Dear Parishioners:

The month of October is dedicated to the praying of the Rosary. The Rosary (from Latin rosarium, meaning "rose garden") or "garland of roses “is a popular and traditional catholic devotion.

How to Pray the Rosary - The purpose of the Rosary is to help keep in memory certain principal events or mysteries in the history of our salvation, and to thank and praise God for them. The prayers consist of repeated sequences of the Lord’s Prayer followed by ten recitations of the Hail Mary and a single praying of "Glory be to the father” each of these sequences is known as a decade. The praying of each decade is accompanied by meditation on one of the Mysteries of the Rosary, which recall the life of Jesus Christ. There are twenty mysteries reflected upon in the Rosary, and these are divided into the five Joyful Mysteries, the five Sorrowful Mysteries, the five Glorious Mysteries, and the five Luminous Mysteries.

The Pope has always had a great devotion to Mary and the rosary. During this month of October we pray the rosary many different times in our Church.

A couple years ago Pope John Paul II included new mysteries named the Luminous Mysteries, which reflect upon the public life of Jesus. Maybe you could also once this month gather with your families and pray the Rosary together as a sign of solidarity with our Pope. Perhaps you could also add the intention of all those who have fallen away from the practice of the faith, that they might be welcomed back home to the Church.

In a particular way as we pray the rosary we can also pray for religious liberty. This liberty is not only about our ability to go to Mass on Sunday or pray the Rosary at home. It is about whether we can make our contribution to the common good of all Americans. Can we do the good works our faith calls us to do, without having to compromise that very same faith?

Lastly this is also Pro-Life month let us continue to pray for all life from the unborn to those near death.

Blessings!

Msgr. John Shamleffer