The event will feature an array of guest speakers, including former Chicago radio legend Kevin Matthews, Chicago Bears Vice President Patrick McCaskey, Fr. David Marcham, Vice Postulator for the Cause of Venerable Patrick Peyton, and Fr. Fred Jenga, C.S.C., President of Holy Cross Family Ministries, and many more.
The event is being hosted at Carmel Catholic High School, and the sponsoring organization is Crystal Lake-based Family Rosary Rallies. The founders, Chris and Michael Flood, stumbled upon a heartwarming vintage image online of Soldier Field overflowing with people united in prayer, shoulder to shoulder, reciting the Rosary.
This inspired them to reach out to Chicago Bears Vice President Patrick McCaskey, Chairman of Sports Faith International (also a presenting sponsor), in an effort to reignite the inspiring mission of Venerable Patrick Peyton. Fr. Peyton was determined to spend his life promoting devotion to The Blessed Virgin so that everyone could come to know the blessings available to those who turn to her with confidence and love.
He promoted family prayer, especially the family Rosary, in parish missions, on radio, and later television, and his rosary rallies were broadcast worldwide. He convinced celebrities such as
Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly, and Raymond Burr to lend their fame to the promotion of the rosary and several of his famous Rosary Crusades drew crowds of over 2 million people. Fr. Peyton understood naturally what it means to be a man with hope to bring, and he lovingly coined the phrase “The family that prays together, stays together.”
He established Holy Cross Family Ministries in 1948. Its mission continues to this day to inspire, promote and foster the prayer life and spiritual well-being of families.
The organizers hope to reestablish prayer in the family and the positive effect it can have on teenagers. “So many kids are struggling with anxiety and not aware of the great love that's available to them,” said event volunteer Lisa Elert. “Whether one person shows up or 10,000,
God wants every soul to know His peace and share in the joy of coming to know Him through the Blessed Mother and Her Rosary. Ultimately, that is the goal.”
Says Family Rosary Rallies’ Chris Flood: “There are distinct aspects to this mission—One is to bring families together to pray again. The other is to highlight vocations, while the third is to bring about the canonization of Father Patrick Payton.” Flood explained that years ago, it was a cherished practice for Catholic families to come together in the evening to pray the Rosary.
However, during the 1960s and 1970s, this devotion to Our Blessed Mother began to wane. “Today, as our families, homes, country, and world face overwhelming challenges, the need for our Holy Mother is more urgent than ever. Our heartfelt desire is to see the Family Rosary renewed, so future generations can experience its fruits of peace, joy, and hope.”
“Many Catholic families have cherished the tradition of daily Rosary prayer, and after embracing this practice, we invite everyone to our Rosary for Hope on May 4 to experience firsthand the peace and grace it brings,” added Carmel Chief Mission Officer Kambra French.
The event is free and open to the public; tickets can be obtained beforehand by visiting www.familyrosaryrallies.org.