In the Midwest United States, thousands of children joined together on January 28 to pray the World Mission Rosary as part of Catholic Schools Week. This annual event celebrates Catholic education and occurs the last Sunday in January for a full week. The prayer event was organized by the Missionary Childhood Association (MCA) and connected students from 77 Catholic elementary schools across 14 US dioceses.
Participating dioceses included the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, Diocese of Columbus, and Diocese of Des Moines, among others. The MCA, which is part of the Pontifical Mission Societies USA, works alongside other missions to support schools and religious education throughout the country. The online recitation of the World Mission Rosary provided a chance for children to reflect on their own blessings while considering the struggles of peers worldwide who lack access to basic education.
Each decade of the World Mission Rosary symbolizes a different region: Africa, the Pacific Islands, Europe, the Americas, and Asia. This rosary was created in 1951 by Archbishop Sheen. Monsignor Roger J. Landry emphasized the importance of helping students understand global challenges and the value of prayer during this Jubilee of Hope. The MCA’s principle of ‘children helping children’ encourages students to support one another through prayer and actions to make a positive impact.