A small group of Lower Mainland Catholics braved the cold Wednesday night to pray a candlelight Rosary in prayerful solidarity with people they don’t know who live halfway round the world
Rosary organizer Sonya Scaglione said she was both disturbed and inspired by a recent 13 article in Crisis Magazine about the desperation of Austrian citizens. The article’s author reported a drastic rise in tension as citizens already under draconian lockdowns looked toward a universal vaccine mandate beginning Feb. 1.
The gathering took place at Kensington Park along Hastings, across from Fellburn Care Centre “to bear witness to prayer and at the same time to offer encouragement to others” in opposing universal COVID vaccine mandates.
Scaglione said she was inspired by the Austrians’ response through a campaign called “Austria Prays!”
The article’s author, Dr. Jennifer Bryson, a Fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C., and currently living in Austria, said Austrians are “exhausted from the political responses to COVID.”
Louis-Pierre Laroche, an Austrian wine merchant and father of 11, issued a call to his fellow citizens to gather in public prayer, specifically, the Rosary.
“Pray,” he said, “so that our country, currently in one of the most serious crises in its history, will be entrusted to the Mother of God, and to ask for her intercession for all citizens.” Since November, Austrians in increasing numbers have gathered every Wednesday evening to do just that.
The “Austria Prays!” movement is already spreading to other countries, and Scaglione is hoping like-minded Catholics will join her. Scaglione said she wants to grow the “mustard seed” that was planted in Austria, which is why she is promoting a homegrown campaign, “Canada Prays!”
“In Austria, a beacon of hope has been sparked,” said Scaglione. “I want to thank Louis-Pierre Laroche for reminding us of the importance of intercessory prayer and public witness, like these public Rosaries, and of how that witness offers encouragement to others.”
“Sometimes we need to be a light in the darkness to those who, maybe, can only see darkness today.”
Scaglione’s advice to anyone wanting to start a Wednesday candlelight Rosary in their own community is simple: “Pick a place and a time. Invite your friends, family, fellow parishioners, anybody you can, to bring a candle and a Rosary, and pray together. It’s that easy. Our Holy Mother will bless and guide you.”
Scaglione said she’d like to hear from anyone who is taking up the initiative. She can be emailed at mrs.sgr6@gmail.com.
