Two days after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Feb. 26, 2022, Father James R. Gould, pastor of St. Francis de Sales Church in Purcellville, made an announcement to the parish.
“The day the invasion happened, I said to everyone, ‘This is evil. This is a demonstration of evil, and we’re going to start a rosary every night until it’s over,’ ” Father Gould said. More than a year and a half later, the nightly rosary continues: “It’s not over yet.”
Every night at 9 p.m., several Knights of Columbus from Council 11136 and parishioners join Father Gould in the church. Father Gould exposes the Blessed Sacrament in adoration, seats himself in front of the altar and leads the faithful in praying the rosary. On nights when Father Gould is traveling, a Knight leads the rosary.
“We’re praying for an end to the killing, and we pray for the conversion of Russia as the Blessed Mother has called us to. We pray for those who are political, military and religious leaders, who are proponents of this horrible war,” he said.
Father Gould offers prayer intentions for his parishioners and those in Ukraine who share similar livelihoods and vocations, including parents, children, teachers, farmers, first responders and those with disabilities.
“There are so many aspects of the war that reach into the sentiments of the parishioners: what they do for a living and their vocations,” he said.
Father Gould added that while it is good to offer intentions for other world crises, particularly for the war in Israel, he plans to maintain the rosary group’s focus on the Ukrainian war.
Many Catholics around the diocese join the group over the church’s livestream. Over time, word spread, and Catholics from other states—Ohio, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and California—began to join. The livestream now averages 40 viewers per night.
Pat Sanders, a parishioner of St. John the Evangelist Church in Warrenton, regularly prays the rosary over the livestream. Sanders suffers from mobility issues, so her caregiver accompanies her in prayer.
“I have a young lady that stays with me at night, so we both tune in on our iPads or TV to Father Gould’s rosary,” Sanders said.
While “everything is topsy-turvy in the world,” she said, praying the rosary in a virtual community brings her solace.
“The rosary seems to fit in there somewhere to make sure things are going better than we thought,” Sanders said. “It seems to give you a little sense of stability.”
Father Gould said the dedication of his parishioners and those who pray virtually amazes him.
“I can’t say enough good things about them; I salute them all.”
