October 10: AB Cordileone to lead SF Eucharistic Procession and Rosary Rally!!

Be there, Bay Area Catholics!

From September 30's California Catholic Daily:

On Saturday, October 10, Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone will once again lead his flock as he bears the Blessed Sacrament through the streets of San Francisco at the Fifth Annual San Francisco Rosary Rally. The rally will be held in the city’s United Nations Plaza at 12 noon.

The San Francisco Rosary Rally was reborn in 2011 as an effort of the SF Senatus of the Legion of Mary. Other groups quickly joined the effort: Immaculate Heart Radio, The Knights of Columbus, Ignatius Press, Cruzada Guadalupana Arquidiócesana, the Archdiocese of San Francisco, and the Archdiocesan Ministry for Spanish Speaking. The 2011 rally marked the 50th Anniversary of Fr. Patrick Peyton’s 1961 Rosary Crusade, held in the City’s Golden Gate Park. That event drew over 550,000 people—still the largest crowd ever assembled in San Francisco.

On August 7, San Francisco’s Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone sent a letter to all pastors of the Archdiocese, urging them to lead their flocks to the Rally: “Since our first rally five years ago, the event has drawn an ever-growing number of priests, religious and faithful onto our streets to pray. These faithful come from San Francisco and beyond. Their intention is very simple: to pray for the needs of our great City and nation. I believe the presence of so many people in prayer is a great witness to those with whom we share our City. It is a sign too that God is truly with us and the Faith is alive…I invite you and your parishioners to join me in this celebration of our Catholic spirituality and tradition.”

The day begins with a 10:00 am Mass at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, celebrated by Archbishop Cordileone, concelebrated by Father Arturo Albano, the rector of St. Mary’s Cathedral, and other priests. Following Mass, the Archbishop will lead the Eucharistic Procession from the Cathedral to United Nations Plaza, where the Rosary rally will begin at 12:00 noon. When the Eucharistic procession arrives they will be greeted by a second group of Catholics, already at the plaza, praying the rosary.

Archbishop Cordileone will serve as keynote speaker and Father Albano will address the faithful in both Spanish and Tagalog. The rally will include exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction, and priests will be on hand to hear confessions.

This year’s special guest speaker will be Deacon Robert F. Ellis, the National Coordinator of the World Apostolate of Fatima, USA. As a special blessing, the National Pilgrim Statue of the World Apostolate of Fatima will be present. Deacon Ellis wrote recently: “St. Pope John Paul II considered Fatima more important today than it was in 1917. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI cautioned that ‘we would be mistaken to think that Fatima’s prophetic mission is complete.’ Pope Francis’ request for the consecration of his pontificate to Our Lady of Fatima, which was honored on May 13, 2013, the entrustment of WYD 2013 to her, and his consecration of the world to her on October 13, 2013 – all occurring within the first year of his papacy – make his disposition toward the importance of Fatima crystal clear.” -‘How can a world gone mad be saved from itself.’

For more information, go here: http://www.rosaryrallysf.com/

New Momentum at San Francisco Rosary Rally!

Saturday's SF Rosary was great, especially because of the new level of commitment shown by the Archdiocese of San Francisco. Here's an excerpt from our story published Monday in California Catholic Daily, but be sure to read the whole thing, which describes some the new initiatives.

New wrinkles, bright future for SF Rosary rally
Faithful pray, feed poor

By Gibbons Cooney

"On Saturday October 12, San Francisco Catholics celebrated the third annual SF Rosary rally. The rally began with the annual Hispanic Day Mass at a packed St. Mary’s Cathedral. Mass was celebrated by San Francisco’s Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone. After Mass the faithful, led by a bier with a statue of Our Lady, followed immediately by the Knights of Columbus and the archbishop, processed the one mile to United Nations Plaza. The San Francisco police department had blocked off one lane of busy Van Ness Avenue, and the faithful filled the lane as well as the sidewalk. An attendee told CalCatholic that the procession was about two city blocks long and ten people abreast. The procession was accompanied by a sound truck leading the people in the Joyful Mysteries (in Spanish) as well as in hymns. Volunteers were passing out bottles of water to anyone who was thirsty. The crowd at that point was still mostly Hispanic—coming from the Mass– and our source told us that it was filled with people of all ages and had lots of babies in strollers. At around noon the procession entered the plaza...."

Second Annual San Francisco Rosary Rally!!

It will be on October 13, 2012--by that time Archbishop Cordileone will be installed and maybe he will be there!

On October 13, San Francisco Catholics will usher in our Holy Father's Year of Faith with the Second Annual San Francisco Rosary Rally. From the organizers:

"The Archdiocese of San Francisco, Legion of Mary, Knights of Columbus, Ignatius Press and Immaculate Heart Radio invite all Catholics from the Archdiocese of San Francisco and beyond to join us as we honor Our Blessed Mother and Kick off the “Year of Faith” at the second annual San Francisco Family Rosary Rally.

The Rally will be held Saturday, October 13, 2012 at 12:00 Noon in San Francisco’s
U.N. Plaza at Market and 7th Streets.

The day will begin with a 9:30AM Mass at Saint Mary’s Cathedral, followed by a procession to the plaza.The Master of Ceremonies will be Fr. Lawrence Goode, of St. Francis Church in Palo Alto. Speakers include Father Mark Mary, MFVA, Host of EWTN's Life on the Rock, and Father Moises Agudo, the Hispanic Ministry Vicar of the Archdiocese of San Francisco.

The faithful will then recite the Rosary in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament.

In the 1950’s and 60’s, Holy Cross Father Patrick Peyton led Rosary Rallies all over the world. His 1961 rally at the Polo Fields in Golden Gate Park, drew 550,000 people—the largest gathering in the history of San Francisco. In 2011, San Francisco Catholics marked the 50th anniversary of Fr. Peyton’s rally by re-establishing the San Francisco Rosary Rally as an ongoing tradition."

For more info, visit: http://www.rosaryrallysf.com/

Here are some pictures from last year's rally, which drew about 1500 of the faithful:

San Francisco Rosary Rally Video--Great!

What a blessed day it was! Here is the official video of San Francisco's Family Rosary Crusade 2011, by Gino & Nyna Caputi:



Gino & Nyna are also the producers of "Petals in the Dust," a film about India's missing girls--millions of whom have been murdered through abortion and infanticide. You can learn more about their work here:

http://www.petalsinthedust.com/

We have posted about their efforts. Our past posts are here.

Wonderful San Francisco Rosary Rally!

From this morning's California Catholic Daily. All photos courtesy Darwin Sayo.


“If God is for us, who can be against us?”
California Catholics honor Blessed Mother at San Francisco Family Rosary Crusade

"Under 70-degree weather and soft breezes, the San Francisco Family Rosary Crusade was prayed on Saturday, Oct. 15, in the city’s Civic Center Plaza. The crowd, numbering in the low thousands, included the faithful from every diocese in the Bay Area, as well as the dioceses of Stockton, Sacramento, and Fresno.

Too many parishes to count were represented. One of the largest groups, around 50, came from Immaculate Heart of Brentwood, and had special T-shirts printed for the occasion. The pilgrims were led by their pastor, Fr. Jerry Brown, and parochial vicar, Fr. Carl Arcosa.The rally also attracted visitors from as far away as Idaho, Ireland, Eastern Europe, and Africa, who had one way or another learned about the rally, and who joined in the opportunity to honor Our Lady.

Religious were very well represented. Many Dominicans, Dominican Sisters of Mary Mother of the Eucharist, and the Missionaries of Charity had large contingents. Franciscans, Jesuits, Holy Cross Fathers, and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians were present as well, as were large numbers of seminarians.



The event began with a procession from the rear of the Plaza toward the stage. The crowd filling the central portion of the Plaza parted, like the Red Sea, to allow the procession of dignitaries, rally leaders, and the families chosen to recite the rosary. The procession was led by two boys carrying the banner of the Legion of Mary, followed by the Knights of Columbus Honor Guard.

The Master of Ceremonies was Fr. Lawrence Goode, chaplain of the Legion of Mary. Fr. Goode began by asking for a show of hands from those who had attended the 1961 Rally. A surprising number went up. He then asked for a response from those who came from the diocese of Oakland. A cheer went up. Then San Jose. Another cheer. Then Santa Rosa. Another cheer. Then Stockton. Another cheer. Then Sacramento. Another cheer. Then Fresno. Another cheer. Then the Archdiocese of San Francisco. Another big cheer.

Fr. Goode then introduced the bishops in attendance: Auxiliary Bishop William Justice of San Francisco, retired Bishop Ignatius Wang of San Francisco, and retired Bishop Daniel Walsh of Santa Rosa.Bishop Justice then spoke. He sent greetings from Archbishop George Niederauer, whose health prevented him from attending. Bishop Justice then read from Romans, Chapter 8, reminding the faithful that it is through Jesus that we have life, that God works all things to good, and that “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Fr. Goode then introduced the rosary as a prayer for all peoples and all times. “It is pre-Vatican II and it is post Vatican II,” he said. “It was the prayer of Nobel Prize winning scientist Louis Pasteur. It was the prayer of ‘people power’ that peacefully overturned the corrupt government in the Philippines. It was the prayer of both Italy and Poland following the attempted assassination of Pope John Paul II. And it is the prayer of Chinese Catholics today, imprisoned for their faith, and who make rosaries out of yarn and paper!”

As silence descended on the plaza, the rosary began. Each decade was recited by a family from one of the Bay Area dioceses. The decades were accompanied by a scriptural reading by a seminarian, and a reflection by either a Dominican Brother or a Holy Cross Father.One of the Holy Cross Fathers reflected on Mary as one who listens: “When others speak, she ponders their words in her heart. But when she does speak, she sings!”

The rosary was followed by the keynote address by Fr. Andrew Apostoli, CFR; the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary, led by Bishop Ignatius Wang, and the prayer for the Beatification of the Servant of God, Fr. Patrick Peyton, led by Fr. David Marcham, vice-postulator for Fr. Peyton’s cause. In a notable coincidence, Fr. Apostoli is also currently serving as a vice-postulator for the cause of canonization of Archbishop Fulton Sheen.

“The Rosary Rally will be one day that we can be forever proud to have been part of,” said David Marten, one of the rally organizers. “The hard work and planning produced a flawless presentation. The Blessed Mother was watching over us and many graces were present.”

Many attendees expressed the hope that the San Francisco Rosary Rally will become an annual event in the city of St. Francis.

“Our blessings are beyond count,” said Eva Muntean, co-chair of the Walk for Life West Coast, who helped organizers. “Today has been a wonderful opportunity for all of us to give thanks, publicly, for the graces we have received.”

“What a beautiful witness to Our Lady and what great faith it shows,” said Vicki Evans, Respect Life Coordinator for the Archdiocese of San Francisco. “I see this as a sign of our faith that Mary will save San Francisco and our country from the dangers that threaten us.”

Despite generous contributions, organizers were still about $10,000 in debt as the day began. When the rally closed, they requested donations from the faithful. That evening, when they tabulated the donations, they received a final gift from Our Lady: the donations were almost exactly the amount needed -- and even a little more."

"Let's Call a Spade a Spade"

In his bulletin message of last Sunday, Father Gregory Coiro, O.F.M.Cap., the rector of the National Shrine of St. Francis in San Francisco, shared his thoughts on the upcoming San Francisco Rosary Rally. Fr. Coiro also had some powerful words about politicians who claim to be "ardent Catholics," yet ignore the Church's clear teaching about the rights of the unborn.

"Like many others in San Francisco, I am very excited about the Rosary Rally in the Civic Center Plaza this coming Saturday, October 15, at 12 noon. What makes the event even more exciting for the National Shrine of St. Francis of Assisi is that the rally’s keynote speaker, Father Andrew Apostoli of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, will celebrate Mass at 9 a.m. that day here in our church.

(When the Rosary Rally organizers contacted me to see if Father Andrew could celebrate Mass here, I thought they had in mind a private Mass—after all the church does not open to the public until 10 a.m. The next thing you know, the Mass was being announced on the Eternal Word Television Network, as well as on the Rosary Rally website. So, it will be anything but private!)

Father Andrew, like Father Benedict Joseph Groeschel and the other founding members of the Friars of the Renewal, was a Capuchin Franciscan friar before establishing their new community that seeks to live the Rule of St. Francis even more austerely but in the Capuchin spirit and tradition.

A noted author and preacher, Father Andrew is frequently seen on EWTN. Something very special about him is that he was ordained to the priesthood by the late Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen and now serves as the vice-postulator of his cause for beatification and canonization.

The Rosary Rally marks the fiftieth anniversary of the Family Rosary Crusade led by the late
Holy Cross Father Patrick Peyton—another candidate for beatification and canonization—in Golden Gate Park with over a half-million Catholics in attendance.

Father Peyton was famous for, among other things, coining the slogan, “The family that prays together, stays together.”

I have had 5,000 holy cards featuring the image of the Shrine’s statue of Our Lady and the Hail Mary printed up to mark this special occasion and I will ask the people who attend the Mass that morning to distribute them to others at the Rally.

Of course, I hope there will be many more than 5,000 people in attendance at Civic Center Plaza, but I do have budget constraints!

October is the month of the Holy Rosary and it is also Respect Life Month. We pray the Rosary every afternoon at 4:30 (except Mondays) in the Shrine’s Lady Chapel, La Nuova Porzoincola, for the intention that all Catholic public officials might be or might become authentic ally prolife.

We all know that there are elected public officials who claim to be “ardent” Catholics yet do nothing to stop the legal slaughter of 4000 innocent human beings every single day in this country. These people are liars.

They are not “ardent” Catholics at all and they do not really believe the Church’s teaching that killing unborn babies is tantamount to murder. If they did believe it, how could they possibly expect us to vote for them when they refuse to use their power and influence to stop the legal butchering of innocents? Do they really expect us to take them seriously when they, in effect, say, “I truly believe that abortion is murder but I feel no obligation to stop the murderers.”?

Let’s call a spade a spade. These public office holders are intellectually dishonest and we need to call them out for their lies. But we also need to pray that they will have a change of heart and that’s what we do in the Heart of San Francisco.

Pax et Bonum,
Fr. Gregory Coiro, O.F.M.Cap."

SF October 15 Rosary Rally: "The Family that Prays Together, Stays Together."

Here's our story, published in last week's California Catholic Daily, about the October 15 Family Rosary Crusade Rally. The rally will be held in the city's Civic Center Plaza, at 12 noon.

What is really exciting now is how young people are getting involved and how old people are sharing their memories from the 1961 Rally. Check out the Rosary Rally's Facebook page.

“Family, family, family”
Excitement builds for Rosary Rally in San Francisco
As the San Francisco Rosary Rally approaches, it is providing a unique opportunity for an intergenerational dialogue to take place among Catholics. The event is provoking a sense of shared Catholic history: a remembrance of history made by the old, and a chance to make history by the young.

The “Family Rosary Crusade 2011,” which will be celebrated on Oct. 15 at 12 noon in San Francisco’s Civic Center Plaza, commemorates the 50th Anniversary of Father Patrick Peyton’s 1961 Rosary Rally. The 1961 event, which was held in Golden Gate Park, drew an estimated 550,000 people. It remains the largest gathering in the history of San Francisco, and, for five straight days, made the front page of the San Francisco Chronicle.

As young people look forward to the Rosary Rally with excitement, older Catholics remember their experience at the original rally 50 years ago with fondness. On Sept. 1, EWTN’s “Life on the Rock” provided a full hour of programming on the Rosary Rally. The show included interviews with two high school girls who will be attending the rally, along with Ray Frost, one of the organizers from the Legion of Mary who attended Fr. Payton’s 1961 event, and Eva Muntean, co-founder of the Walk for Life West Coast, who is helping to plan the event. Between interviews, “Life on the Rock” hosts Fr. Mark and Doug Barry showed video clips of Father Peyton at the original 1961 rally.

The two young women who were interviewed, Colleen and Kendall Scullion, are sisters who attend the Convent of the Sacred Heart High School in San Francisco. The hosts asked what attracted them to the event. Colleen said that their father had attended the 1961 rally. He told her that one day in 1961, he answered the door, and there was someone from the Legion of Mary on the stoop who had been going door-to-door inviting people to attend the event. So he and his sisters ended up attending. Colleen said her father could not remember much (he was only 6 at the time) but that the experience of that number of people in one place was overwhelming: chaotic, but a lot of fun.

Kendall Scullion observed how central the family was for Father Peyton. “In doing some research on Fr. Peyton, I found that early on, he had had to leave his family in Ireland to follow his vocation. And then I found that everywhere throughout his ministry the common theme was ‘family, family, family.’ It seems like, with the rosary rally, he was able to find his family again.”

Both young women indicated that they would like to see more outreach toward young people for the event, especially via social media such as Twitter and Facebook. They had not heard of the Rosary Rally until informed by their theology teacher, who was attending World Youth Day. And they noted getting teens to participate requires overcoming some obstacles.

“We feel that kids are shy, they don’t want to be too bold about their faith,” Colleen said. “There is a lot of peer pressure among teens.” But Kendall noted that “if you can get the kids, the parents will follow.”

Ray Frost was 9 years old at the time of the 1961 rally. Frost remembered: “It was easy for us -- we only lived about a mile away from the Polo Fields, so it was an easy walk. The Rosary Rally was a peaceful, wonderful experience, and one that I want to continue. For over 50 years I have looked back on that day, and I want to live it again.”

When asked what he hoped to see from the Family Rosary Crusade 2011, Frost said: “The Crusade is a joint effort of the Legion of Mary, the Knights of Columbus, and Immaculate Heart Radio. The first thing we did was to get the blessing of Archbishop Niederauer for the event, which he gave. As we know, our archbishop has some health issues now -- let us all pray for him! We are not sure if he will be able to attend the rally, but we hope he can. We all know that Our Blessed Mother has asked us, quite directly, to pray the rosary every day. She promises us that if we do that peace and tranquility will come. My personal hope is that the rosary rally will generate a new and fresh love for the rosary. In 1961 it produced a great spirit. If we go to Our Lady, she will help us! The Legion of Mary is delivering pledge cards to all the parishes in the Archdiocese of San Francisco, asking families to pledge to say the rosary together as many times a week as they can. As Father Peyton said ‘The family that prays together, stays together.’”