Aside from praying for peace and unity in the world, the Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) Philippines said this year’s “One Million Children Praying the Rosary” activity will also pray for an end to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
“This year provides a very special context, because never before has there been such a worldwide healthcare and existential crisis,” ACN Philippines said in a statement Sunday. Oct. 4.
In a letter addressed to children, Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, president of ACN International, said that in difficult situations like these it’s very important to “work together and help one another.”
“But we must also not forget that the biggest help of all comes from God,” he added.
For this reason, the pontifical foundation once again has issued an invitation for their worldwide prayer campaign on Oct. 19 in order to unite the children of the world for the initiative.
According to Father Martin M. Barta, ecclesiastical assistant of ACN International, children from around 80 countries, such as those in Ghana, Syria, Papua New Guinea, are set to participate in the activity.
“May this joint worldwide Rosary prayer initiative fill us all with new courage and confidence in God's loving protection, which He wishes to bestow on us through His Holy Mother,” he said.
ACN Philippines already invited parishes, nurseries, schools, and families to participate in the initiative.
The children’s rosary campaign was initiated in 2005 in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas. Since then the campaign quickly spread across the world.
ACN has supported the campaign since 2008 and took over organizing the entire event worldwide two years ago.
The organization provides a free leaflet for prayer in parishes, children’s groups or families which contains instructions on how to pray the rosary, child-friendly reflections on the mysteries of the rosary and a child consecration to the Mother of God.