Dear members and supporters of the Eucharistic Rosary Congresses,

I feel like I need to say a little about myself. I’m an artist— I predominantly paint and draw. I also have picked up photography within the last couple years and have been enjoying it. Cultivating my skills as an artist has been my focus for the majority of my life. I’m also interested in theology, specifically the theology of the body.

I’m a cradle Catholic, but I had some traumas within my early teenage years that led me away from the Church for a short time and caused me to believe a lie that told me that God did not love me.

Of course, I know this is false— not only does God love each and every one of us, He desires a unique relationship with each of us. He delights in you, in me, His sons and daughters. He created us because He loves us. Why, He loved us with such intensity to be born of the Virgin Mary, to dwell among us in the most vulnerable of ways: a baby, wrapped in swaddling clothes. To grow, to form friendships. To love. To mourn. To be tortured, to die. All for us. God became a human being, He became one of us, for us. That is reality.

I think it’s easier at times to see on an intellectual level that God loves us. It makes sense. But sometimes it's hard for the heart to know that, especially amidst the trials and hardships in life, big and small. Or at least that's how it is for me. Though many of the aforementioned wounds have begun to be or have been healed, that lie denying God’s love still manifests itself in struggling to trust in God, His love and His plans for my life.

When I received an email last year asking me to photograph the opening Mass for the Rosary Congress in my diocese, I was surprised since I had only been taking my photography more seriously for a short amount of time at that point. I’d also never heard of the Eucharistic Rosary Congresses (then called the Diocesan Rosary Congresses). But I was eager, it practically fell into my lap and I was happy to do it. Even then, I thought “that was a lovely Mass, and I love everything the Congress is doing… but I don’t have time to participate.” And so I didn’t sign up for an hour. Earlier this year, I was again contacted, this time to help with refreshing the Congresses’ logo. I thought it was curious since I am no graphic designer, but I brushed up on skills I hadn’t used in a while and saw it through.

Let’s fast forward to the 2023 Eucharistic Rosary Congress held at my parish in September. Alongside friends and loved ones prodding me to go to Adoration more and my own acknowledgement that I needed to spend my time with Christ more intentionally and a need to pray my daily Rosary more intentionally, I decided that this year, I was going to make an effort and go.

I was blessed in that, even if it wasn’t for a full hour, I was able to attend this year’s Congress almost every day during its span. It didn’t matter when I went—before work, after work, even later in the evening— there were always people present. Many familiar faces prayerfully adored our Lord, as well as faces of those I had never seen before, drawn to come to Him. To see our Lord so fervently attended made my heart swell.

As the bells tolled, ringing in the new hour, one who had signed up to lead the Rosary would come forward and pray the Rosary, their voice quiet yet resounding off the walls of the church. People would either join, which many of us chose to do, or continue in prayerful silence.

The peace and consolation Christ offers each of us was so tangibly present in those moments, and the blessings and graces that have poured from the Congress have continued to make themselves apparent. During the Congress, a friend prompted me to start my consecration to Merciful Love— and so, coupled with Adoration and the Rosary, I also meditated on Christ’s abundant and never-ending love and mercy as I sat before him.

All of this broke down a lot of walls within me, brought to light many wounds that had still sat, festering, for over a decade, and thus begun the healing process. I was able to see in a new way how God is constantly working in my life and the lives of others; my relationship with the Blessed Mother has been renewed and deepened with a more fleshed out admiration and love, which has in turn lead me to a rejuvenated love for my Lord and awe at His love for me. I experienced a renewed desire to go to Adoration as much as I can.

When October rolled around, an onslaught of sudden, unexpected sorrows and hardships befell my family and me. Even though I was blindsided by these things, I had been unknowingly prepared for them through the Congress. Christ was quick to answer my prayers through the intercession of our Blessed Mother, alongside the Saints (St. Therese Lisieux, especially), assuaging my tears. I was reminded that even in these storms that continue to buffet us, we must focus, like Mary does, on Jesus, to trust in the One who is ever present and ever loving and merciful.

I hope that in whatever season of life you find yourself in, whether you are currently on the mountain top, or if you are in the valley facing the onslaught, that you too can allow Christ to give you the peace, consolation, and love He desires to give you. I hope that you will consider participating in your parish’s Eucharistic Rosary Congress, or try to start one, and experience the graces that flow from it. Even if you aren’t able to go for a full hour, Christ takes whatever time we can give to him. He molds it into something new and beautiful and refreshes us with His presence. Outside of the Congresses, I hope you are able to make time for Adoration, and also time for the Rosary. Mary loves to lead us to Her Son.