February 20, 2017 – Tiosejo (St. Peregrine Laziosi Media Office) The Block Rosary is a devotion where an image or statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary visits the home of a family within the community for a week or so. It encourages the family to pray the Rosary everyday not only for their own intentions but for the intentions of the whole community.

At Tiosejo Subdivision, the Block Rosary has been practiced for some time. Headed by the local Parish Pastoral Unit, Block Rosaries are held every Monday at 7PM. A procession starts at the house of the current host or family where the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary has been visiting for a week and ends at the house of the next host. Marian hymns are sung during the procession. The recitation of the Rosary is said to welcome the image into the new home. Although it is not a requirement and is optional, the new host hands out refreshments after the prayers to those who participated.

Members of the Block Rosary Crusade are usually the most ardent devotees of our Blessed Mother. Notable in tonight’s Block Rosary was the presence of the youth who participated and led the recitation of the Holy Rosary. The Block Rosary was established to promote the neighborhood Rosary prayer and devotion to the Blessed Mother. It is commendable that such an initiative is reaching out not only to the Marian devotees but to the youth as well.

This devotion has enriched the lives of those who take a sincere part in it and requests for a schedule for the image to revisit their homes are most frequent (wedding anniversaries, birthdays, when a family member is sick, or on the death anniversary of a family member or relative). Requesting a visit is not for members only, anyone who is willing to host the image of the Blessed Mother for a week or for an occasion could just simply contact their local Parish Council Coordinator and most definitely, a schedule would be put in order.

Through the Block Rosary, the community and families’ faith are strengthened. The family is the hope of the Church and the Block Rosary is one of the great family traditions of the Catholic Church that we can pass on to our children as an inheritance. It is also a good way for neighbors to get to know each other better. The Block Rosary fosters not only common prayer but friendships and goodwill as well.