Local and worldwide events highlight Marian causes

Intermountain Catholic

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SALT LAKE CITY — The Catholic Church has dedicated the month of October to the rosary and throughout the month various activities will take place worldwide in celebration. For example, on Oct. 4, Pope Benedict made a pastoral visit to the Marian shrine at Loreto, Italy and entrusted to the Blessed Virgin the Year of Faith, as well as the Synod of Bishops on the New Evangelization, which began Oct. 7 and will run through Oct. 28.

At the Mass in Loreto, Pope Benedict said in his homily that the Virgin Mary "placed her entire being at the disposal of God’s will," becoming a "‘living house’ for the Lord."

Oct. 7 also was the Feast of the Most Holy Rosary; at 1 p.m. throughout the Salt Lake Valley groups gathered to pray the rosary, joining others around the world for the respect of life from conception to natural death and to pray for peace. The events included the Immaculata ministry from Saint Mary Parish in West Haven holding a holy hour and people from the Diocese of Salt Lake City forming a Life Chain on State Street and 10600 South in Sandy. Also, Saint Ann parishioners prayed for peace and the religious education students at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Magna made rosaries in honor of Our Lady.

In a statement to mark Respect Life Month, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston and chairman of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities of the U.S. Conference of Catholics Bishops (USCCB) invited Catholics to "pray and reflect on how each of us might renew our commitment and witness to respect the human person," according to a Sept. 25 press release.

"By our unflinching defense of human life and religious freedom, by our witness to the transcendent nature of the human person, and by our compassionate service to our brothers and sisters in need, may we spark a renewal of love and commitment to the true good of others," Cardinal DiNardo said, and quoted the pope in his apostolic visit to Lebanon, "If we want peace, let us defend life."

In Sandy, members of the diocese formed a Life Chain, displaying pro-life posters and praying the rosary as they stood on all four corners of State Street and 10600 South on Oct. 7.

Tim Moore and his wife, Rachel, started the Life Chain eight years ago. "So many people have said how moving and personal the experience has been for them," Tim Moore said. "We continue this year after year because we never know what our impact will be. We never know how God and the Holy Spirit will use the seeds that are planted to bring about a change."

In West Haven, the Immaculata ministry at St. Mary Parish prayed the Sorrowful mysteries for the respect of life and incorporated reflections from the USCCB. "We also inserted pro-life reflections from Pope John Paul II such as, ‘Concern must be shown for the elderly, who are often neglected and left to defend for themselves,’ from his apostolic exhortation Ecclesia in America," said Donna Masek, Immaculata ministry leader. "We tie this holy hour in with our ministry as a consecration to Our Lady and also because Saint Maximilian Kolbe, our patron, gave up his life for another."

The International Rosary March at St. Ann Parish was timed to be prayed simultaneously with others around the world. "We held the International Rosary March to pray for peace internationally, peace in our home and peace in our hearts," said Father Michael Sciumbato, pastor.

"The Year of Faith is so important to the Legion of Mary because we are about evangelization and spreading the faith, and sometimes all it takes is a knock on someone’s door," said Roxanna McCusker, who headed the march for 17 years for the Legion of Mary.

The International Rosary March for Peace started 42 years ago, said Paul Yribar, St. Ann parishioner and 4th degree Knight of Columbus. "The march is so important because in reading the headlines we see there isn’t peace in the world."

Across the valley, Father Javier Virgen, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Magna, encouraged families to pray the rosary "so God can respond and bring peace to our souls, our families and our society," he said. "We are so blessed to have this tradition that must come alive again. It’s so important for the catechism classes to learn the importance of the rosary and prayer in general."

The OLOL confirmation class learned about the rosary to develop a relationship with Mary and Jesus and also assisted younger students in making bracelet rosaries for the Rosary Crusade they will host Oct. 13 at the church.

"Our Blessed Mother is pleased that you are promoting the message of the rosary, especially for our crusade next week when we will pray for peace in the world and in our families," Fr. Virgen told the students.

Ninth grader Aedan Warfield said through the rosary, "Mary brings us to Jesus so he can answer our prayers."

"Making the rosaries helped me feel faithful by expressing its power," said Monica Martinez, a 9th grader.