By Amanda Murthy
Australia will be involved in the Global Rosary this 13 October with the intentions of praying for protection of the country’s and its people, priests and religious, sanctity of life and marriage, the consecration of the country to the Immaculate Heart Of Mary and for the country to live out its calling as the Great South Land of the Holy Spirit.
With the focus being the Eucharist and rosary, coordinators are being asked to work with their parishes and priest for this event to organise Eucharistic Processions, Adoration, and Rosary recitation.
The worldwide global rosary will pray for world peace and reparation for the world, as well as each country will have its own specific intentions. Australia’s participation is under the spiritual guidance of Bishop David Cremin.
Some countries are conducting a 40-hour Adoration leading up to 13 October, but people are encouraged to do whatever is possible in their parish as a sign of solidarity with the millions of other people participating across the globe.
The Global Rosary movement began in 2017, when all the Polish Bishops gathered to re-consecrate their country to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. This initiative resulted in over two million faithful accompanying their priests and bishops to the borders of the country to pray the rosary for its protection.
Ireland followed suite with more than 280 locations around their coast, with priests and laity leading their people to beaches and cliffs to pray.
England’s bishops then led their people to over 400 coastal locations to do the same.
The United States of America then followed suite with more than 1200 locations in their country as part of the “Coast to Coast” Global Rosary.
Last May, Australia followed in their footsteps and “Oz Rosary” had more than 250 locations at beaches, parks, mountains, and churches with people of faith congregating to recite the rosary.
Five months later in October, more than 57 countries participated in the Global Rosary across the world from Africa to the Middle East and the Pacific. Catholics all over the world met (some in secret due to religious persecution and danger) to pray for protection and to pray in solidarity with others.
Catholic schools also played their part with participation from over 100 schools in 200 locations in all states of Australia on 7 October 2018. This year, the schools will again unite in prayer with a rosary event on 14 October or 27 September (dates to vary due to school vacation dates differing in various states).
If you would like to register your parish or prayer group, then email: ozrosary53@gmail.com, contact via the website at: ozrosary.wixsite.com/ozrosary53 or call 0476535595.
To sign the petition for the consecrate of Australia to the Immaculate Heart Of Mary, go to: change.org. There are also printed copies available for local parishes to sign.