For the first time, Sacred Hearts Academy hosted a living rosary on its Kaimuki campus, bringing together approximately 500 lower and upper school students, faculty and staff for a significant religious occasion. This event last week aimed to unite the school community in prayer and reflection, fostering a deeper connection to the school’s Catholic faith-based values.

“We wanted to gather the entire school together to pray to Our Lady (Mother Mary),” said Head of Campus Ministry Sister Katherine Francis Miller, referring to the woman Christians and Catholics believe gave birth to Jesus. “(We also did this so) that Jesus would grant us peace in our world.”

During the living rosary, students sat facing the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, a replica of a shrine in France. Each student represented a bead in the rosary, which is a traditional string of beads or knots used by Catholics for prayer. Catholic tradition says Saint Dominic received the rosary from the Virgin Mary and promoted it to fight heresy. However, it likely developed from older prayer bead traditions.

A shared experience of faith and prayer

During the event, students took turns reading a set of prayers into a microphone, with the crowd repeating each prayer in unison. The rosary is traditionally completed by reciting several Catholic prayers, including the Apostles’ Creed, Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be and, on some occasions, the Fatima prayer.

The purpose of the living rosary, according to St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, is to unite parishes, communities and groups in asking Our Lady to bring faith, peace and love, emphasizing that “The more people that pray, the stronger the voice.”

Senior Anna Casupang, a member of the school’s worship team, shared her personal reflection on the event.

“Praying in a setting where I am surrounded by others was different for me,” she said. “Typically, I pray by myself in a secluded space; however, I did enjoy being able to share this experience with everyone and experience a different form of prayer.” 

As the prayer concluded, Casupang added, “This was a really peaceful moment and one that showed me how our school community can be joined by faith.”

Preparation and faith reinforcement

The worship team, called the Living In Faith Experience (L.I.F.E.) Team, played an important role in organizing the event. They assisted with the setup, made sure all the readers were in place and guided students as they brought flowers to the grotto.

In addition to the efforts of the worship team, theology teachers prepared their students by teaching them how to properly use the rosary and explaining the meaning behind each prayer. This collaborative approach reinforced the theological lessons students learn throughout the school year, aligning with the school’s mission to educate young women about Christianity.

“The event emphasized our mission as a school to proclaim the good news that Jesus, through Mary, has given us,” Miller said. “That is, to proclaim God’s love and care for His people, that God is close to us and hears our prayers when we call to Him.”

Overcoming challenges

Like any large event, the living rosary presented challenges, coordinators say. Lower School Principal Cynthia McIntyre emphasized the importance of planning and preparation, noting, “You must plan ahead, and if it’s an outdoor event, you need a backup plan in case of bad weather.”

The school faced issues with sound and the bright sunlight. Staff members worked to adjust speaker volume and address microphone feedback and malfunctions. The sun’s position also affected some students, who struggled with the brightness. Many attempted to shield their eyes with their hands.

Despite these challenges, the school community handled them with patience and teamwork, Miller said. 

“The challenges were met by people being willing to be involved and carrying out their assigned tasks to the best of their ability, being patient and kind in working together as a team,” she said.

Engaging younger students

One of the highlights of the event was its ability to engage younger students, fostering a sense of connection between the school’s lower and upper school communities. McIntyre believes that such events allow younger students to bond with their older peers, helping them feel like an integral part of the school community.

“Our younger students learn by making connections to their own lives and experiences,” McIntyre said. “When their ‘big sisters’ are involved, they feel like part of something important. We hope these experiences inspire curiosity and a love for learning.”

Casupang also observed the younger students’ engagement during the event. 

“Sitting in the front for the event, I was able to observe the younger students,” she said. “They were very attentive throughout the event, trying their best to pay attention and absorb what was happening around them.”

Building on success

With the success of this first living rosary, Miller looks forward to hosting more of these events in the future. 

“I think we could showcase the mysteries of the rosary, where students could dress up,” she said, referring to the five mysteries that center around the life of Jesus and Mary. “It would add a little more drama to the event.”

McIntyre sees this as an opportunity for continued growth and student leadership. 

“We would love to do another living rosary, where we can build upon the first one,” she said. “We definitely would like to empower our students to take on more responsibility for planning and running this event, further providing opportunities for leadership and faith-building.”