Fr. Juan Diego Brunetta, O.P., was invited to preach at the 35th annual Rosary Sunday celebration in Phoenix, Arizona.  Below is a story from The Catholic Sun, the newspaper of the Diocese of Phoenix, chronicling the event.

35th Rosary Sunday draws thousands devoted to Mary, holy rosary

By Gina Keating | Oct. 13, 2010 | The Catholic Sun

In a kaleidoscope of colors, sound and movement, more than 6,000 faithful in the Phoenix Diocese gathered to honor Mary in the most anticipated Catholic event of the year, Rosary Sunday.

Under her title Mary, Help of Christians, the 35th annual celebration continued its traditional offerings of confession, adoration, benediction and recitation of the rosary.

The downtown Phoenix Convention Center opened its doors Oct. 10 to ethnically diverse members of the Body of Christ whose public prayers in different tongues paid homage to Mary, especially for her protection of the unborn.

Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted was greeted with a standing ovation from an enthusiastic crowd that filled the seats, as others searched for open spots.

"Today, we see how Mary is the mother of all of us," Bishop Olmsted said in his bilingual address.

Auxilary Bishop Eduardo Nevares, recently back from a trip to Rome, delivered an apostolic blessing from Pope Benedict, which was received with a round of applause.

Christy O'Gara said she attended the event for the second year with her six children so they could "see all those that love Jesus."

"Now, more than ever, we desire to be together as witnesses to the world," O'Gara said.

Sometimes as witnesses, we have to fight evil. The keynote address by Jesuit Father James Kubicki addressed our need of the "chain of love," and how the rosary was used to defeat evil throughout the ages.

Part history lesson, part inspiration, Fr. Kubicki, who is the national director of the Apostleship of Prayer, spoke of God's love for each of us and how He, and His mother, Mary, provide in desperate times of need.

Elodia Herrera, a youth leader from St. Margaret Mary Parish in Tempe, rode the light rail with more than 50 people from her community.

Herrera said it was important for the children to experience Rosary Sunday and to learn about having a relationship with Mary.

"This event is one of the best ways to teach our children about Mary. She is our mother, too, and it is wonderful that we are all together to show her our love in prayer."

Rejuvenating the crowd with his passionate speech was Dominican Father Juan Diego Brunetta, the director of Catholic Information Service of the supreme Council of the Knights of Columbus.

"This large gathering of Christian faithful is empowering to me," he boomed into the microphone. "It is clear that there is great love and devotion to Mary here and beyond."

He referred to the event as a "rosary pilgrimage," that isn't just for one day, but every day.

"The rosary is a constant and steady guide to Christ," Fr. Brunetta said. "It's Jesus at the very center of the rosary and it's Jesus we need each day."

He warned the crowd not to be superficial or mechanical in prayer, but to seek the healing power of Jesus through authentic prayer, and sustain themselves in His words and sacraments.

"¡Viva Christo Rey!" he shouted to a round of applause.

The Catholic Church uses our senses to experience God's love in a tangible way, and Rosary Sunday is no exception.

Flowers, candles, bells, drums, costumes and incense all take center stage for an afternoon every year in a public display of prayer, but its awe-inspiring during benediction.

Reverence is given to the Blessed Sacrament as 6,000 knees bend to the concrete floor and squirming babies hush for precious minutes in prayer before God.

In one of several firsts for Rosary Sunday, committee members reached out to the young through the Internet social networking site, Facebook.

John Garcia, public relations committee member, said the goal was to establish a presence on Facebook that would appeal to the youth.

Dorothy Westfall, whose name is synonymous with Rosary Sunday and who is a founding committee member, said the tactic worked.

Students from St. Mary's High School, "were out in force." In addition, there were 150 altar servers and the Brophy Men's Honor Choir lead the faithful in songs.

"We had unbelievable youth participation, in all nationalities, that took such great pride in being here," Westfall said. "The spirit of the people is so beautiful, it generates hope in mankind."

It was memories from Westfall's childhood that was the impetus behind Rosary Sunday 35 years ago.

She remembered attending a recitation of the rosary in the now-defunct Montgomery Stadium downtown that was hosted by the Knights of Columbus and attended by thousands of people.

"I remembered how beautiful it was," Westfall said. "I can still see the candles burning in a formation."

Another first for committee members will be assisting the Tucson Diocese with plans of their own "Rosary Sunday" next year.

Although each diocese will have their own committees, Phoenix has offered to help Tucson during any of the planning stages.