Sam Perry has always had a rosary in his hands. Now he wants to get it into others’.
Local parishioner Perry, a lifelong believer in the power of the rosary, has vowed to travel parish-to-parish bringing the love of Mary and her promises.
With Denver Archbishop Samuel Aquila’s stamp of approval, Perry and his wife, Becky, of St. Thomas More Church in Centennial, decided to spend their retirement encouraging others to finger those rosary beads.
“My goal is to take it across the state,” said 74-year-old Perry. “We’ve got to get people praying the rosary.”
Though the “Pray the Rosary” campaign, the pair will work to deliver some 300,000 colorful how-to booklets and rosaries to the Denver Archdiocese’s 140-plus parishes to spread devotion to Mary. Then he wants to take the campaign statewide.
Using his own funds and support from the Catholic Foundation of Northern Colorado, where he’s a board member, and Knights of Columbus, Perry will print booklets and collect rosaries to begin his ministry.
The campaign seeks Mary’s intercession for the country, help in the fight for religious freedom and the right to exercise one’s conscience.
“The rosary is a powerful spiritual weapon, so let us encourage all families to pray the rosary for our country and for the protection of religious liberty,” wrote Archbishop Aquila in a letter about the campaign Sept. 24.
The archbishop encouraged all parishes to participate.
So far, Perry distributed thousands of booklets and rosaries at St. Thomas More Church, 300 at St. James School in Denver and plans to visit Queen of Peace Church in Aurora and St. William Church in Fort Lupton with Spanish booklets and rosaries.
Perry said praying to Mary has always helped him through life.
“Most kids grew up with toys. I grew up with the rosary,” he said.
After he survived a couple of car wrecks, Perry said he’s always kept one handy in his pocket.
Later, he began buying extras and giving them away.
After learning about the rosary’s impact on historical events, Perry became further encouraged to launch a campaign.
In the 13th century, St. Dominic promoted the devotion for the conversion of the Albigensians— believers in a heresy claiming there were two gods—and other sinners. Pope St. Pius V credited Mary with the Holy League’s victory over the Turkish invaders in the Battle of Lepanto in 1571.
In 1960, Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C., held a rosary rally in San Francisco that drew over half a million people.
These facts drew Perry to realize that the rosary can change Colorado and the country, which he said is plagued with moral and social ills.
“With 300,000 people praying in our archdiocese, I think we can change this state,” Perry said.
Support the Pray the Rosary campaign
Parishes are invited to contact Sam and Becky Perry to participate in the campaign.
Phone: 303-882-3396
Email: samnperry@aol.com
