I Planted, Apollos Watered

St. Paul, to prevent boasting and self-aggrandizement among the Corinthians, reminds them, that in the end, he and his co-laborers are as nothing in comparison to Him who is over all – God. Thus, he writes, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused the growth. Therefore, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who causes the growth” (1 Cor 3:7). This is an excellent point to keep in mind as we move forward with our next phase.

By the time you receive this, we should have brought to fruition our 2nd annual Rosary Pilgrimage in that most beautiful National Basilica of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Washington, DC. But even just taking the first event in mind, I cannot but lavishly praise my fellow Dominicans in the Eastern US Province, the Province of St. Joseph, for their incredible work in organizing and pulling off this blessed and inspiring event. As St. Paul writes to those same stubborn Corinthians, “If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part is honored, all the parts share its joy” (1 Cor 12:26). I thus, and really, all the members of our holy confraternity, then, share in the joy of their achievement, as much as we share in the sorrow and suffering of our fellow Confraternity members when we pray.

This event is too wonderful, too blessed to keep to oneself in one location, however. At the event last year, I did meet a few people from other parts of the country beyond the Eastern seaboard, but they were relatively few. Like the March for Life and Walk for Life on opposite coasts, we need something that can reach a much broader area of our very expansive country. Thus, I have begun discussions with my superiors about extending this to the West Coast, within my own Dominican Order province’s boundaries – something that could reach those more locally hungry for our own Rosary Pilgrimage, overflowing with Dominican and Confraternity goodness and blessings.

It is still far too early to talk details. I have some ideas and thoughts floating around in my mind, but my job, mainly, right now is to plant the seed. Other Dominicans and layfolk will have to take up the watering  and tending and work with us. If we hold it next Fall, it would coincide most serendipitously with the 175th anniversary of the founding of our particular province of the Dominican Order, the Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus; the full and formal canonization of some wonderful saints devoted to the Rosary; and the Jubilee Year of Hope 2025, in which the Holy Father asked us as a worldwide Confraternity to take part in. We can also build off the stunning success of the Eucharistic Congress that was recently held in Indianapolis. It is obvious that people are hungry, spiritually hungry, and we need to provide good, solid, spiritual food. But everything in God’s good time. As St. Paul says elsewhere, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31b).

For that reason, then, we would ask that whenever you are looking for some particular intentions to pray for, you join us in praying for this future event. It would be wonderful to connect some more faces to the names I receive online and through the postal system, and it would be a blessing to have a real meeting of all our fellow Confraternity members here on the West Coast and throughout the world. And of course, joining in prayer with all our Confraternity members worldwide as we come together to worship Our Lord under His Blessed Mother’s banner and with her Rosary in hand. May our good and gracious God will it so.

Novena-OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY-2024

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Note from the Director

Dear faithful supporters of the Rosary Center & Confraternity, THANK-YOU! to all who have already donated to help us. We cannot do this without you! We rely on your ongoing support. May God bless you for your generosity!
Fr. Dismas Sayre, O.P.