By Dubravka Kolumbic-Cortese | Correspondent

The Blessed Mother’s message about the power of prayer through the recitation of the Rosary was not lost on the hundreds of faithful who gathered in Sacred Heart Church, Riverton, Oct. 5 for the third annual Night of Prayer for Families and Friends

Addressing the men, women and children of all ages representing several Burlington County parishes and students from Catholic elementary schools in his homily, Father Christopher Picollo, pastor of St. Katharine Drexel Parish, Burlington, who presided over the prayer service, said in his homily, “To gather together as a community in prayer is so important.”

Photo Gallery: Rosary Feast in Sacred Heart Church

Stating that whether prayers are offered individually or as a community, it is “When we pray, we tend to pray not only for ourselves, but for people who are around us, all those relationships we have in our lives. When we gather together to pray at Mass or to say the Rosary together, we are supporting one another and we’re praying for one another.”

Father Picollo spoke of how the Rosary shows the connection between the life of the Blessed Mother to the life of Jesus.

“It’s an important prayer that connects us to Jesus through his mother. The Glorious Mysteries are pointing us to Jesus and teaching us about our faith,” he said, then added that the Rosary can help persons to grow in humility and charity.

“The Mysteries of the Rosary give us time to reflect on the life of Christ and his mother.”

A mix of school children and clergy led the congregation in reciting the decades of the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary, and songs praising the Blessed Mother were sung throughout the evening. In the sanctuary, a statue of the Blessed Mother, adorned with flowers, was prominently placed in the sanctuary.

First time Rosary Feast attendant, Marlene Gasper of Sacred Heart Parish, said she was motivated to attend after reading an announcement in the parish bulletin, then went on to tell about her devotion to the Blessed Mother. Adding that she plans to bring her grandchildren to next year’s Rosary Feast, Gasper said, “The Rosary needs to be said. There is great hope in the Rosary.”

Samantha Bocci, 11, a sixth grader in Pope John Paul II School, Willingboro, and her brother, Jacob, 6, a first grader in the school, attended the evening with their dad, John. “It’s a great turnout,” John Bocci said, noting that he and his family are members of Corpus Christi Parish, Willingboro. “It’s good to get everyone together and to be a part of the devotion.”

Deacon Ken Heilig, of Sacred Heart Parish, was pleased to see the increased participation in the Rosary Feast with each year.

 “It’s very encouraging,” he said.

Cheyenne Peart, 13, an eighth grader in St. Paul School, Burlington, who led in the recitation of the Rosary with four classmates, said, “The Church is one community and there needs to be more of all the churches getting together in one environment.”

The impetus for the Rosary Feast came at the initiative of Karen Howard, a lifelong member of Sacred Heart Parish, who, with Father Picollo’s support and encouragement, had reached out to several neighboring parishes inviting them to the Rosary Feast. Like Deacon Heilig Howard was pleased with the large turnout that evening.

“I’d love to have the Church full,” she added. “It’s the new generation that’s really open to this. Prayer is so important. It’s a great time to pray.” 

Similarly, Father Picollo noted the mixed crowd of young and older in age, individuals and families, parochial school children and religious education students.

Encouraging the congregation to observe the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary on Oct. 7, he said, “Let the prayers of the Rosary we start tonight, become part of our hearts, part of our daily lives, so that our hearts can become more like our Lord, more like our Blessed Mother.”