Children's Rosary Receives Tax Exempt Status

We are very excited to share that the United States Federal Government has approved our application for tax exempt status.  The Children’s Rosary is now a 501 c 3 tax exempt organization.  Our application was approved in August 2015.  

We are very grateful to receive this designation.  As the Children’s Rosary continues to grow, the demands also continue to grow.  Donations to the Children’s Rosary help to support the spread of the Children’s Rosary both within the United States but also to all corners of the globe.  Many individuals reach out to us hoping to begin groups but do not have the resources to purchase materials such as our Children’s book, our CD with our theme song and the Rosaries needed for the children.  As more and more of these requests come in both from within the United States as well as from other countries such as the Philippines, Ghana, Pakistan, and Kenya the need for donations grows.  The two groups pictured above were both able to form as a result of donations. We have also made our materials available free of charge to the Xavier Society for the Blind.  They in turn provide the materials free of charge to blind individuals that request them. 

A donation of $25.00 helps us share enough materials for a new small Children’s Rosary group to form in the United States.

A donation of $50.00 helps us send enough materials for a small Children’s Rosary group to begin in a foreign country.  

The children are involved in every part of the
Children's Rosary.
They pack and carry all packages to the post office for
destinations around the world.

As requests internationally are usually for large groups, $100.00 allows us to send enough materials for 75 Children to have enough materials to begin a group and each child to have a Rosary.

Smaller donations of 5-$20.00 allow us to put together a missionary package to hand deliver to a person traveling to a distant area of the world to help begin Children’s Rosary groups.

How to help

Donations can be made out to Children’s Rosary Inc and mailed to:

Children’s Rosary 

PO Box 271743

West Hartford, CT 06127 USA

Electronic Donations can be made below

We Took You With Us to the Papal Mass

Today concludes the stories and reflections from our trip to the World Meeting of Families and Papal visit in Philadelphia.This week we have been sharing little stories from our days at the meetings where we represented the Children's Rosary.  Nine children helped answer questions and provide information at our Children's Rosary booth at the World Meeting of Families.  

I have also shared in the past that as founder of the Children's Rosary, I rarely travel due to a genetic disability with my joints.  Even slight bumps can cause joint dislocations due to a defect in my collagen. Crowds are extremely dangerous for me and as I need assistance for most thinks I tend to stay close to home.  Yet when the location of the 2015 World Meeting of families was released and it was less than four hours from our home by car I took such an opportunity to prayer.  In finding courage welling in my heart we took the leap and decided to go.  Many times I humbly asked for your prayers and also humbly asked Our Blessed Mother to be the Travel Agent for our Children's Rosary team that was going.  

Taking this week to reflect on all that happened I can see that each detail was carefully put in place. No severe injuries took place and despite large crowds on the final day for the outside Papal Mass we were all safe.  

There was a feeling early on in the day Sunday that we should retreat to a more backward position and let others go more forward of us.  We found a shady place under a tree along the parkway.  We were told many times that being outside the center area we might not receive communion during Mass.  Yet there was a peaceful feeling over toward the side and further back and a confidence we would be provided for in all ways.  For most the day the flux of people was steady but not overwhelming.  Most people were all going forward of us and we were safely positioned off to the side in the shade.  Yet about two hours before the Mass the crowd got thicker and the sidewalk in front of us started to get filled in with chairs of people lining the parkway.  As the walkway disappeared pilgrims began stepping over and around us on the grass.  One of my sons who had fallen asleep on the ground narrowly missed some rapid feet that passed over his head but still we were all unharmed.  Then the sound of sirens began and people jumped to their feet.  The mass of people moved toward the fence lining the parkway.  Pope Francis was coming.  We looked to the jumbotrons to see what was happening.  We could see him moving through the parkway periodically stopping to hold and kiss a child.  

Knotted Grotto

Then the open car stopped in front of the Basilica.  Pope Francis emerged.  He was going to the Knotted Grotto where intentions had been placed in honor of his visit.  A place that we had visited and tied an intention for all the members of the Children's Rosary and all the intentions of the members of the Children's Rosary.  To see Pope Francis go into the grotto presumably to pray and bless all the thousands of intentions tied in the spirit of Our Lady Undoer of Knots, moved my heart deeply.  Moments later Pope Francis was once again moving briskly down the parkway.  

As he drove by our area my too sons were balancing on chairs holding on to a tree hoping to catch a glimpse.  I was further back with maybe one of the best views as it turned out.  As the Pope moved by the crowd turned and began to run with him.  This was the first time I became scared and the kids ran to protect me.  As he moved further away things became more calm again.  Mass followed.  In the middle of Mass a feeling took hold of my heart.  A deep desire to receive the Blessed Sacrament.  The thought kept gnawing at my heart that with so many people how could we receive communion so far back and way off to the side.  Yet I pushed these thoughts quickly away and began to again pray with all my heart.  A man came up to us and told us that his group had to leave to catch a plane and they would be vacating their first row position along the parkway and did we want to move into their place.  We quietly filed into their place as they left. This was shortly before communion time.  Again I found myself deep in prayer asking for communion.  Thinking of the multiplication of the loaves and the fishes.  Holding on with complete confidence that indeed there would be plenty and actually an abundance.  I prayed with the confidence of a child in her heavenly Father.  


When I opened my eyes there were individuals walking down the clear parkway with escorts holding umbrellas with the Papal flag.  The individuals were priests and deacons carrying the Blessed Sacrament.  One man walked right where we were standing.  He began giving out communion. I may have been the 10th person to receive communion faster than most Sunday Masses back home.  All the people around us including our group were able to receive communion in a very peaceful way.  Having received the Blessed Sacrament I went back to the area we originally had occupied.  Unable to kneel with my joint problems I prayed sitting on the folding chair we had brought.  It was at this time that I began to beg and plead with Our Lord for grace reminding Him that this was the World Meeting of Families and we were all there with Our Holy Father.  I was like a beggar not relenting in my prayers for all the families of the Children's Rosary.  Asking and pleading for grace to be poured into them.  Normally I do not like to share pictures of myself but one of my family members snapped a picture during this time in prayer.  I am including it as it represents the place where all of you were at the Papal Mass.  You were all in my heart.  I was praying for each one of you and your families.  

Again I thank you for all of your prayers.  Each part of the week beautifully unfolded and throughout which you all were remembered in prayer. 

If you missed some of the other posts from this week which chronicled the visit to the World Meeting of Families links are included below:
Knotted Grotto in Honor of Pope Francis' Visit
Rainbow At the Papal Mass
"What About You?"
Nothing is Impossible With God

Mass Offered Today for Renewal of Family Prayer

Children's Rosary in Sandgate, Queensland
Australia

A Mass was offered today for Renewal of Family Prayer. In a special way the Children's Rosary has been praying 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." 

Other Posts You May Enjoy:
How to Start a Children's Rosary
Hear from the Children
What will be my reward?

Month of the Rosary

The children cleaning the Church in
honor of the Month of the Rosary

May I share with you some good news.  In August a third Children's Rosary began in Pakstian at St. Peter Church in Musa Dughal.  This is a small poor Muslim town with some Christian families.  The organization of Churches in these rural areas is that Parishes have many smaller Churches that exist under the care of a Pastor in a larger more central Church.  Each smaller Church is visited by the priest as time allows.  In this case St. Peter's Church, it was often visited yearly around Chritmas time.  The Church had fallen under some disrepair and did not have a crucifix.  

Cleaning the Church

Babu Chand, father of 5 and the group leader for our other two Children's Rosary groups in Pakistan, introduced the Children's Rosary to this Church with the permission of the Pastor.  The children wanted to begin a group and the first meeting was held on August 9th 2015.  As the Church needed a great deal of work, the children set to helping to clean and paint the Church.  Flowers were brought in and the group leader even had a wooden cross made for the Church so as he said, "it would be more beautiful".  In many ways it felt like St. Francis at work in this Church.  The group at St. Peter's Church began small but more and more children wanted to be a part of it and now 36 children participate.

Two children who are part
of the Children's Rosary at
St. Peter's Church

The children were still on summer break when the Children's Rosary began in their Church.  Thus they were able to meet daily each afternoon at 2PM.  The group leader Babu Chand would travel by bike to the town each day.  As school has now started the group now often meets weekly or more frequently as time allows.  The group leader shared with me this week that, 
"As the month of October is declared the month of the Rosary, before starting this holy month we cleaned the church and then started the Rosary".  He sent along the pictures of the children sweeping and tidying everything up in the church in honor of this Holy Month of the Rosary.  Such a beautiful sweet gift that shows the respect and love the children have formed for the Rosary and their dear heavenly Mother and Father.  They take care of the Church as they see it as God's home which should be lovingly cared for and honored. The children also enjoy taking their rosaries in hand and going to visit poor families or those that are sick and praying with them.  The village people find great joy in these visits from the children and the Rosaries they give them to use in their families.

Good news came this week for the children.  The group leader shared that a special invitation has been extended to the children who are part of the Children's Rosary.  They have been asked to lead a Children's Rosary at 11AM local time on October 5th at a large regional event.  People will be attending from throughout the Province.  Children from the three Children's Rosary groups will be attending.  The children hope to share the Children's Rosary with more children from more distant towns and villages at this event.

In addition to the Children's Rosary groups in Pakistan we have many Children's Rosary groups meeting this month around the world.  A schedule of some of the groups meeting over the next several days is included below.  Please consider joining the children in prayer.  The children always pray for those unifying prayers with them.

Friday October 2nd (First Friday)
Children's Rosary at St. Joseph Church in Butanpura Pakistan 6AM local time
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 9AM CT
Children's Rosary at St. Mary's Church in Pine Bluff Wisconsin10 AM CT
Children's Rosary at St. Augustine Church in Iba Estate Lagos, Nigeria 1PM ET
Children's Rosary at St. Peter Church in Musa Dughal Pakistan 2PM local timeChildren's Rosary at St. Joseph Parish in Adrain, Michigan 5PM
Children's Rosary at St. Joseph Church in Butanpura Pakistan 9PM local 
Children's Rosary at St. Joseph Church in Ashraf Town Pakistan 6PM local time
Children's Rosary at St. Luke's Parish in Ogallala, Nebraska
Saturday October 3rd (First Saturday)
Children's Rosary in Cebu Philippines meets each Saturday.
Children's Rosary at St. Joseph Church in Butanpura Pakistan 6AM local time
Children's Rosary at St. Mary's Church in Corvallis, Oregon 9AM PT
Children's Rosary at St. Agnes Church in Naples FL 9:30 AM ET
Children's Rosary at Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in Sharon, MA 9:30 AM ET
Children's Rosary at Our Lady of LaSalette Parish in Sulphur, Louisiana 9:30 AM CT
Children's Rosary at S. Michael the Archangel Parish held in the Kibera Slum in Langatta Nairobi, Kenya to meet at 10 AM local time
Children's Rosary at St. Peter the Apostle Church in Rushden, Northants England 10 AM ET
Children's Rosary at Holy Family Parish in Syracuse, NY to meet at 10 AM ET at the Daughters of St. Mary Chapel
Children's Rosary at St. Bridget Church in Cheshire, CT 12:30 PM ET
Children's Rosary at St. Peter Church in Musa Dughal, Pakistan 2PM local time
Children's Rosary at Sacred Heart Church in Middleboro, MA 2PM ET
Children's Rosary at the Daughter's of Charity Convent Bridgeport CT 2PM ETChildren's Rosary at St. Gregory the Great Parish in Bristol, CT 2:15 PM ET 
Children's Rosary at Our Lady of Fatima Church in Tacloban City Philippines 3PM local timeChildren's Rosary at St. Thomas Becket Church in Cheshire, CT 3PM ET
Children's Rosary at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Waterbury, CT 3:30 PM ET
Children's Rosary at St. Peter's Church in Higganum, CT 4PM ET 
Children's Rosary at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception Natchitoches, Louisiana 4:30 ET 
Children's Rosary at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish Shrub Oak NY 4:45 PM ET
Children's Rosary at our Lady of Fatima Parish in Hartford, CT 5PM ET
Children's Rosary at St. Edward the Confessor Church in Richmond, Virginia 4PM
Children's Rosary at Mary Queen of the Universe Parish Comstock, TX 5:15 CT
Children's Rosary at St. Joseph Church in Ashraf town Pakistan meets 6PM local time
Children's Rosary at Immaculate Conception Church in North Delta, British Columbia 4PM PSTSunday October 4th
Children's Rosary at St. Joseph Church in Butanpura Pakistan 6 AM local time
Children's Rosary at Our Lady and St. Patrick Church in Nottingham, England 9AM local time
Children's Rosary at Bl. Mother Teresa of Calcutta Parish in Nairobi, Kenya 6AM ET
Children's Rosary at St Thomas Church in Thomaston, CT 11 AM ET
Children's Rosary at Holy Trinity Church in Harlan, Kentucky 11:30 AM
Children's Rosary at St. Augustine Church in Iba Estate Lagos, Nigeria 1PM ET
Children's Rosary at St. Bernard Church in Mount Lebanon, PA at 2PM ET
Children's Rosary at St. Peter's Church in Musa Dughal Pakistan 2PM local time
Children's Rosary at the Daughter's of Charity Convent in Bridgeport CT 2PM ET
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 St. Joseph Church in Ashraf Town Pakistan 6PM local time
Monday October 5th
Children's Rosary at St. Joseph Church in Butanpura Pakistan 6AM local time
Children's Rosary at St. Joesph Church in Wakefield MA 9:30 AM ET
Children's Rosary at Our Lady of Grace Home for Children in Meru, Kenya at 10 AM ET

Children's Rosary Pakistan 11AM local time (Meeting of regional groups)
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 Ave Maria Quasi-Parish in Ave Maria Florida 4PM ET

Children's Rosary at Holy Family Church in Gladstone Michigan 4:30 PM ET
Children's Rosary at St. John the Evangelist Church in Mahopac New York 4:30 PM ET
Children's Rosary at Rose of Mystica House in Edmeston, NY 4:40 PM ET
Children's Rosary at Our Lady of Victory Crestview, Floriday 6PM CT
Children's Rosary at St. Joseph Church in Ashraf town in Pakistan 6PM local time

Other Posts You May Enjoy:
How to Start the Children's Rosary
Children's Rosary Book
Children's Rosary Song Video

"If You Forgive Someone You Can Become a Saint"

A picture taken of the truck which transports the body of
St. Maria Goretti

This week we have been sharing stories from our trip to the World Meeting of Families(WMOF) where 9 children and 4 adults represented the Children's Rosary.  The children helped answer questions about the Children's Rosary at our informational booth at the WMOF.  In between our time in the convention center at the booth we had an opportunity to see the tour of the major relics of St. Maria Goretti.  The incorrupt body of St. Maria Goretti was displayed at St. John the Evangelist Church in Philadelphia.  This was a wonderful highlight as my daughter Alina had been doing reading about this saint and had made a compilation of drawings and quotes about her life (pictures on the right).  Alina's younger brother on the way to the relic tour asked her about St. Maria Goretti.  She told him "if you forgive someone you can become a saint".  A very sweet summary of Maria Goretti through the eyes of a child.

Indeed the life of Maria Goretti is a wonderful witness of the fruits and beauty that comes through forgiveness.  Another path full of more suffering could have unfolded if Maria had not forgiven the individual responsible for her fatal wounds.  

While sitting in prayer before the relics for several hours, a documentary played in the background.  I was not aware of the fact that Maria's mother was unable to go to her funeral as that was one of the last days she could spend with her remaining 5 children.  Since Maria's mother was already a widow with little means, the loss of Maria was the tipping point by which she no longer could support her children.  Thus she had to give them all up for adoption.  So the death of Maria also meant the loss of all the Goretti children for her mother.  Yet years later when the individual responsible for so much pain stood on her doorstep asking for forgiveness Maria's mother not only forgave the man but also took him into her home as her son.  Indeed Maria's witness served as a bright light for so many even her mother.  Maria was just 11 years old at her death and for many children she represents a wonderful example of purity and forgiveness. At Maria's Canonization her mother was able to attend.  This was the first time a parent was able to attend the canonization of a saint.

Recently the Vatican announced that a plenary indulgence under the normal conditions would be granted to all those who go and venerate St. Maria Goretti during the September-November Tour. 

Please know that in a special way you were all remembered in prayer during veneration of the relics of St. Maria Goretti. In a special way I prayed for a protection of the purity of the children who are part of the Children's Rosary and the grace of forgiveness for all the members of the Children's Rosary.

Other posts you may enjoy:
How to Start a Children's Rosary
Pure Joy Comes from the Lord
Here is what Parents, Clergymen and Children are Saying about the Children's Rosary

Nothing is Impossible with God

Icon from the World Meeting of Families displayed at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Philadelphia USA

This week we have been sharing experiences and stories from the World Meeting of Families(WMOFs) last week.  Members of the Children's Rosary attended the meeting and held a Children's Rosary informational booth at the the World Meeting of Families.  We also stayed for the Papal Mass.

May I humbly share a wonderful experience from the Meeting.  Our family arrived in Philadelphia on Sunday September 20th.  We went to evening Mass at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul.  At the conclusion of Mass there was a procession with the Blessed Sacrament and the initiation of Perpetual Adoration.  This would last until Thursday evening as a special opportunity for pilgrims visiting for the meeting to have extra time to spend in prayer with Our Lord.  This was a beautiful blessing for our family.  Monday we set up our Children's Rosary booth and then went to Adoration.  While praying a thought came to mind: let Our Lord do the introductions.  I then took out a small amount of our new Children's Rosary bookmarks we had brought to share at the booth.  I went to the back of the chapel and asked if some Children's Rosary bookmarks could be left for visitors to take as they came into Adoration.  The women coordinating Adoration immediately said, yes!  I went back to praying and happened to look up periodically to see people carrying a bookmark as they made their way to a pew.  When my daughter Alina and I left, we went back to the Convention hall to get more bookmarks.  When we returned to Adoration about 45 minutes later all the bookmarks were gone and the kind women shared that there had been requests for more.  Excitedly we put out more bookmarks and left her a sizable supply of replenishment.  

There was so much joy in knowing that it would be in prayer that people would first see information about the Children's Rosary.  Indeed it would be Our Lord who would make the introduction to their hearts.  The following day at the booth a women approached and mentioned that she had seen our bookmarks at the Basilica but they were out of them.  Excited and surprised Alina took more bookmarks and went over to Adoration.  Some time later she returned saying that the women in charge said that we could no longer put out bookmarks as permission needed to be granted by the Rector of the Basilica.  Alina had gone over to the Rectory to look for the Rector but they had told her that he would be occupied all week with the WMOFs and Papal visit and to try back next week.  

Hoping that maybe there was some confusion I headed over to the Basilica accompanied by a friend who is a priest.  We first went and prayed in front of the Blessed Sacrament.  As Mass back at the Convention was approaching I made my way to the back of the chapel and asked permission to put out more bookmarks.  The same women from the prior night reiterated what my daughter had told me.  There was some disappointment in my heart as it seemed almost impossible we should be able to get permission with so much happening that week.  We left the chapel but at the last moment Father asked to see inside the main Basilica as he had not seen it before.  We entered for just a quick peek but upon entering I remembered the special visiting relic of St. John Paul II and brought Father over to it.  Next to the first class relic of St. John Paul II were also relics of the parents of St. Therese the Little Flower.  Father knelt down to pray.  It was then that I noticed a priest near the relics.  I remembered him from Mass Sunday evening.  He was not the Rector but seemed to be in charge of organizing the flow of events that day.  The priest identified himself as the Parochial Vicar for the Basilica.  Upon showing him our Children's Rosary book with an Imprimatur and the bookmarks,  he quickly said he could give permission to put these out.  He went directly over to the Adoration Chapel and told all those coordinating Adoration that permission had been granted to put out our Children's Rosary bookmarks.  He also asked that they be put at all entrances and exits.  I was left speechless.  Our Lord had done what seemed impossible.  The bookmarks remained out at the Adoration Chapel all week.  Over two thousand were taken by visitors. Indeed "nothing is impossible with God"(Luke 1:37).

Other Posts You May Enjoy:
How to Start a Children's Rosary
With These Beads We are Building a World of Peace and Love
Children's Rosary Book

Mass Offered for Seminarians

On this beautiful Feast of St. Therese Lisieux, a Mass was offered 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. 

For the upcoming year this monthly Mass for seminarians has been sponsored by the Children's Rosary held at Sacred Heart Church in Middleboro, Massachusetts (pictured left).  We are very grateful to this group for such an important gift.
The Mass today was celebrated at Sts. Martha and Mary Church in Lakeville, Massachusetts USA.




Other Posts You May Enjoy:
Unexpected Meeting of St. Therese
First Class Relic of St. Therese
How To Start a Children's Rosary