In the lead up to the feast day of Our Lady of the Rosary on 7 October, the 107th anniversary of the Fatima Miracle on 13 October, and the month of October being the month of the Holy Rosary, a new initiative has begun within the Diocese of Parramatta to teach people, regardless of age, how to make rosaries.
These handmade rosaries are being donated to those in need to offer a connection with God in a deep and meditative way and inviting Mary to be a constant companion.
Since the early 13th Century, the rosary has been known to be a powerful prayer which offers spiritual strength, peace and a deeper connection to God through its contemplative nature and historical significance. Countless saints throughout the ages have called on Mary’s intercession in their greatest time of need through the devotion of the Holy Rosary.
The comfort and deep connection with God offered by the rosary provides the sick and dying with a hope. Through the different Mysteries of the Rosary, the constant meditation on the life, death and resurrection of Christ brings about a better understanding of God’s love for humankind and offers a more intimate relationship with Christ.
A meditative prayer
Rosary beads are not just a tool to assist with keeping track of the repetitive prayers. The physical beads, with the small Crucifix attached, offer a tangible reminder of Jesus’ ultimate act of love and sacrifice and offer believers forgiveness, freedom and hope of eternal life.
Rosary-making workshops
To start the beginning phase of this project, the Office for Worship has started leading workshops at the Bishop Bede Heather Centre in Blacktown to teach the simple steps of rosary making to parishioners or anyone interested, so they can assist in this great movement.
To date, two workshops have been run in Blacktown, and the team has also visited St Bernadette’s Parish in Castle Hill to teach the parish’s seniors’ group.
Through these workshops, over 70 rosaries have been made and donated for distribution in the hospitals across Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains.
Upcoming sessions
This month, the Office for Worship will run two more sessions at the Bishop Bede Heather Centre in Blacktown. These sessions are open to everyone, regardless of age or ability.
These rosary workshops bring parishioners of all ages together to support those from the parish community and beyond.
DIY rosary kits available
The team has also compiled DIY rosary kits, complete with all the materials needed to make five simple corded rosaries at home.
Each kits costs $10, and includes beads, string, easy to follow step-by-step instructions and two tools to make the knots in the string.
These kits make it simple for parishes, schools, individuals and families to host rosary-making sessions during lunch breaks, parish gatherings at school, or at home.
Many of these rosaries will be donated to the hospital chaplains throughout the diocese. A large part of their work and mission is to offer spiritual support by praying the rosary with the patients and their families. By offering the patients and their families a set of rosary beads, they are offering also a sign of hope, peace and healing in their time of greatest need.
If you would like the Office for Worship to lead a rosary-making workshop in your parish, agency, school or ministry, or if you’d like to purchase a $10 DIY rosary kit, please reach out to Lucy Woodbury at ofw@parracatholic.org.
This initiative is also a response to the Diocesan Pastoral Plan priorities of Community, Listening, and Mission – as we strive to be a Church that reaches out to the margins to help those in need. Visit Synodality to learn more.
