Archdiocese’s Rosary Rally seeks 50,000 rosaries to help those in spiritual battle

Catholics across the Archdiocese of Omaha have been challenged to help pray 50,000 rosaries in October to encourage young men and women discerning calls to the priesthood and consecrated life.

Father Scott Schilmoeller

The Archdiocese of Omaha’s October Rosary Rally for Vocations will be a monthlong campaign calling on the faithful to pray the rosary for vocations in support of these young Catholics, said Father Scott Schilmoeller, the archdiocese’s vocations director.

Currently, 22 men from the archdiocese are in seminaries discerning priesthood and 24 men and women are in formation for consecrated life, he said.

Studies have shown that more than half of those discerning a call to the priesthood report being discouraged from that vocation by at least one person close to them, sometimes parents and loved ones, he said.

“They’re trying to follow the Lord’s call, and it’s a spiritual battle,” Father Schilmoeller said in announcing the rally on the “Spirit Mornings” show on Spirit Catholic Radio Network.

They not only face external pressures in an increasingly distracted and faithless culture, but they also must weather the whispers of the enemy seeding doubt in their faith and future, he said.

“It’s very difficult for them in their own discernment.”

The October Rosary Rally seeks to offer reassurance to these young adults, some of whom may not have told anyone they are discerning a vocation, he said.

During October, Catholics are invited to pray the rosary with their families, in their small groups, at their parishes, at rosary events, with Spirit Catholic Radio or each other via social media, asking the Blessed Mother’s intercession for those discerning vocations, Father Schilmoeller said.

Afterward they can log the number on the October Rosary Rally website on Omahavocations.org, and a counter will update how many rosaries have been prayed during the rally so far. Rosaries can also be logged by email or by calling 402-827-3749 throughout the month of October.

This spring, a rosary campaign for fallen away Catholics by Bishop Robert Barron inspired Father Schilmoeller to pursue a similar effort, as he saw how thousands responded to that equally important cause for the Church, he said.

In his own work, prayers of the faithful in the archdiocese bolster his office’s efforts building connections with leaders who interact with young people, hosting vocations encounter events, coordinating discernment groups and working one-on-one with those on a vocations journey, he said.

Having the rally in October, the month of the Holy Rosary, gives added meaning to the prayers.

“When we rally around praying the rosary, get our Mother involved even more and ask Heaven to really be connected with them through the support of a multitude of prayers from across the archdiocese, I really think it’s going to bear much fruit,” he said.

“There’s always fear, there’s always doubts, but now with the Heavenly assistance and prayers of the people of the archdiocese, I think it will be tangibly felt in our seminarians, in those who are discerning consecrated life and those who are hearing God’s voice for the first time and are being called.”

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ROSARY RALLY

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