By Maureen Smith
October is the month of the rosary and this year marked the 100th anniversary of Mary’s appearances in Fatima. Many parishes took advantage of cooler weather and clear skies to host outdoor celebrations honoring the Blessed Mother.
On the feast of the Holy Rosary, members of Grenada St. Peter Parish dedicated a new outdoor rosary garden. Their celebration included a rosary procession.
In Crystal Springs, Jackson and Natchez, several parishes took their beads outside, offering rosaries the weekend of Oct. 14-15 in honor of the Fatima anniversary. Even the cloistered community of Carmelite sisters in Jackson offered a rosary from their lawn.
A few pastors tied their prayers to the consecration of the diocese to the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, which took place Sunday, Oct. 8. Bishop Joseph Kopacz urged pastors to consecrate their parishes as well. The effort places the new Pastoral Priorities in the care of Mary as parishes and pastors convene teams to work on their goals for thier communities.

NATCHEZ – Catholics from all area parishes gathered at the park near the Basilica of St. Mary to honor the Fatima anniversary with a rosary on Saturday, Oct. 14. (Photo courtesy of Regina Mardis)

GRENADA – Father Aroika Savio, pastor of St. Peter, leads the rosary procession to the new rosary garden behind the church. He was assisted by parishioner Madeline Liberto. (photo by Michael Liberto)

CRYSTAL SPRINGS – The community from St. John and St. Martin parishes prayed the rosary in downtown Crystal Springs on Saturday, Oct. 14, to mark 100 years since Mary appeared to a trio of children in Fatima, Portugal. More than three dozen parishioners participated in the procession and rosary. (Photo by Janice Stansell)