached out to the Children's Rosary with hopes of beginning a group.  For months we prayed.  His initial effort was to begin a group in Mombasa, Kenya.  A small package was sent to help begin the group which included 20 Rosaries.  It took several months for Brother Cleophus to be able to obtain the package from the post office in Nairobi.  During that time, he was relocated to Rombo, Kenya.  This town is on the Tanzania border at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro.  The town also sits between two Wildlife parks which do not have fences so there are many large animals in the area.  The Maasai tribe also lives in this region.  

Mount Kilimanjaro
credit Wiki Commons

Brother Cleophus shared with us that Christianity is new to this area.

Good news came in March that the Children's Rosary group had formed and 100 children were attending.  He shared that the group is very strong!!  Meetings are held each Saturday at 3PM local time.  There was immediate need of more Rosaries and Children's Rosary materials with so many children attending.  Members of the Children's Rosary here in Connecticut USA set to work putting together a special package for the children in Rombo.  Two-hundred and twenty rosaries were counted and packaged along with a Children's Rosary CD, DVD and books.  We also included a donated picture of Our Lady.  The package is currently en route to Br. Cleophus and the children in Kenya.

It is difficult to receive packages in this rather remote region.  Brother Cleophus will have to travel a great distance to another region to receive the package.  There is great sacrifice but also great joy at seeing so many children coming together in prayer.  These children  join children in 12 countries around the world also meeting in their Children's Rosary prayer groups.  A special thank you to all those children and adults who handmade all the Rosaries that were sent.  We also thank those who provide donations to help meet the financial needs to send these materials and replenish our Children's Rosary books and materials. Thank you all.

Other Posts You May Enjoy:
How to Start a Children's Rosary
Hear from the Children
Help Support the Children's Rosary

First Children's Rosary in Zimbabwe

Last night we received these beautiful pictures of our new Children's Rosary group in Waterfalls, Harare Zimbabwe.  This group meets weekly on Saturday mornings at St. Fancis of Assisi Parish. The group meets at 9AM local time.  One can see all the beautiful flowers they have brought to place before Our Blessed Mother in this grotto.  They have mixed the flowers with pine cones and lit a candle while they pray. The children take turns leading using one of our Children's Rosary books.  
We were so blessed to meet the pastor of this parish and some of his parishioners at the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia USA.  To receive the first pictures of this new group only days before Christmas seems a very special gift from Our Lord.

Other Posts You May Enjoy:
How to Start a Children's Rosary
Children's Rosary Music Video
Teenagers..Yes You Can Help Too!

Children's Rosary in Nairobi Welcomes Pope Francis with Their Prayers

Children's Rosary at Assumption Parish Nairobi

Shortly after Pope Francis' visit to the United States an email came from one of our Children's Rosary groups in Nairobi.  The group leader shared that the children in her group at Bl. Mother Teresa of Calcutta Parish in Nairobi, Kenya were preparing for Pope Francis' visit to Nairobi.  This was the first I had heard of Our Holy Father's Visit to Africa as little was being reported about it.  Yet the people in Kenya had received the news and the little hearts of the children were dancing.  

The group leader shared that the children were preparing something special for Pope Francis and were waiting to hear if they had been selected to personally welcome him.  Weeks went by as the children waited and continued their preparations.  Finally the word came that they were not selected to meet the Holy Father as he would be visiting some children in the Kangemi slum.  The children although disappointed were very happy for the children in Kangemi.  

Children's Rosary in Kibera Slum

Thinking about the many children in the Children's Rosary groups in Nairobi both the children at Bl. Mother Teresa of Calcutta parish but also the children at Holy Trinity Parish, Assumption Parish and the children who meet in the Kibera Slum a wonderful little thought came.  It was a gentle, joyful thought.  The little children in these groups throughout Nairobi have been praying and meeting in their little Children's Rosary prayer groups for a coupe of years.  They have been praying for Our Holy Father.  

It is beautiful to see that after so many prayers from these little ones that they would be graced by a visit of Our Holy Father to their city.  To have the Holy Father come and bless your homeland is a special grace indeed.  These children after so many times coming together with Rosaries in hand on their knees will have Our Holy Father visiting in less than 24 hours! 

While the children will not be welcoming Pope Francis in person their prayers welcome him.

Other Posts You May Enjoy:
How to Start a Children's Rosary
Children's Rosary Theme Song Video
We Took You with Us to the Papal Mass

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.

Other Posts You My Enjoy:
Help the Children's Rosary Keep Spreading
How to Start a Children's Rosary

Little Angels

Children's Rosary, St. Michael the Archangel Parish

Recently one of our Children's Rosary group leaders from British Columbia Canada, Inez,  traveled to Kenya for the summer with her husband, daughter and niece.  Her goal was to help spread Children's Rosary groups throughout the area.  Earlier we shared the first group that began as a result of her trip at Our Lady of Grace Home for Children.  The second group to begin was in the Parish of St. Michael the Archangel in Langatta Nairobi, Kenya.  This group met for the first time on August 18th 2014 and was Consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary.  In this way the group is under the protection and guidance of Christ and His Mother.

This new group now meets weekly on Saturday mornings at 10AM in a small building within the Kibera slums.(While I was hesitant to call the meeting location, the Kibera slums, Inez confirmed that this is the name of the region and is the term all the local people use freely). The group rents a small room, in the building pictured behind the children, each Saturday morning to have a place for the children to meet. The black drum in the left side of the picture is a water tank where these children and their families come to buy clean water which comes at a precious price to them.

This group consists of approximately 70 children ages 1 to 14 years old. Some of the littlest ones are in the front row, a few in their pajamas. A wonderful religious sister is leading this Children's Rosary group. Inez shared that when she was speaking to the children about Our Blessed Mother and the beauty of the Rosary "they sat at full attention soaking up every word! The longing of the children in Africa for the word of God is astounding!"

Inez shared, "it is my hope and prayer that Our Lady will make this place her home and keep all the children safe and happy".  Inez was able to provide some funds for the group to buy a statue of Our Lady as they did not have one. "It is important to plant Mother Mary right in the slums so she can watch over them, and protect them from harm and danger." 

Looking at these little ones they look like little angels.  It seems so fitting that they attend the Church of St. Michael the Archangel.  With the Feast of the Archangels Monday, in a special we pray that the Archangels and all the choirs of angels will protect this group and all our Children's Rosary groups and members.  We were blessed today to have another Children's Rosary group meet in a Parish named after St. Michael the Archangel.  This group is in Garden City, South Carolina USA.  Yet despite a great distance separating these children there is a unity in the beauty of children and the power of prayer. 

Thank you all who help to spread the Children's Rosary.  For more information about beginning a Children's Rosary group click HERE.

Celebrating Our Lady's Feast in Nigeria

The Children's Rosary in Lagos, Nigeria spent weeks in preparation for the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  They practiced songs, dance and drama in addition to their daily meeting for the Children's Rosary which they do every day at 6PM their local time. 

Dance

Yesterday the group leader sent along pictures from their celebration.  The drama was about children and the Rosary.  One of scenarios was about a girl who was sick and when the children brought a priest and prayed she felt better.  Simple messages the children understand and live everyday in their lives.  Prayer is woven into their joys and sorrows and so such plays are very natural to them.  It is beautiful to see such excitement among the children to both gather to pray and then to express their love for their Heavenly Mother through song, dance and even a birthday cake at the end of the evening.

Children's Drama

How Can Our Lord Say No to the Prayers of These Little Ones?

Today we received a wonderful gift.  Pictures from our Children's Rosary group leader from British Columbia, Canada.  She recently spent her summer with her husband, daughter and niece in Kenya.  Her mission for the trip was to help spread the Children's Rosary Prayer Group Movement throughout Kenya. In the coming weeks I wish to share some of the beautiful stories which are coming from this incredible trip.

Her first two weeks were spent with 200 orphans living in Our Lady of Grace Home for Children.  The orphanage sits close to the foot of Mount Kenya, a lush region surrounded by mountains and rolling tea plantations. 

The faith among the children in this orphanage is very strong.  Some of the children wear Rosaries around their necks every day.  Having adopted 2 children from an orphanage I am aware that most everything is communal and it does not surprise me that the children would keep on their person something as special as their Rosaries.  

After Inez met with the children and spoke to them about Our Lady and the Children's Rosary prayer group movement the children decided indeed they wanted to have a group of their own.  A Children's Rosary was Consecrated at the orphanage to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary.  In this way the group is under the protection and guidance of Christ and His Mother.  The children have chosen to meet weekly on Mondays.  

The children at Our Lady of Grace Home have such a deep faith and love of the Rosary and Our Lady that many of the children say a Rosary as they fall asleep.

In thinking about these little ones and their prayers it is easy to imagine that they float swiftly to the Throne of God.  For such prayers of these tiny ones said with such love must indeed bring down a great flood of graces for our world.

It brings much hope and joy to contemplate such prayers of our children, for how can Our Lord Say no to souls such as these?