PEYTON PRAYER GUILD

I would like to share one significant example of how devotion to Father Peyton’s ministry and Cause for Sainthood took root and blossomed. In the Philippines, the first Family Rosary Crusade unit (F.R.C.) was established in 1947. It began with a parish priest giving a photo of the Blessed Mother to a young mother and teacher. The photo was from Father Peyton, and below it was written: “Be an apostle of Our Lady of the Rosary. Spare no effort of Mind or Body or Heart to make the Rosary Every-day in Every Family Circle.” Mrs. Lily Soriano Pujol would take this message to heart and make it come alive in her classroom and then her parish.

Father Peyton would then come and lead the first Rosary Rally in 1951 at the request of the Dominican Fathers. This would lead to a nationwide Rally in 1959 that drew 1.5 million people to Luneta Park. With the preparation for and participation in each Rally, more people became involved in parish-based F.R.C. units. From 1951-1985, Father Peyton led 18 Rosary Rallies in the Philippines with a total attendance of 6.4 million people. Over these years, and to this date, Father Peyton’s message, “The Family That Prays Together Stays Together,” took hold and, when combined with the love of the Blessed Mother, resulted in radio and television programs that encouraged and informed the faithful in the Philippines.

Today, these efforts continue through the National Family Rosary Center, led by Father Wilson Thoppilan, C.S.C., along with Mission Director, Father James (Jimmy) Mathew, C.S.C., and assisted by their colleagues. The F.R.C. units typically meet monthly on the first Saturday at their home parish. Members gather at dawn for a procession in honor of “Mama” Mary that leads to the Holy Mass and prayer of the Rosary, during which some units pray for the Beatification and intercession of Venerable Patrick Peyton.  As Mission Director, Father Mathew has made it a priority to visit these units each month. Both he and Father Wilson encourage members and, when needed, introduce prayers of intercession and Beatification/Canonization.

Father Wilson and Father Mathew expressed their gratitude for all involved in the works of prayer and mercy done by F.R.C. units. One such example which relates to the 2nd Joyful Mystery of the Rosary was a visit by Father Jimmy and F.R.C./Father Peyton Prayer Guild members to Mary Mother of Mercy Home for the Elderly and Abandoned. During this visit, the members of the F.R.C. unit of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral Parish in Cubao engaged the community, which houses around 20 residents, in conversation, asking how they are doing, their interests and hobbies, etc. They then gathered for group prayer.  Toward the end of the group prayer, Fr. Jimmy prayed over each one of them for their healing and well-being.

Fr. Jimmy shares that what is strikingly inspiring is that, despite the limitations brought about by their circumstance and age–related concerns, they felt a profound sense of happiness as they gathered together in prayer. This profound sense of joy was an inspiration for the F.R.C. team. The group shared lunch with them by giving out lunch packs.  The F.R.C. unit also donated sacks of rice and bags of groceries for the residents.

The visit to the community is one of the outreach programs initiated by different F.R.C. units as part of their mission of “giving back.” The Mary Mother of Mercy Home for the Elderly and Abandoned is located in San Pedro, Laguna, and is under the care of the Sisters of St. Francis Xavier.   

Sister Naw Myint, O.S.S.F.X., with the other members of the community and the caregivers, was extremely happy and grateful for the visit. F.R.C. looks forward to spending more time with the residents and the chance to pray the Rosary and celebrate the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Fathers Wilson and Mathew noted that each unit that prays the Rosary and for the intercession and Beatification/Canonization of Venerable Patrick Peyton is a member of the Father Peyton Prayer Guild, united in prayer with members around the world.  

Thanks to Father Patrick Peyton’s missions to the Philippines, many souls have received and implemented the family Rosary into their lives. What began as a desire to repay Our Blessed Mother and Our Lord, Jesus, continues to bear fruit in the many islands of the Philippines. In return, many seek to share the life and ministry of Venerable Patrick Peyton both locally and worldwide through praying for his intercession and for his Beatification/Canonization.

In Jesus and Mary,

Father David S. Marcham

Vice Postulator and Guild Director