Rosary Fest brought many to small parish dedicated to the Blessed Mother

In preparation for the Rosary Fest this statue of the  Blessed Mother was moved from outside to the inside of Our Lady of the Rosary Church. Committee members decorated the backdrop and arranged candles and flowers around the statue and a petition box was placed on the second tier for special prayer intentions throughout the day. Mary Cottingham, South Texas Catholic

Twenty parishes answered the call to pray and celebrate the Month of the Rosary at the inaugural Rosary Fest held at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in Corpus Christi on Oct. 7. There were several reasons for hosting the Rosary Fest at Our Lady of the Rosary for which the church was named, but Father Gabriel P. Coelho said that primarily “it was to honor the Blessed Mother, thank her and ask for more blessings.”

Father Coelho, pastor to Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, said his church, which is located on the auspiciously named Main Drive but is actually in an inconspicuous area of Tuloso-Midway, needs more exposure. “Over all, I would think that from this celebration a message may be clear that our church needs expansion and growth in the future,” Father Coelho said.

The Rosary Fest committee members, spearheaded by Juanita Escobar, provided meals, refreshments and fellowship in the parish hall for all the visiting groups of parishioners from Alice, Aransas Pass, Beeville, Corpus Christi, Mathis, Odem, Robstown, Sinton and Vattman.

The committee planned every detail of the event. The Blessed Mother statue was moved from outside the church and placed in a concaved wall to the right of the altar. Lights illuminated the backdrop where the Blessed Mother stood holding the child Jesus and a white translucent fabric was draped in front of the lights.
 

Some of the Rosary Fest committee members pose during one of six meetings held to plan the event. Committee members provided refreshments and meals for visiting prayer groups throughout the day.  Father Gabriel Coelho, Contributor

At the Blessed Mother’s feet were two red glass candleholders lit on either side of her. Pink and red roses were placed on the altar and on the three steps leading to the statue of Mary and Jesus. A petition box was placed on the second tier for special prayer intentions. The Blessed Mother held Jesus in one arm and both Mother and Child held a large handmade rosary.

Sister Maria Elena Banderas Rangel, OP led a live rosary prior to the Mass, with children dressed as angels giving out colored balloons to each participant; each color representing a different mystery of the rosary. The balloons were released into the air, symbolizing the transmission of prayers that had been given to the Blessed Mother during the day.

The church was filled during Mass, which was concelebrated by Father Coelho, Msgr. Michael Howell from St. Andrew by the Sea Parish—who gave the homily, Father Tony Blount, SOLT from St. Anthony Parish in Robstown, Father José Angel Ortiz from Immaculate Conception Parish in Gregory and Father Juan Fernando Gámez from St. Joseph in Alice. Deacon Jesse Hinojosa from Corpus Christi Cathedral also assisted in the Mass.

During the Mass, the musical group Fuerza Christiani played traditional Spanish songs beloved by members of the congregation.

Members of other parishes participated in the planning and came to pray in the Rosary Fest. Father Henry Artunduaga, from Nuestra Señora de san Juan de Los Lagos, accompanied a group of parishioners and conducted the rosary and other devotions. Father Paul Peter Antony from Our Lady of Consolation came from Vattmann to offer prayers with one of his parishioners.

“I saw a deacon, a doctor and many others who made time to visit and pray during the day,” Father Coelho said.

“We prayed for all parishes in our diocese, vocations, conversion of sinners, peace, harmony, unity and many other needs and intentions. By celebrating the Fest and praying rosaries we also tried to send out a message of the importance of prayer and conversion which is the outcome of any preaching,” Father Coelho said.