By Vernon Khelawan

Our Archdiocese joins the Church in celebrating October as the Month of the Rosary. Parishes and Marian groups ensure that October is filled with special devotions to our Blessed Mother, such as rosary circles and other gatherings with the rosary as the centrepiece – in homes and in public spaces.

Devotion to Mary seems to not be as strong as it used to be. Archbishop Joseph Harris is this year spearheading an effort to resuscitate that ardour for the Blessed Mother by inviting the faithful to join him at Archbishop’s House to pray the rosary on each of the four Thursdays in October, from 6 to 7 p.m.

Different religious communities will lead the meditations each Thursday. Last Thursday, People of Praise led the meditations on the Glorious mysteries, and next Thursday the Eternal Light Community will focus on the Joyful mysteries. On the third Thursday (October 18), the Sanctuary of the Holy Family will join His Grace for the rosary, and Zion Community will lead on October 25.

Another activity this month which fits in perfectly with the Second Pastoral Priority – Revitalising Catholic Culture and Identity – is the observance of Respect for Life Week, which runs from October 6 to 13 and which has as its theme, Respect Life: Be living witnesses to our faith.

In its Parish Link newsletter, the Catholic Commission for Social Justice (CCSJ), which coordinates Respect for Life Week, has called for commitment to rediscovering the vocation to be Catholic, which would lead to deeper discipleship and commitment to Church and community.