Dear Parishioners and Friends of Divine Mercy Parish,

In 2017, Matthew Kelly, noted Catholic author, speaker, and founder of the “Dynamic Catholic” movement, began a campaign called “5,000,000 Rosaries for America.” Looking back to the dreams of America’s Founding Fathers for freedom, equality, and lives full of happiness and opportunity, Matthew wrote:

“Amidst the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, we have lost sight of this dream. Today in America, we have bigger houses, but smaller families; better technology, but worse connection; fully loaded cars, but empty churches; more education, but less common sense. We strive for peace, but violence is rampant. We have more kinds of food, but a greater spiritual hunger. We are quick to judge, but slow to love. We have multiplied our possessions but reduced our values. Something is wrong, isn't it? Something needs changing. One of the most effective ways we can change things is through prayer.”

Matthew Kelly asked people all over the country to join together in praying 5 million rosaries for America! He said “The rosary is an incredibly powerful prayer. It has the power to bring peace; the power to heal; the power to transform your life, the lives of your loved ones, your community, and our nation.” People then pledged to pray the rosary. Whether pledging to pray one rosary or 100, together, all these prayers make a difference!

In the month of May, pledge to get involved by praying the rosary for Divine Mercy Parish and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School. The Rosary is an incredibly beautiful prayer, with the power to bring peace, to heal, and to transform lives. We are sponsoring a parish-wide campaign during the month of May, a month dedicated to our Blessed Mother, challenging every parishioner and school family to join us and make a positive difference by praying the rosary for the mission and ministry of Divine Mercy Parish and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School. As the family of God here at Divine Mercy Parish and SEAS, we need to always grow in our understanding and appreciation of the parish as a gracious gift from God, as a unique instrument of grace in our lives.

Where the Church’s mission must be most visible and most alive is in the church parish. The parish is the privileged place where people are “gathered in the name of the Lord” and where they receive the challenge to go to the world as active participants in God’s plan and as living witnesses to the one Lord. It is at the parish that inter-personal relationships are born and lived out as in a family. There the members of the parish interact, mutually support, and sacrifice their time and resources for one another. Above all, it is in the parish where we gather to hear God’s Word that sharpens our Gospel vision; where we eat the Body and drink the Blood that revitalizes our strength to continue our journey together as pilgrims in a land that is not our permanent home.

As Mary and the Apostles were gathered at Pentecost awaiting the empowerment of the Spirit to spread the Good News, we too stand on the threshold as we continue to hold fast to the mission entrusted to us at Divine Mercy Parish and SEAS. Our Rosary Campaign is the first step in providing people a Church parish and a home for their faith that is marked by more faithful discipleship, a loving community, and an inspired source for witness. Let us see ourselves gathered, gifted, and sent to make our presence as Church a source of blessing to the world.
 

How will our Rosary Campaign work?
Simply follow the THREE Ps! 

Pick: Think of how many rosaries you (and your family) wish to pray as you lift up Divine Mercy Parish and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School in prayer during that time. (ex: If a family of 4 prays 1 Rosary per week together for the month of May, that family will pray 16 Rosaries total for the month of May and thus should pledge 16 Rosaries.)

Pledge: Head to the narthex of the Church and find the large glass vase on the center table. Grab as many blue glass beads as rosaries you (and your family) will pray together from the small containers and place the beads in the tall vase to show our Parish and School's Progress. Want to pledge from afar? Perhaps you are a friend of Divine Mercy Parish or an out-of-town grandparent of a SEAS student. We’ve got you covered! Simply submit an online pledge form by scrolling below. We'll be sure to count your pledges in the large vase for you.

Pray: Spend the month of May in prayer, remembering to honor your pledge. Feel free to pray in our Church before or after Mass, visit our Adoration Chapel when you're stressed, pray using the AMEN App, or even ask some friends or family members to join you (and add their beads into the jar the next time you come to Mass).

Take time to watch the blue beads in the large glass jar grow as the number of pledges continue to pour in so all can see what we can accomplish together. Let us do something bold in our parish! Whether pledging to pray one rosary or 40, all these prayers make a difference because …. PRAYER CAN CHANGE EVERYTHING!

Fr. Robert T. Cooper, Pastor
Divine Mercy Parish and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School