Families will be part of history in the making when they gather on Sunday, June 10

Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C., was known around the world for encouraging families to pray the Rosary and his devotion to Mary. 

Families in Los Angeles can be a part of this historic event honoring the “Rosary Priest” as he moves closer to sainthood during A Prayer Celebration for Families on Sunday, June 10, at Holy Cross Family Ministries in North Easton. 

Families from across the region will gather to give thanks for Venerable Patrick Peyton’s life, recognize his heroic virtue and holiness, and continue his legacy of family prayer. The celebration will include Eucharistic Procession, Rosary Prayer and Holy Mass to honor this remarkable priest.  Each guest will receive a blessed commemorative Venerable Patrick Peyton Rosary and each family will receive a Family Rosary Prayer Kit.

The Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Arthur Colgan, C.S.C., of Lima, Peru. Former Boston Mayor and former U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican Raymond Flynn will attend, as well as a cousin of Father Peyton, Mrs. Mary Lou Karch. The event will be taped and broadcast on Catholic TV at a later date.

This joyous celebration, Venerable Patrick Peyton: On the Rosary Path to Sainthood, will honor families as the bedrock of the Church. Father Peyton (1909-1992) devoted his life to the spiritual well-being of families through daily prayer of the Rosary and preached at Rosary Rallies attended by millions of people around the world.

Over the years, Father Peyton advocated for families by preaching two powerful and memorable messages: “The family that prays together stays together” and “A world at prayer is a world at peace.”

The Rosary Priest was also a media pioneer and used radio, television, film and billboards to spread his message of family unity. Today, his mission is continued by Holy Cross Family Ministries with many forms of free digital media and resources, including a video web series, www.CatholicCentral.com, eBooks and apps at www.FamilyRosary.org, broad breadth of information and activities on www.CatholicMom.com, as well as the recently released documentary, “The Dating Project.” 

Holy Cross Family Ministries and its family of ministries — Family Rosary, Family Theater Productions and the Father Peyton Family Institute — are under the sponsorship of the Congregation of Holy Cross. In 1997, The Congregation in June of 1997 requested that a cause for canonization for Father Peyton be initiated. In 2001, the “nihil obstat” was granted from Rome and Father Peyton was given the title “Servant of God,” when his Cause was opened. Since then, significant work has been completed to present Father Peyton’s heroic practice of virtue and reputation for holiness.

Pope Francis declared Father Peyton to be Venerable on December 18, 2017, bringing him a step closer to sainthood. A Prayer Celebration for Families will mark this historic occasion with prayer and piety on June 10. Families and individuals are invited to attend and participate in this commemoration of Venerable Patrick Peyton: On the Rosary Path to Sainthood.