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Last Updated: Friday - 09/24/2010
Week of April 29, 2002
Knights live the rosary prayer
K of C members take rosary program to city school children
By RENATO GANDIA
WCR Staff Writer
Edmonton
Tony Senger grew up praying the holy prayers of the rosary. But it was when he became a member of the Knights of Columbus and received a rosary from the order that an idea to promote devotion to the rosary came to him.
"As a knight, we're asked to say the rosary every day," Senger told the WCR.
Already practiced in this devotion, the Allan, Sask. native took his spiritual activity one step further and took part in the K of C's home to home rosary program.
During one of their meetings, a member suggested trying to bring rosary devotion from school to school.
The group thought it was a good idea and Senger set about to discover how they could bring the program to Edmonton's Catholic schools.
This 68-year-old knight handled the paperwork and a program was started at St. Michael's School. From there, they branched out to other schools.
"When my class prayed with you, I felt so good. I'm not a Christian, so this was a great experience."- city school child |
Today, Senger with the help of his wife, Margaret, runs six programs involving 15 schools and 3,591 students in the Edmonton area.
Each program is composed of three to five schools, depending on the number of classes in each school.
A program needs at least 40 classes so that the eight-month long rotation of praying the rosary is complete.
Council 1184 provides each program with a 10-inch statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a crucifix and rosaries for the students to use.
They also provide prayer booklets for the students, one for kindergarten to Grade 3 and another for Grade 4 and up.
The booklet explains how to pray the rosary. It includes the different mysteries, welcome and concluding prayers.
Artworks that students can colour after they have prayed the rosary are also included. Booklets for the older grades feature Scriptural rosary.
"The students are very excited," said Senger. "They are very happy to receive the rosary. Some of them never had one."
The appreciative youngsters sent the Knights thank you letters.
One letter said, "Thank you for the rosaries. I learned that the rosary is Mary's favourite prayer. The rosary is treasured a lot."
A non-Catholic student writes, "When my class prayed with you, I felt so good. I'm not a Christian, so this was a great experience."
One student prayed the rosary everyday so his parents parents would be resolved.
No school that Senger approached has rejected the program.
In fact when some teachers move, they suggest bringing the program to their new school.
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