Fr. Peter Do, OP, our previous interim Director, recently traveled to Rome for the Jubilee of the Confraternities, which includes the Rosary Confraternity. Below is his report.

A Jubilee Pilgrimage of the Rosary: Dominican Fraternity and the Universality of the Church

As I write to you from a recent trip to Bracciano, Italy—a tranquil town nestled on the shores of Lake Bracciano just outside of Rome—I wish to share the graces and experiences of my recent journey to participate in the Assembly of International Rosary Promoters of the Dominican Order. This special gathering brought together about twenty Dominican friars from every region of our Order, united in our common mission to preach the Gospel through the Rosary, to encourage devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary in the spirit of St. Dominic, and to promote the Rosary Confraternity.

We were graciously hosted by the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia—commonly known as the “Nashville Dominicans”—at their retreat house in Bracciano. Surrounded by nature, in an atmosphere of quiet prayer and fraternity, we entered into days of reflection, discussion, and shared prayer. We started each day with Matins and Lauds, followed by Mass, and then breakfast. The serene environment and the sisters' joyful hospitality provided the perfect setting for our international assembly.

The heart of our time together was a series of conferences and discussions focused on deepening our understanding of the Rosary and our role in this Dominican mission to promote the Rosary. Each friar had a chance to share his work of promoting the Rosary in his province. Fr. Lawrence Lew, OP, the current Promoter General of the Rosary for the Order of Preachers, led our gathering and offered reflections to anchor our work. We were particularly enriched by a presentation from Fr. Michael Sherwin, OP, of the Western Dominican Province, who traced the historical development of the Rosary and its theological integration into the Dominican charism.

Another notable contribution came from Fr. Louis-Marie Ariño-Durand, OP, the former Promoter General of the Rosary and current international chaplain of the "Teams of the Rosary" (Équipes du Rosaire), who shared insights into this vibrant lay movement that continues to bring the Rosary to families and communities worldwide. As part of our practical collaboration, we spent time reviewing the Handbook of the Rosary Confraternity, a resource to help provincials and promoters of the Rosary to better promote the Rosary Confraternity in a unified and fruitful manner.

After our days of prayer and meetings in Bracciano, we traveled together to Rome from May 16–18 to participate in the Jubilee of Confraternities, a global gathering of lay confraternities in celebration of the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope. On Friday, our pilgrimage began with a communal recitation of the Rosary as we walked through the two Major Basilicas of Rome—first through St. Paul Outside the Walls, then St. John Lateran—passing through the Holy Doors of each, a grace tied to the Jubilee indulgence. On Saturday morning, we visited Santa Sabina, the headquarters of the Dominican Order, where we were welcomed by the Master of the Order, Fr. Gerard Francisco Timoner III. He graciously gave us a tour of the church and the offices of our Order, offering reflections on the history and mission of the Order. It was a powerful reminder of our spiritual roots and the ongoing mission of our common life and preaching. In the afternoon, we joined thousands of pilgrims in a prayerful procession through the streets of Rome, ending at the historic Circus Maximus, with prayers and public witness to the life of faith.

On Sunday, our pilgrimage culminated in the inaugural Papal Mass, led by Pope Leo XIV, and the celebration of a series of rites and prayers, including the bestowal of the pallium and the fisherman's ring, which symbolize the Pope's authority and mission. This entire journey was a gift of fraternity, grace, and renewal—not only for those of us who promote the Rosary but for the universal Church. This special gift—completely unexpected and unplanned—was the opportunity to concelebrate the inaugural Mass of the new pope, in front of St. Peter’s Basilica. To stand at the altar with thousands of priests and to join in prayer with more than 200,000 faithful pilgrims was a moment of profound ecclesial communion. The joy and unity of the Church were tangible, and I was deeply moved by the hope and anticipation that marked the beginning of this new pontificate. After the Mass, I had hoped to greet the Holy Father at the nearby Augustinian priory, where he is known to visit and dine informally with his brethren. Sadly, as I had to leave early to fly back home to Portland, I was not able to stay and greet him in person. Still, the desire itself was a sign of my affection for our new Pope and his humble approach to the Petrine ministry, and his love for Mother Mary.

May Our Lady of the Rosary continue to intercede for us and strengthen our preaching with her maternal care.

In Christ and St. Dominic,

Fr. Peter, OP

Novena-Assumption of Mary-2025

Habemus Papam!

Pope Leo XIV elected as successor to Peter, and is the first U.S. born pope, Cardinal Robert Prevost. Pope Leo XIII was known as the Rosary Pope, so let us rejoice in his coming papacy. Please pray for our Pope and all Church shepherds and teachers—every day!

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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.

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