mkf. Father James Phalan CSC, Director of Family Rosary International, visited Schoenstatt at the end of March, met Sr. M. Margarite, and members of the General Direction of the Schoenstatt Institute of Families, and concelebrated Mass in the Families’ Shrine. “More than anything, I wanted to offer the campaign to Our Lady and to place it in her care at Schoenstatt. I’m glad we could pray together!” he wrote several days later. The campaign is the “Firm in Faith with Mary WYD Rosary Campaign” that aims to inspire people all over the world to accompany World Youth Day 2011 by praying the rosary for the youth of the world.
Networks
Thanks to Hanna Grabowska who is from Poland, Institute of Our Lady of Schoenstatt and now working in the World Youth Day communications office in Madrid, Father James Phalan got into contact with Schoenstatt. As he visited the Headquarters of Aid to the Church in Need in Königstein, Germany, and realized that Schoenstatt is not far away, he wanted to visit Schoenstatt the next day.
Sr. Margarite and Teresa and Konstantin Blumers welcomed him in Schoenstatt and gave him a tour of the place, culminating in the Holy Mass in the Families’ Shrine. After Mass he shared about the project he had come to present in Schoenstatt: A Rosary Campaign for World Youth Day 2011.
A Rosary Campaign for WYD
The objective is to promote the prayer of the Rosary, personally, in the home and in groups for one intention: that WYD 2011 in Madrid would bear much fruit. For young people going to WYD, it will be preparation by doing what is most important: prayer. The idea is that young people and all interested in evangelization of youth pray the rosary for World Youth Day particularly on Saturdays and other days as often as possible from the beginning of May until the event, August 16 -21, 2011. Launch of the campaign is scheduled for May 1. Fr. Phalan emphasized networking with international and local movements and ministries and the use of all sorts of media to reach out as far as possible: “Websites, Facebook, Twitter, etc email, promotional videos, formational and other resources for the Rosary and spiritual formation of pilgrims and others who want to participate in the WYD from a distance, virtually.” The initiative counts with the full support of the WYD organization.
Schoenstatt Impact
“It was a blessing to celebrate the Mass at Schoenstatt: more than anything I wanted to offer the campaign to Our Lady and to place it in her care at Schoenstatt. I’m glad we could pray together!” Fr. James Phalan wrote a few days ago. “Thanks for understanding the campaign so quickly. We will be keeping in touch as the campaign rolls out over the coming weeks and months. Thanks for all you can do to circulate it among Schoenstatt networks in Germany and abroad. I will also be communicating with Schoenstatt in Madrid, particularly.”
Schoenstatt prayer circles and especially the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign in so many countries around the world might like to join in this initiative – as well as the pilgrims and young people committed with the International Rosary each Saturday in the Original Shrine.
Contact and Information:
Rev. James H. Phalan, CSC
Director, Family Rosary International
Holy Cross Family Ministries
518 Washington Street North Easton, MA 02356 USA
office: +1 508 238 4095, ext 2005
mobile: +1 508 801 9598 
www.familyrosary.org
