For the first time, Sacred Hearts Academy hosted a living rosary on its Kaimuki campus, bringing together students, faculty and staff for this religious occasion.

“We wanted to do this…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 believed to have given birth to Jesus. “(We also did this so) that Jesus would grant us peace in our world.”

During last month’s living rosary, close to 500 Lower and Upper School participants sat facing the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes. Each student represented a bead in the rosary, which is a physical string of beads or knots to which Catholics use to pray. It may often be used to pray after dinner or before going to bed. The rosary is unlimited.

Students received rosaries, with several also getting a rose to later place at the Mother Mary statue. When it was time to begin the living rosary, students took turns reading the set of prayers on a microphone. The school repeated in unison before moving on to the next prayer. The rosary is completed by praying the Apostles Creed, Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be and, on some occasions, the Fatima prayer.

“Praying in a setting where I am surrounded by others was different for me,” senior Anna Casupang 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.”

Casupang is part of the school’s LIFE Team, or worship team. As the prayer ended, Casupang said, “This was a really peaceful moment and one that showed me how our school community can be joined by faith.”

A living rosary can occur at churches, schools and, according to Miller, “in all of the places where Our Lady has appeared.” These include places like Rue du Bac, France (1830), Akita, Japan (1973) and Fatima, Portugal (1917).

With the success of the first living rosary, Miller said she looks forward to the school hosting more in the near future.

“I think what we could do would be (to showcase) the mystery, where we would have students dress up,” said Miller, referring to the five mysteries of the rosary surrounding the life of Jesus and Mary. “(It would) put a little more drama into (the event).”