Worldwide Rosary Relay to Offer Prayer for Priests



NEW YORK, JUNE 10, 2010 (Zenit.org) - Next week, a worldwide rosary relay event will unite participants around the globe to pray for priests.

The June 19 event, sponsored by Worldpriest, will begin in Brisbane, Australia, and will continue at Marian shrines through Japan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, India, the Levant and the Middle East, South Africa, Bosnia, Italy, Poland, France, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Ireland, Wales, England, Mexico, Argentina, Canada and the United States.

The faithful are invited to participate by praying a decade of the rosary for priests at a scheduled time, thereby marking the end of the Year for Priests with a 24-hour prayer relay.

Archbishop Michael Neary of Tuam, Ireland, episcopal advisor to Worldpriest, affirmed the "great potential" of this event, which "will bring many spiritual benefits to all involved."

Worldpriest planned this relay as "an opportunity for us to raise our hearts to God for all priests in the exercise of their ministry; that they will be blessed, through our prayers, with God's grace for their priesthood; that in this worldwide communion of prayer for them, they may experience our gratitude and support; and finally that they will persevere in unity with Christ and his Church and shepherd the Lord's flock to the safe pastures of his kingdom."