Rosary Coast to Coast event to unite Catholics from across North America, 50 countries worldwide
DETROIT — Metro Detroit Catholics plan to gather at 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 13, along the Riverwalk at the Detroit Renaissance Center to pray the rosary while their Canadian neighbors pray within eyesight at the Bert Weeks Memorial Gardens in Windsor.
The twin prayer gatherings are part of the second annual Rosary Coast to Coast, a series of rosary prayer rallies happening simultaneously across North America and in 50 countries worldwide.
“Prayer changes things for the positive, and we’re excited to help our nation through the power of the rosary,” said Leonard St. Pierre, president of the World Apostolate of Fatima’s Detroit Archdiocesan Division, which co-sponsors Detroit’s event. “Uniting with people from across America and around the world to pray at exactly the same time will be an amazing and impactful experience.”
The Detroit and Windsor coordinators have exchanged large national flags, which will be visible from either side of the river during the rally. Both countries’ participants plan to wave the flags in a sign of unity before they begin praying the rosary. The event will kick off with the U.S. side singing “God Bless America” as their Canadian counterparts sing “O Canada.”
In addition to the Detroit and Windsor locations, rosary rallies will take place along U.S. coasts and borders, in front of state capitols and other public buildings, in parks, on beaches, along busy streets as well as inside and outside churches and shrines. In 2018, the first annual Rosary Coast to Coast resulted in more than 1,200 simultaneous rallies held across the U.S., in addition to rallies in more than 50 participating countries.
Catholic groups from across America are registered to participate, with a large-scale event scheduled in front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
“Praying the rosary is a tremendous way for families to pray together and for people to gather in prayer as a public witness to our faith,” said Fr. Stephen Pullis, director of the Archdiocese of Detroit's Department of Evangelization, Catechesis and Schools. “The rosary rally brings together many faithful Catholics in the Archdiocese of Detroit, reminding our Church and community that Jesus is at the center of our lives and his Mother, Mary, is a powerful intercessor, guide and friend to all the faithful.”
John Azzopardi, Windsor’s event captain, echoed Fr. Pullis’ prayer.
“We’re blessed to live on a peaceful border between our two countries and to share such a strong friendship between our nations,” Azzopardi said. “We’re happy to be joining our American neighbors in Detroit, and it will be exciting to physically see them as we pray for continued peace on our border and for peace throughout the world.”
The rosary rally falls on the feast of Our Lady of the Fatima, who in 1917 appeared to three shepherd children and encouraged them to pray the rosary daily for world peace.
Rosaries and miniature American flags will be offered free to the first 300 people who arrive at the Detroit event. Those who cannot attend a rally are encouraged to unite in spirit with participants worldwide, by praying the rosary at 4 p.m. wherever they can. For more information on how to participate in Rosary Coast to Coast, call (313) 320-7887.
