For the thirty-second consecutive year, three San Gabriel valley parishes will host a Mother's Day Rosary Pilgimage in honor of the Blessed Mother and all earthly mothers.

The parishes - St. Christopher in West Covina, St. Louis of France in La Puente and St. Joseph in La Puente - will each host part of the May 10 event, which will include a procession, a decade of the rosary and a short talk given by Father Nestor Rebong, pastor of St. Christopher.

"I never dreamed it would go on this long," says Lorraine Kueter, organizer and one of the three founders of the annual event. "We have held this event in heat waves, gas shortages, good and bad times, and people continue to respond to the invitation to gather together in prayer."

This year, as in years past, a statue of Our Lady of Fatima will travel with the pilgrimage and be carried in the procession in each church, accompanied by children dressed as angels and the children of Fatima. It was at Fatima in 1917 that Mary came to children instructing them to pray for peace. Kueter believes that in these current, difficult times, people may come in greater numbers to pray for peace in their families, communities and the world.

"I think people have gotten more in touch with the need to pray," she explains, "because prayer is powerful and there is no greater gift you can give for someone you love."

Preparations have been underway for some time for the Pilgrimage and require a number of people to make things happen during the short time allotted at each parish on the day of the event.

Kueter says there is a chairperson and committee at each of the three parishes. She and the co-chairs are especially grateful for the support they have received for the Rosary Pilgrimage from the pastors: Father Matthew Cumberland (St. Joseph), Father Lorenzo Miranda (St. Louis of France) and Father Rebong (St. Christopher).

The Rosary Pilgrimage started in 1977 with a relatively small group of people from the three parishes and has grown over the years. Kueter emphasizes that anyone may participate, and encourages Catholics to invite non-Catholics to join in prayer on the day honoring mothers. She reminds everyone that they need not attend the entire pilgrimage, but may instead choose to attend at one or two of the parishes.

The event will begin at 3 p.m. at St. Christopher, at 629 S. Glendora Ave., West Covina; continue at 4 p.m. at St. Louis of France, 13935 E. Temple Blvd., La Puente; and conclude at 5 p.m. at St. Joseph, 550 N. Glendora Ave., La Puente. Information: (626) 917-1531.