On the same night, Viatorians led people in praying the rosary in two different sites: at St. George Parish in Bourbonnais, led by Fr. Dan Belanger, CSV, and Associate Paula Wasser; and at Saint Viator High School, led virtually by Br. John Eustice, CSV, and Br. Peter Lamick, CSV.
Taking a lead from Pope Francis, who called for Catholics to say the rosary during the month of May, to pray for an end to the pandemic; Viatorians asked others to join them.
At St. George, where parishioners are devoting the year to Mary, they pulled up in their cars to the church campus. Parked outside of the Fr. Querbes Youth Ministry Center, they could see a statue of Mary as well as the monstrance of the Blessed Sacrament. In order to pray the rosary together, they all tuned in to the same radio station.
“We really had a great turnout,” Wasser says. “We were so surprised at the level of participation, but then we know people are really missing church.”
Fr. Dan Belanger leads a Benediction service after the rosary.
Led by Paula, they prayed the Glorious Mysteries as well as a prayer for the end to the pandemic in between each decade. The parish will continue praying the rosary together every Wednesday night through May.
Meantime, in the Alumni Memorial Chapel at Saint Viator High School, Br. John and Br. Peter prayed the rosary, devoting each decade to young people — and for vocations.
“We pray for the young person,” Br. John said at the outset, “that God is calling them to something special in their lives.”
These two religious brothers invite followers to “Pray with the Viatorians” every Wednesday and Friday through May. Follow them on Instagram @ViatorianUSA or on the Saint Viator High School Facebook page.
“We are trying to offer different types and styles of prayer,” Br. Peter says, “that people can do on their own.”