Rosary a ‘beautiful expression of faith and power of prayer’
By Wendy Shaw
The Rosary reminds us to ‘turn our hearts towards Jesus through the loving intercession of His mother’.
The importance of prayers for peace, uniting as a faith community, and continuing long-held traditions, joining others around the country and the world, were all motivations for those attending the Launceston Public Rosary event at the Church of the Apostles on 10 October.
It was part of an annual nationwide public Rosary rally, and a decade since the late Mary Siejka organised the first public Rosary in Launceston City Park which was held to coincide with the 99th anniversary of the apparitions of Fatima.
This year, Pope Leo urged Catholics to pray the Rosary for peace.
“I invite all the faithful and all Christian communities to pray the holy Rosary throughout the coming month of October, with the particular intention that wars may cease and that peace may be established among peoples in conflict,” he said during an Angelus address in Lourdes, according to a report from Catholic news site OSV.
“Let us accompany this prayer with concrete acts of penance and mercy, committing ourselves always to fostering dialogue and reconciliation.”
About 40 people attended the Launceston Rosary, where assistant priest Fr Vinco Muriyadan led prayers.
“In a world filled with uncertainty, conflict, anxiety and division, the Rosary reminds us to turn our hearts towards Jesus through the loving intercession of His mother,” Fr Vinco said.
“As we pray each Hail Mary we meditate on the mysteries of Christ’s life, death and resurrection. Our Rosary is … a beautiful expression of our faith and a sign of unity and witness to the power of prayer.
“By praying together in this church we also encourage others to rediscover the peace, hope and strength that come from God.
“So let us offer this Rosary for peace in our world, for unity of our families, for the Church, for the sick and suffering and for all those who are in need of God’s mercy.
“May Mary, our loving mother, lead us closer to her son Jesus Christ and help us to become instruments to His love and peace.”
This year’s chief organiser, parishioner Jan Williams, has a long devotion to the Rosary.
“I love the way it brings everyone together at a time of many troubles in the world,” she said.
“It is important to come together as a community, and it is a peaceful time.”
Parishioner Lorraine McNamara said praying the Rosary was ‘like holding the hand of Mary’ and the ladder of prayerful contemplation offers a ‘stairway to Heaven’.
“I think it is a powerful and a spiritual prayer that helps us really understand our Catholic faith,” she added.
“The mysteries we pray cover key events in the life of Jesus and Mary … It is something we pray as a family.”
Fellow parishioner Tina Ritchie also has a family tradition of praying the Rosary.
“I am from Holland and it is something we did when we came to Australia as a family,” she said.
“It is so powerful. Never under-estimate the power of prayer.”
The soloist was Laura Smith, accompanied by Nathan Meurant.
Parishes throughout the archdiocese held Rosary events in October.