Msgr Steve Rosetti Photos: All Ireland Rosary Rally
Last year, more than 10,000 people from every part of Ireland came to Knock to take part in the 40th All-Ireland Rosary Rally.
Many more thousands tuned in online or saw the talks on social media after the event. It was a powerful and prayerful day, bringing hope that the faith in Ireland is in renewal.
This year, the 41st All-Ireland Rosary Rally will take place on Saturday, June 6, and the organisers are hopeful of even greater numbers of pilgrims. Since last year’s Rally, they have been busy assembling an international panel of speakers and spreading the message as widely as possible.
Renewal
Fr Marius O’Reilly, speaking on behalf of the organising committee, expressed his deep thanks to those who attended and to everyone helping to make this year’s event a success. He is looking forward to what he says is a very important day, asking for intervention from Our Lady.
“This year we will continue to pray for a renewal of the Catholic faith in Ireland, for the people of Ireland and for peace in the world in these troubled times. We are very much inspired and uplifted by Pope Leo’s consistent and powerful message of peace. So we will be echoing his call and praying to Our Lady for her intercession for Ireland, for our families and for peace.”
He added, “The Irish people’s devotion to the Rosary goes back generations to our most difficult times.”
Billboard
campaign
This year, the Rosary Rally message has again been broadcast on social media and circulated throughout Ireland. But Fr O’Reilly also hopes that an eye-catching campaign featuring more than 50 billboards across the country will raise the profile even further and encourage more people to attend and recommit to praying the Rosary, “Keep an eye out also for our national billboard campaign in May to highlight the event,” he said.
“We are hoping to catch the attention of people who are searching, those perhaps seeking some certainty and truth in their lives. There are people who may just need some form of intercession to bring them back to their faith, or indeed introduce them to it for the first time. We are particularly hoping to attract a younger audience; many young people are looking for something more than what they see on a phone screen.”
“We can promise a very spiritual and moving day in prayer with Our Lady.”
“We are also writing to every parish in Ireland to help spread the word by putting up posters, mentioning the Rally in the bulletin, anything at all to encourage parishioners to join this unique pilgrimage. It would be a fantastic sight to see parish banners from throughout the country.”
International speakers
The Rally this year features an international panel of speakers, including:
- Fr Chris Alar, international broadcaster and bestselling author on understanding the Divine Mercy.
- Nikki Kingsley is sharing her remarkable conversion journey from Islam to Catholicism.
- Bishop Oliver Doeme, whose Rosary devotion in his diocese in Nigeria is credited with protecting his people from Boko Haram.
- Sr Angela De Fatima Coelho, who is vice-postulator for the cause of Sr Lucia.
- Archbishop Eamon Martin, accompanied by Bishop Donal McKeown, will also reconsecrate Ireland to Jesus through the Immaculate Heart of Mary!
Given the anticipated numbers, the organisers have already arranged over 50 buses across Ireland to bring people to Knock.
Fr Marius said, “One of our great inspirations in our Rosary mission is Fr Patrick Peyton from Attymass, Co. Mayo, who prayed the Rosary live in front of c. 35million people around the world. Fr Peyton taught us that “a world at prayer is a world at peace. And we are privileged to have the Father Peyton Centre on board as a valued partner in the Rosary Rally.”
For more information on the Rosary Rally, how to get there and what the programme includes, go to: allirelandrosaryrally.com.