Thirty-nine years ago, Kay Hockman was reading a Catholic Digest article about a woman who had started a
rosary group in her home. Hockman, a parishioner of All Saints Church in
Manassas, was inspired by the story and felt called to start her own rosary
group.
Hockman, the mother of 12, started the group in October 1978 with
seven women. The group meets every Wednesday in Hockman’s home to pray the
rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet.
Father Bob Cilinski, pastor of Church of the Nativity Parish in
Burke, recently celebrated Mass for the group to mark the anniversary.
Hockman said many prayers have been answered and conversions have
happened. One member went to confession for the first time in more than 50
years. Another member went through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults program
and became Catholic, with Hockman as her sponsor and godmother.
As some members have passed away, new members have joined. Currently,
there are 19 women who pray the rosary every week. Women from Germany, Ireland
and Italy have come to pray the rosary with the group.
It all started with Hockman saying “yes” to the Lord’s call. “Just
imagine what God can do through your life if your heart is open to His call,”
she said.
