Spreading Love through the Rosary

Bula Brothers (Pronounced: Boo-law/Hello in Fijian) and Loloma kei na masu (Love and Prayers) from Fiji! I hope this article finds you all well. My name is Brother Marc Roque, I am a professed religious brother for the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary (SSCC) who is studying for the Catholic Priesthood in the beautiful islands of Fiji. I am also a 4th Degree Knight of the Knights of Columbus who belongs to Council #15262 - Father Robert Maher - St. Joseph Catholic Church, in Edinburg, Texas (Rio Grande Valley).

This past month, the Universal Church celebrated the Month of the Holy Rosary. For centuries, the Rosary has played a vital part in the prayer life of the Church. Many Popes, Catholic Theologians, Catholic authors and writers have written books on the beauty of praying and meditating on the Rosary. As a seminarian studying here in Fiji, praying the Rosary reminds me that our Blessed Mother is always with us, listening to us, and praying for us each and every single day. The Rosary is indeed a powerful tool that helps us stay strong and steadfast in faith during the good and bad moments we face. I can confidently say that a person’s life can change for the better, if they just took a few minutes of their day to meditate on the Mysteries of the Rosary. Therefore, as a faithful disciple of the Rosary, I have made it my own personal mission for the next 7 years, to make Rosaries and place them in the hands of those who need it the most here in the South Pacific.

So, what got me into making Rosaries? Well, the Rosary has a special place at the core of my family. As my mom and dad immigrated to the United States from the Philippines in the early 1990’s, both of them did not have much to bring to the U.S. But what they did have was a lot of faith. My mom and dad knew in their hearts that as they began to move into this new country and into a new culture, our Blessed Mother was always with them. To this day, my parents owe it to their devotion to our Blessed Mother and to the Rosary for giving them the perseverance that everything will work out. And so, my parents passed on their love of the Rosary unto me.

As I grew up, my love for the Rosary also grew. I loved the Rosary so much that I took an interest in making them. And so in November 2019, I joined a local church ministry here in Edinburg, Texas, where I learned how to make Rosaries. As of today, I have made a little over 4,000+ Rosaries that have made their way in numerous parishes and countries.To be honest, I never could have imagined that I would ever make 4,000 Rosaries. I initially started this ministry to make a couple of Rosaries for my family and friends. But after just making a few, I just couldn’t stop, for some reason I just had the urge to continue to make more. I owe it to our Blessed Mother for giving me the strength, enthusiasm, and patience to continue making Rosaries.

Now that I am here studying in Fiji, I can say with no reservation that the need for Rosaries is dire here in the South Pacific. The Catholic faith is indeed growing here in the South Pacific and people are craving to be closer to God. I am blessed that my Rosaries are getting people closer to Jesus Christ, through our Blessed Mother. Above all, it feels great to know that the Rosaries that I have made have been well received by the people of Fiji, Tonga, Kiribati, Samoa, American Samoa, and Papua New Guinea. If all goes as planned, with the help of my seminarian brothers, my Rosaries will eventually reach the shores of Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia by the end of this year.

As a missionary, my love for God and for selfless service is what gives me the energy to continue to work for the common good. The world needs people like us to act on the living words of the Gospel and spread the love that Jesus Christ teaches us. Therefore, as the Church continues to reflect on the power of the Rosary, may we continue to ask our Blessed Mother for her guidance, protection, and unconditional love for us, our families, our respective Councils, and for the good of the entire Order.

Finally, I give thanks to my KofC Council (#15262) and to Council #5598 - Father Jeremiah Casey - Sacred Heart Catholic Church (Edinburg, Texas) for their support towards my rosary-making ministry and my seminary studies. Once again, thank you for all your prayers and support towards seminarians like me. If you would like to learn more about my vocation story, my religious order, or my rosary-making ministry, please feel free to contact me at marc.roque01@gmail.com Vinaka Brothers! (Pronounced: V-nah-kah/Thank you in Fijian) Vivat Jesus!