“It is traditional in this month to pray the Rosary at home within the family. The restrictions of the pandemic have made us come to appreciate all the more this “family” aspect, also from a spiritual point of view. For this reason, I want to encourage everyone to rediscover the beauty of praying the Rosary at home in the month of May. This can be done either as a group or individually; you can decide according to your own situations, making the most of both opportunities. The key to doing this is always simplicity, and it is easy also on the internet to find good models of prayers to follow.”
In response to Pope Francis’ request, set out above, there has been an 8pm May Rosary Mission co-hosted by the London Rosary Shrine, the Basilica of Our Lady of Walsingham, Carfin Grotto in Scotland and Rosary on the Coast. As a culmination to this Rosary Mission, Mgr John Armitage, the Rector at the National Shrine of Our Lady at Walsingham, has invited each diocese to take part in a simple initiative — a Rosary on 31 May 2020. Each diocese has been asked to encourage their people to pray the Rosary either individually, or where possible in groups, during a designated hour.
The Diocese of Brentwood has been asked to pray the Rosary at 11am on the 31 May, Pentecost Sunday. I will be praying the Rosary myself during this hour after the live-streamed 10am Pentecost Mass at Wickford. I encourage all our people, in whatever ways possible, to join in this National Prayer Initiative.
+Alan Williams sm Bishop of Brentwood