What began as an initiative by Catholic students in Sydney, Australia, to pray online during the COVID-19 pandemic has now become a tool for solidarity between young Catholics across the globe.
Location is no longer a restriction but rather a testament to the faith
Last week, young Catholic students in Sydney rallied together in the wake of the closure of their usual campus ministries due to COVID-19 to continue their faith online with daily online rosary via the Zoom web app.
The event was reported in The Catholic Weekly and subsequently received the worldwide attention – in particular. Now, the online rosary held at 12pm Australian Eastern Standard Time, will not only have participants from Sydney, Australia but also participants from young Catholic societies in Canada, Honduras and the United States – tech savvy Catholics united in faith from the confines of their homes.
Tony Mattar, University Chaplain co-ordinator at the Archdiocese of Sydney, spoke to The Catholic Weekly on the trend of Zoom rosaries as a testament to the resilience of the faith despite immediate trials at hand.
“I think it’s great that what started once as a daily rosary with Catholics in university campuses in Sydney Australia has grown to become an international thing with other young Catholics around the world,” he said.
the rosary is the chain connecting us from continent to continent
“It is as if the rosary is the chain connecting us from continent to continent – young people united in prayer. Location is no longer a restriction but rather a testament to the faith of Catholics around the world.”
“This just goes to show that despite church doors being closed, the doors of the homes and are truly becoming the domestic churches that the young people are eager for and finding comfort and solace in.”
All are welcome to participate. To join the international online rosary at 12pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time on Thursday 2 April click here.
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