Walking with Mary This October

My Dear Parish Family,

We have arrived at October, a beautiful month that the Church dedicates to the Holy Rosary.

For me personally, the Rosary has always been a source of quiet strength. In the midst of our busy lives—whether we are working, caring for our families, or dealing with the noise of the world—this prayer offers us a moment of peace. I like to think of it as an invitation to simply hold our Blessed Mother’s hand and let her walk us through the life of her Son.

There is sometimes a misconception that the Rosary is just a repetition of prayers to Mary. But in reality, it is a prayer with Mary centered entirely on Jesus. As we recite the Hail Marys, we are looking at the Gospel through the eyes of the one person who knew Him, loved Him, and followed Him most perfectly.

Especially for us here at Saint Anthony and Our Lady of Perpetual Help, this devotion hits close to home. When we pray the Rosary, we are quite literally asking for that "perpetual help"—asking our Mother to bring our needs and our gratitude directly to the heart of Jesus.

I know that prayer can sometimes feel like a struggle. We get distracted; our minds wander to our to-do lists. Please, do not be discouraged by this. God does not ask for perfection; He asks for our presence. If you cannot find the time for five decades, start with just one. A single decade prayed on your drive to work or while doing chores is a beautiful offering to God.

I invite you to join me in picking up your beads this month. Let us hold the hand of our Mother, and let her lead us closer to her Son.

Know that I am praying for you and your families every day.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Fidele

P.S. We have put together a guide on our website to help you with this devotion. If you would like a refresher on how to pray the Rosary or a guide to the Mysteries, please click the button below.