A pair of Rye and Harrison residents have strung more than 300 handmade rosaries and are pushing to finish 1,000 by Sept. 15.
Karen Granucci of Harrison and Rosi Ajjam of Rye's Greenhaven neighborhood co-founded the Rosary Makers of Rye after meeting at a program at Church of the Resurrection.
Their rosaries will ship to Peoria, IL., to be blessed, then travel to St. Louis for the beatification of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, as the Rye Record first reported.
The Pontifical Mission Societies issued the nationwide call on May 1, asking groups to donate 1,000 or more World Mission Rosaries for the ceremony, according to OSV News. The society's goal is more than 70,000 rosaries by Sept. 15 to distribute to attendees. Groups across the country are participating.
Sheen, who served as national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies, designed the World Mission Rosary in 1951.
He introduced it during his "Catholic Hour" radio broadcast on Feb. 11, 1951, urging listeners to pray not for themselves but for the world.
The beatification Mass is scheduled for Sept. 24 at The Dome at America's Center in St. Louis. Doors open at 8 a.m. CDT, with the Mass set for 2 p.m. A series of events highlighting Sheen's life and legacy will run Sept. 15–26.
Locally, the effort has drawn support beyond the two founders. Juan Enrique Torruella, a Harrison resident and lector at Church of the Resurrection, learned of the project and underwrote the cost of materials.
Sister Zelide at the church has gathered supplies and assisted with production.
"This resonated with me," Torruella told the Rye Record. "A thousand rosaries means a thousand people are praying the Rosary. It is a way to do our part."
The group gathers at Church of the Resurrection and in Rye homes to assemble the rosaries. Materials and a training video are provided to new volunteers. Residents interested in joining can contact the church directly.
Upcoming
- Sept. 15 — Deadline for the Rosary Makers of Rye to complete and ship 1,000 rosaries to Peoria, Ill.
- Sept. 24 — Mass of Beatification for Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, The Dome at America's Center, St. Louis; doors open at 8 a.m. CDT, Mass at 2 p.m.
