From WelCom Issue 4 – September 2025
October is traditionally known in the Church as the month of the Rosary. It is a time when we turn with special affection and gratitude to Our Lady, who is both mother and companion to us on our journey of faith.
What a remarkable gift Mary is to the Church. At the heart of her life is a simple and profound yes to God: “Let it be done to me according to your word.” In that moment of trust, she opened herself fully to God’s plan and allowed the Saviour to enter our world. Mary shows us what it means to be disciples, listening deeply to God’s call, surrendering to grace, and carrying Christ into the lives of others.
As we mark this Marian month, I invite each of you to rediscover the Rosary as a prayer for our time. It is not an old-fashioned devotion best left in the past; rather, it is a living prayer that draws us into the mystery of Christ through the eyes of Mary. With every bead we touch, we are reminded that our lives are held in God’s hands. The Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, and Glorious mysteries are not abstract episodes, but moments of Jesus’ life that shed light on our own joys, struggles, and hopes.
Mary also helps us grow in solidarity with one another. She stood with the poor in Nazareth, she walked with the disciples, she remained at the foot of the Cross, and she prayed with the early Church at Pentecost. In Aotearoa New Zealand, where so many cultures gather in one family of faith, we see in Mary a mother who embraces us all. She speaks every language of the heart, and she draws us together not only as Catholics but as people seeking hope and peace in a fractured world.
This month, as families, parishes, and schools, let us place our lives under her care. I encourage you to pray the Rosary together, around the dinner table, in your parish, in your classroom, or even during a quiet walk. Pray it for peace in our homes and in our world, for those who are struggling to find faith, and for our young people who need the courage to follow Christ in today’s society.
Mary’s presence is gentle yet strong. She never points to herself but always to her Son. In her company, we are never alone. As we honour her in October, may she help us to listen more carefully to the voice of the Lord, to love more generously, and to live with the joy of the Gospel.
Kia tau te rangimārie o te Karaiti ki a koutou katoa.
May the peace of Christ be with you always.