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Trinity Heights hosts a
daily rosary for peace
In these turbulent times, many people take special care to offer prayers for peace. With that in mind, Queen of Peace, Inc. recently decided to host a daily family rosary for peace at Trinity Heights in Sioux City. Trinity Heights started this 7:30 p.m. prayer service on May 1 and will continue it through Aug. 31. Sheryl McGowan, Queen of Peace board member, pointed out that it is an ideal time to start hosting the family rosary as May is the month of Mary and Fatima apparitions of Mary started in May. Coincidentally, the message of Fatima centers on praying for peace. Our Lady of Portugal appeared to three young peasant children - Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta - in 1917. Mary told Lucia "to continue to pray the rosary every day in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary in order to obtain peace for the world and the end of the war, for she alone can be of any avail." Our Lady called herself the Queen of Peace. "And we have the Queen of Peace right here in our midst," McGowan explained. "We should be drawn to her to pray for peace in this time. Praying for peace right now is pertinent to America because we have been attacked on our own soil." Jacinta and Francisco died as children. Upon her deathbed, Jacinta told Lucia about her observances of the visions. According to the book Our Lady of Fatima: Prophecies of Tragedy or Hope? Jacinita said, "Tell everybody that God grants us his graces through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, that they should ask her for them, that the Heart of Jesus wants the Immaculate Heart of Mary for peace because God has placed it in her keeping." Each week, a different board member and their family will lead the rosary at the Mound of Mary near the 30-foot stainless steel statue of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. In bad weather, the rosary will be prayed in the chapel. "We would really like people to bring their families, friends and neighbors," McGowan said. "It is a wonderful way for parents to indoctrinate their children to the rosary." Citing the Holy Father's strong belief in the rosary, she described the rosary as a tool for salvation. Even if families cannot make it up to Trinity Heights every day, McGowan encouraged them to do so every week or possibly every month. For those who live too far away or their schedules do not allow for a trip up to Trinity Heights, they may opt to pray the rosary on a daily basis at home. Along with praying the rosary for peace, she also encouraged people to reacquaint themselves with the message of Fatima. |
