DETROIT — On Oct. 7, the feast of the Holy Rosary, during the month of the rosary, Catholics will link arms along the waterfront behind the Detroit Renaissance Center and pull out their beads to pray.

Across the river, on the Windsor side, Canadian Catholics will do the same.

They’ll be joined by thousands of others across North America, as Catholic prayer warriors of all stripes take up spiritual arms for the protection of their nation against the devil’s wiles.

The rallies will be the conclusion of a Novena for Our Nation, a 54-day rosary novena that began Aug. 15 and is being organized through the Holy League, a network of parish-based men’s groups devoted to the rosary and the Blessed Sacrament.

So far, hundreds of sites across North America have signed up to participate in the rally, which will take place at 4 p.m. Eastern time.

“We’re encouraging everyone to come out and join us and pray this special rosary for our nation,” said Leonard St. Pierre, president of the World Apostolate of Fatima, Detroit Archdiocesan Division, which is leading the local effort. “The fact that it falls on the feast of the Holy Rosary and that we will be praying together with others across the country and within eyesight of our Canadian neighbors praying on the Windsor side will make it even more impactful. Expect the graces to flow for our country.”

St. Pierre added the rosary will take place rain or shine, and those who can’t make it to the Riverwalk rosary are encouraged to participate wherever they are.

Many groups are organizing pilgrimages to the U.S. border or coastline for the occasion, which is designed to encircle the nation in Our Lady’s protection. Detroit, however, being a border city, doesn’t have to travel far.

“We are excited to pair with the World Apostolate of Fatima to wrap our region, our state, and our whole country in the Blessed Virgin Mary’s intercession,” said Fr. Stephen Pullis, director of evangelization, catechesis and schools for the Archdiocese of Detroit, which enlisted the Fatima apostolate’s help for the rally. “I believe great spiritual fruit for the renewal of southeast Michigan will come through Our Lady. As Archbishop Vigneron wrote in Unleash the Gospel, ‘Let us call upon her intercession that the Lord may bring about an unprecedented harvest in the Archdiocese of Detroit.’”

For more information about the rally, contact St. Pierre at (313) 320-7887 or visit rosarycoasttocoast.com.