Pope Francis has imparted his apostolic blessing to the participants in the fifth annual international 24 hour “Rosary Relay” for priests.
The event, which will take place on 27 June, the Feast of the Sacred Heart and World Priest Day, is an initiative of WorldPriest, a non-profit apostolate based in New York & Dublin.
The Pope conveyed his greetings to Episcopal Advisor to WorldPriest, Archbishop Michael Neary of Tuam, in a message signed by Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin.
“With great affection and appreciation for priests,” the message reads, the Pope “commends them and those joining in this event to the loving intercession of Our Lady of the Rosary.”
“He prays that our Blessed Mother may always guide and protect priests who are consecrated to the joyful and indispensable mission of proclaiming the Gospel and offering God’s people, through the celebration of the sacraments, the closeness, the word and the strength of Christ” (cf. Evangelii Gaudium,121).
The aim of the Annual Global Rosary Relay is to offer thanksgiving to God for priests, and to implore the protection and loving care of Our Lady by dedicating a 24 hour period of continuous prayer for the ministry of the priesthood.
Eighty-five shrines located in 46 different nations will be participating during this fifth consecutive year of the Global Rosary Relay for Priests.
Marion Mulhall, founder & CEO of WorldPriest, says, “It’s a great gift of much joy that his holiness Pope Francis has endorsed this special event, through his apostolic blessing. His predecessor Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI had also written a special prayer for this very occasion during his papacy.”
She added: “It is wonderful to see the growth for this year. We began just five years ago with 24 shrines in 20 countries and now we have grown to 85 shrines in 46 countries.”
