Myanmar joins “One Million Children Praying the Rosary” campaign

Catholic children in the archdiocese of Yangon and diocese of Mawlamyaine took part in the ‘One Million Children Praying the Rosary’ Campaign on October 18. Missionary Childhood Association in Myanmar led the rosary campaign focusing on worldwide unity and peace.

Aid to the Church in Need organized the worldwide rosary campaign for unity and peace, inviting all countries to participate in the global initiative.

The prayer event was streamed on the Facebook page of the archdiocese of Yangon.

Auxiliary Bishop John Saw Yaw Han of Yangon Archdiocese and Father Benedino Ne’ Ne,’ the Director of Pontifical Mission Society (PMS) in Myanmar, took part in the event.

Similarly, Bishop Raymond Saw Po Ray of Mawlamyaine joined 150 participants via Zoom video conference to pray the rosary on occasion.

“This rosary campaign should not be the very first event and also should not be the last one. It should be the event that takes place always throughout our lives,” said Bishop Raymond Saw Po Ray.

Bishop Raymond Saw Po Ray noted that “It is a form of prayer, imploring the divine graces through Mary since She took part in the salvation history from the beginning to the end. And we pray the rosary for the unity and peace of our country and the World.”

“Children are sinless and their prayer is really powerful in the sight of God. Their Guardian Angels are always close to them and always convey the prayer of the Children to God,” said Naw Paulina, a school teacher.

It was a coordinated event with the guidance of the Bishops, Dioceses, Catholic Schools, Boarding Houses worldwide to pray the rosary with the one million children on October 18.

The children’s rosary campaign was initiated in 2005 in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas. While a number of children were praying the rosary at a wayside shrine, several of the people present recalled that Saint Padre Pio had said: “When one million children pray the rosary, the world will change.” The campaign quickly spread across the world.  

“It is an appropriate activity since children in many countries are facing political and Covid-19 crisis. Many become refugees and are in a situation in which their survival is life-threatening and it seems that there is no future for them,” said  Daw Mary Assumpta, a mother in the Yangon Archdiocese.