The month of October is dedicated each year to the Most Holy Rosary, while the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary is celebrated annually on 7 October. The ‘Zoom Family Rosary’, allows families to connect, online, to pray the Rosary when we can’t be together in person due to COVID-19 restrictions. You probably have questions about it, so here is all you need by way of explanation:
THE ‘ZOOM FAMILY ROSARY’ FAQs
What is the ‘Zoom Family Rosary’?
The ‘Zoom Family Rosary’ is an online meeting place where families from Ireland and other parts of the world can pray the Rosary together, using mobile phones, tablets, laptops and desktop computers. No matter where you are, you can take part – in your kitchen, your sitting room, your car, or your garden.
What is Zoom?
‘Zoom’ is being widely used during the pandemic for online meetings, and is a popular easy-to-use app. The potential for Zoom to be used as a family prayer resource quickly became apparent, and so the ‘Zoom Family Rosary’ was born.
Do I need to register before taking part in the ‘Zoom Family Rosary’?
Yes, but first the parent will have to download the Zoom app from the App Store or Google Play, or search for ‘Zoom’ using their browser – then sign up for free.
Once that’s done, the parent clicks a link which will bring them to a web page where they can register.
Once registered, you will receive a return email with a clickable link to ‘Join’. This link will bring you to the ‘Zoom Family Rosary’. Use this link each Saturday to join in the online Rosary.
Is there a financial cost for taking part?
There are no financial costs for taking part.
Who came up with the idea of the ‘Zoom Family Rosary’?
The idea was inspired by Pope John Paul II’s call for laypeople to use modern technology to share the message of Christ with others. Two lay people, Mark McDermott and Paul Martin, looked at how they could make the ‘Zoom Family Rosary’ as family-friendly as possible. Mark and his wife Mary have five children and live in Co Kildare. Paul and his wife Nóirín have three children and live in Dublin. Mark and Paul are both active in their local parish councils.
Are many families joining in?
The ‘Zoom Family Rosary’ has been growing steadily over the past few months during the COVID-19 pandemic and has received a great reaction from those taking part. The beauty of this online, interactive Rosary is its ability to link families from Ireland and around the world (including Europe, the US and Middle East).
What happens on a ‘Zoom Family Rosary’?
We start the Rosary with a short music video, which is aimed at children. Mark then leads the Rosary and invites children from the various families to pray each decade (each Rosary consists of five ‘decades’, that is, one ‘Our Father’, ten ‘Hail Mary’s’, and one ‘Glory be’). The Rosary lasts for 20 minutes, with the option for everyone to take part in a short, friendly chat at the end.
When does the ‘Zoom Family Rosary’ take place?
We gather together online at 6.00pm every Saturday. Everyone is most welcome to join us!
How to register and join the ‘Zoom Family Rosary’?
To register and join the ‘Zoom Family Roary’ follow the link to https://rathfarnhamparish.ie/uncategorised/zoom-family-rosary/