Knights of Columbus Support The Rosary Team in Answer to Pope’s Call to Care for the Forgotten

(Photo provided)

By Leo Rodriguez

Harry and Susan Grace had just finished praying the Rosary with volunteers from The Rosary Team — Paul Driscoll and Henry Paddock — alongside fellow residents at Brookdale Senior Living in Denver, when Harry, a lifelong Knight of Columbus, offered a simple but striking observation:

“Without The Rosary Team volunteers here, there would be no prayers at all.”

His words reflect a sobering reality in many care facilities today — and capture the heart of why the Knights of Columbus in Colorado have embraced The Rosary Team’s mission with such generous support.

Pope Leo XIV’s message for the fifth World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly calls the Church to a “revolution of gratitude and care” toward older generations. He urges every parish, association and apostolic group to restore dignity to those who feel forgotten. Even as the body weakens, he reminds us, we retain “the freedom to love and to pray.”

That’s precisely the gift many nursing home residents continue to offer: intercessory prayer. Though they may suffer the loss of mobility, health or family, they still play a vital role in the life of the Church — praying for the world, for the return of fallen-away loved ones, and for the needs of the Church.

This spiritual mission is shared by The Rosary Team, a lay apostolate that visits nursing homes to lead residents in praying the Rosary and sharing the Gospel message. Their work directly answers the Holy Father’s call and resonates deeply with the mission of the Knights of Columbus.

Since its founding in 1882, the Knights have been committed to caring for widows and the vulnerable, in the spirit of their founder, Blessed Michael McGivney. In 2025, Boulder Council 1183 powerfully renewed that commitment by partnering financially with The Rosary Team through a remarkable donation of $15,000. Recognizing a shared devotion to the Rosary, community and faith, the two organizations share a natural complementarity in mission.

Together, the Knights of Columbus and the Rosary Team are bringing the Rosary and hope into nursing homes across the state.

According to the most recent national nursing home survey (NNHS, 2004), roughly 79% of female nursing home residents are widowed, highlighting the ongoing relevance of the Knights’ founding mission. Through their support of The Rosary Team, the Knights have a unique opportunity to extend that mission into today’s elder care landscape.

This collaboration also aligns with the Knights’ Faith in Action initiative, which calls councils to deepen sacramental life, promote Marian devotion and serve the vulnerable. The partnership with The Rosary Team embodies all three, offering a model that can be replicated by dioceses and councils nationwide.

By uniting their distinct charisms, The Rosary Team and the Knights are building a powerful alliance. The Knights bring financial support, spiritual leadership and a ready network of Catholic men eager to serve. The Rosary Team provides the structure and opportunity to put those gifts into action through their evangelization and prayer ministry.

The result is a growing movement of hope — one that lifts up the elderly, renews the faith of volunteers and brings Christ’s presence to places where it is most needed. Many residents have returned to the sacraments after years or even decades away. Volunteers, too, are being transformed, deepening their own faith through regular visits and the simple yet profound act of praying the Rosary side by side with those they serve.

But there is still work to be done. With over 900 nursing homes in Colorado alone, the need for spiritual and prayerful accompaniment of our elders is great. Thanks to the partnership between The Rosary Team and the Knights of Columbus, a blueprint for rekindling faith nationwide, residents and volunteers alike can continue to encounter the Lord through his Blessed Mother.

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To support The Rosary Team's mission, the team also sells handmade gemstone rosaries and commissioned artwork of the Mysteries of the Rosary. Proceeds help fund the ministry and spread Mary’s message even further.

To learn more, volunteer or donate, visit The Rosary Team’s official website.