Australia To Pray A National Rosary
BY JOHN MCLAURIN
AUSTRALIA will follow other countries in saying a nationally recognised Rosary this month.
More than 100 locations including parishes, schools and prayer groups, have already signed on to the nation’s May 13 prayer effort which is titled #OzRosary53.
The campaign has been initiated and organised by a group in Sydney which includes former Sacred Heart Cootamundra teacher, Jane Chifley.
“The fifty-three signals the 53 Hail Mary’s which are said during the Rosary,” she said.
“The hashtag makes the campaign popular via its social media networks.”
The initiative is under the patronage of Bishop Emeritus David Cremin and will see Australia join Poland, England, Ireland and France in praying for the welfare of the country.
Over one million Catholics recently gathered around the borders of Poland to pray the Rosary for protection of their country.
Italy and France followed suite then Ireland with over 280 locations praying around their coastlines.
The UK Rosary was held on April 29 with more than 300 locations.
Many priests and bishops supported the event by leading the people in prayer to local beaches, cliffs, boat piers, and coastal areas.
Pope Francis has already given an apostolic blessing to this initiative, which is being called ‘The Coast to Coast Rosary’.
Some prayer groups and parishes in the Archdiocese have already signed up to the Australian campaign.
O’Connor Parish Priest, Fr Paul Nulley and members of the local Legion of Mary conference will pray the Rosary at the top of Black Mountain in the ACT, while Moruya, Tathra, Temora, Grenfell and Gundagai are also taking part, as are parishes in the West Wyalong Mission.
Major centres like Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, all have multiple venues, while rural people from isolated properties are meeting with others on their farms to join in.
One group of young people are in the process of organising their prayers on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Other groups are organising prayer at mountains, parks, beaches and lookouts and photos on the day are strongly encouraged.
To join in praying for the protection of Australia, you can either initiate your own Rosary or join in a group already happening. Locations, contacts and registration details can be found at the website https://ozrosary.wixsite.com/ozrosary53 or go to the ‘Oz Rosary 53’ Facebook page.
The phone contact is 0476 535 595.
Archdiocesan parishes taking part in Oz Rosary #53
St Joseph’s Parish O’Connor Black Mountain, ACT May 13 at 11.15am The Parish
(02) 6247 5957
Sacred Heart Parish Moruya Moruya Heads Historic Cemetery May 13 at 12pm Rachel Glover (02) 4474 2024
St Patrick’s Parish Gundagai St Patrick’s Church Gundagai May 12 at 5.30pm Elizabeth Maher
(02) 6945 3220
St Mary’s Parish West Wyalong St Mary’s Church West Wyalong May 13 at 9.15am Fr Emil Milat
(02) 6972 3655
Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Lake Cargelligo Our Lady of Lourdes Church Lake Cargelligo May 12 at 6.45pm Fr Emil Milat (02) 6972 3655
St Joseph’s Parish Ungarie St Joseph’s Church Ungarie May 13 at 7.45am Fr Emil Milat
(02) 6972 3655
Sacred Heart Parish Temora Sacred Heart Church Temora May 12 at 5.30pm and May 13 at 9.30am.
St Joseph’s Parish Grenfell St Joseph’s Church Grenfell May 13 at 9am.