October is a busy month, full of wonderful feast days and intentions. The entire month is dedicated to the Holy Rosary -- and it's also Domestic Violence Awareness Month as well as Respect Life Month.
That's why I've partnered with Laura Ercolino of Hope’s Garden to initiate a Rosary Campaign to pray for peace in homes and a healing of all Catholic marriages that have been sadly damaged by domestic abuse. Our goal is to inspire as many people and parishes as possible to dedicate a daily Rosary to the intention for the healing and restoration of marriages and families.
The statistics reveal a terrible reality: one in every three women in the U.S. has been, or is, in an abusive intimate relationship. For men, the statistics are also grim—one in every eight to ten men find themselves to be victims of violence within what should be the safety of their own homes. These statistics hold steady regardless of race, educational level, location—and religion. This means that when you attend Mass on any given day, chances are you will run into a falsely smiling parishioner who’s hiding a deep, confusing, and even shameful secret.
Their home isn't one of peace, but of confusion, division, heartbreak, and even terror.
It’s time to start talking about this devastating issue and to build healing,, support and awareness for Catholics suffering in abusive marriages.
In addition, the tragic pornography epidemic has drastically increased the rates of physical and sexual abuse within marriages and homes, and as Catholics we know the Rosary is the most powerful prayer weapon against this evil. Overcoming pornography addiction is another focus of our Rosary Campaign during the month of October.
Will you join us in this campaign for an end to domestic violence and peace in homes?
It’s very simple to participate!
Can you commit to a daily Rosary during the month of October with the intention of praying for peace within homes and for the healing and restoration of marriages and families? If praying a Rosary each day feels too much for you, you can still join this intention in your daily prayers by reciting just one Ave Maria.
Can you spread the word? The team at Create Soul Space and Hope's Garden has created a digital packet with resources and images that can be shared in parish bulletins or inserts, flyers, on social media, and more (links below). Please share these with your friends, on social media, and with your parish and/or diocese.
If you’re a Catholic organization whose mission is to help heal marriages and families, and would like to be included on our resource page, please send me your URL, logo, and a brief description of your ministry, so you can be included that way.
Our goal is to help all individuals impacted by domestic abuse to find the resources they need to access healing and restoration in Christ, strengthen their Catholic faith, and build homes founded on authentic love. Prayers are our primary means of healing, but also spreading the word in whatever way you are able is another huge step toward attaining the peace of Christ in all homes.
For more information, visit the Hope’s Garden website.
PDFs for bulletin inserts, boards, flyers etc.
Images for social media, websites, bulletins, flyers, etc.
