ROCKFORD—The 30th annual International Living Rosary was held on Aug. 11 at St. Anthony of Padua Parish, here.

 

The event was sponsored by the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (DCCW) and was hosted by the St. Anthony Altar and Rosary Society. 

 

Those attending participated as “living beads” and took turns praying the Hail Mary in English, Spanish, Italian, Irish, Polish, German, French, Ukrainian, Scottish and Russian. 

 

About 150 people of all ages from around the Rockford Diocese attended the event.

 

Susan Delia, DCCW registration chairperson for the rosary committee stressed the importance of the event following recent national tragedies. 

 

“I think a lot of people attending this International Living Rosary are praying for peace,” Delia said. “In light of the recent mass shootings in Dayton (Ohio) and El Paso (Texas), I think everyone is praying for the victims, their families and that we would have a stronger sense of kindness and civility in our nation.”

 

Delia also said that she would  like to see more participation from the younger generation in the International Living Rosary to “... keep them involved in the Church and to keep this tradition going.”

 

Sharon Schindler, vice president of the Rockford Deanery DCCW, said that having the International Living Rosary “... draws people closer together as the rosary is prayed in different languages. 

 

“I think people are praying for their families and for those who have fallen away from Catholicism,” she added. “This event helps to unite our different cultures in our shared Catholic faith.”