Thousands of worshippers and dozens of buses from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and beyond will be headed to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena May 19 for The Rosary Bowl, "A World at Prayer is a World at Peace®: A Rosary Celebration."
As of May 4, more than 50,000 tickets have been issued, said event organizers, with more than 100 buses chartered by parishes and groups in the archdiocese as well as from the San Diego, Orange and San Bernardino dioceses. St. Peter Chanel Church, Hawaiian Gardens, has 10 buses coming; St. Agnes, Los Angeles, has seven; and Mission Santa Inés, Solvang, has joined St. Raphael, Goleta, in chartering a bus.
"It was truly incredible what happened at the Mission in terms of charity and generosity," said Denise Gauld, Santa Inés' parish event coordinator. "We were short of people and couldn't get enough money to reserve the bus. But when the word got out that we needed money, people who couldn't go started donating $40 seats for fellow parishioners who couldn't afford to go."
Needing $320 to reserve the bus, the parish raised the money within minutes after Mass.
Organizers said people also are coming from around the U.S. and the world. The Rosary Bowl will be one of the key stops for a pilgrimage 15 people from the Philippines led by former Vatican Ambassador from the Philippines Frank Alba. Parishes in other parts of the country, such as in Oregon and Michigan, will be simultaneously praying the Rosary during the times of The Rosary Bowl.
The speakers at what is expected to be the largest outdoor prayer of the Rosary in Southern California in 50 years include Rwandan genocide survivor Immaculée Ilibagiza, international humanitarian and author of "Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust."
Ilibagiza was born in Rwanda and studied Electronic and Mechanical engineering at the National University of Rwanda. During the Rwanda genocide in 1994, she lost most of her family, but survived to share the story and her transition into forgiveness and a profound relationship with God.
Four years later, she emigrated from Rwanda to the United States and began working for the United Nations in New York City. She has since established the Left to Tell Charitable Fund to help others heal from the long-term effects of genocide and war. Today, she lives in Long Island, N.Y., with her husband and their two children.
The Rosary Bowl multi-cultural event is sponsored by Holy Cross Family Ministries of Easton, Mass., and its local member Family Theater Productions, Hollywood, in collaboration with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
The Worship and Praise segment (6-7:20 p.m.) will feature music, including by The Rosary Bowl choir composed of parish choir members directed by Ed Archer of St. Monica Church, and inspirational talks. That will be followed by the banner and Eucharistic processions, adoration, prayer of the Glorious Mysteries, with the "Hail Mary" prayed in 55 languages, a homily by Cardinal Roger Mahony and benediction.
Inspirational speakers for the Rosary Bowl include Bishop Oscar Solis, Vicar for Ethnic (Multi-cultural) Ministries for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, and Carl Anderson, Supreme Knight, Knights of Columbus. Other participants include actress and former Miss Mexico Jacky Bracamontes and actor Eduardo Verastegui, star of the film "Bella," who will offer personal reflections on the mysteries.
Veteran Los Angeles broadcaster Stan Chambers will make the opening introductions and former gubernatorial candidate William Simon and Christian recording artist Sue Ann Pinner will emcee the event.
"The Rosary Bowl brings to Los Angeles the mature flowering of the international ministry whose seeds were sown by the 'Rosary Priest,' Servant of God Father Patrick Peyton. This 'American Apostle of the Family Rosary' promoted family prayer through massive outdoor Rosary rallies in more than 40 countries," stated Holy Cross Father Willy Raymond, national director of Family Theater in Hollywood.
"Our goal in planning the Rosary Bowl is to gather all 55 nationalities and ethnic groups in the Southland to pray for peace through the intercession of the Queen of Peace," said Holy Cross Father Willy Raymond, national director of Family Theater. "We fully intend to fill the Rose Bowl with the many voices of our faithful people crying out to heaven for help in creating a civilization love and peace."
The Rosary Bowl is free and open to the public; tickets are needed for entry and can be ordered online at www.rosarybowl.org, via e-mail at info@rosarybowl.org or by calling (800) 874-0999. Rose Bowl stadium parking fees are $15 per car and $40 per bus; $35 bus parking passes are available by e-mailing or calling The Rosary Bowl headquarters. |