HONG KONG (SE): A weekly rosary prayer service was organised by St. Francis’ Church, Ma On Shan, on every Saturday of May, the Month of Mary, to pray for the end of the Covid-19 coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic.
The prayers are coordinated by representatives from five to over 10 housing estates in Ma On Shan. Father Manohar Jyothi, parish priest, said the representatives were glad to be chosen to pray for their housing estates, as well as for the parish and the diocese.
“As there has been no public Mass for a long time, there was little chance for interaction between parishioners. The rosary can help bring people together. We hope that parishioners can feel that the parish is their home while praying the rosary,” Father Jyothi said. He hopes that the gathering will encourage participants to show concern for their neighbours and pray for one another.
The prayer services begin with a brief talk on one of the five Mysteries of the Rosary.
Father Jyothi said he was inspired by Pope Francis’ Marathon of Prayer in which 30 shrines around the world pray the rosary each day of May for an end to the Covid-19 pandemic and for those most affected by it.
Josephine Chow Yuen-han, chairperson of the pastoral council of the parish, said the support of parishioners for the prayer meetings show that many of them love praying the rosary. She also hopes that the activity will encourage parishioners to get to know each another as they may not know their neighbours.
