In Dyker Heights

Praying the Rosary for World Peace

By Linda Busetti

Stephen and Theresa Canny came to pray the Rosary in McKinley Park in Dyker Heights last Saturday, Oct. 13, because they believe that prayer can change the world.

Linda Busetti Photos 

ANNIVERSARY OF FATIMA: To mark the 90th anniversary of the last apparition by the Blessed Mother at Fatima, about 80 people gathered in McKinley Park, Dyker Heights, to pray the Rosary for peace in the world on Saturday, Oct. 13. They were part of a nationwide series of public Rosary rallies sponsored by

America Needs Fatima.

On the 90th anniversary of the Miracle of the Sun, the last apparitions at Fatima, Portugal, they joined about 80 others across from St. Ephrem Church who carried signs proclaiming the Blessed Mother’s call for conversion of the world at Fatima.

The rally was one of about 2,000 such public Rosary rallies nationwide sponsored by America Needs Fatima.

An organizer of the Dyker Heights rally was Deborah Nuzzo, a junior high teacher at Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, Sunset Park. Nuzzo had advertised in newspapers and church bulletins in the area and had no idea how many people might show up. She said she knew of eight other planned Rosary rallies taking place at the same time in Brooklyn.

“I think that we are in dire need for prayer to change the world,” Stephen Canny said. “We start by changing our country.”

“The Blessed Mother said if we pray she will give us what we need,” Theresa Canny said. “We need a great conversion in this country. Peace starts in our hearts and then there will be peace in the world.”

Another older couple, Amelia and Celestino Catalano of St. Ephrem’s, arrived early. “We should not wait 90 years to do this. We should do this every year.”
Amelia Catalano said it was important for older people to do this to show the young. Most of those who gathered were older women. Some Italian-speaking women from Mary Mother of Jesus parish, Bath Beach, joined them along with Alice Gould and other Third Order Carmelites from Our Lady of Angels, Bay Ridge.

The only youngsters participating were two young sisters, Gianna and Janine Vitiello, who came with their mother, Theresa Vitiello of St. Anselm’s, Bay Ridge, and their grandmother, Clara Pezza.

On a gorgeous early fall morning, the procession moved along the perimeter of the park and then up a path along the playground to the highest hill. They sang, “City of God,” as they walked. “Let us build the city of God, May our tears be turned into dancing….”

Nuzzo gathered everyone around the base of a flagpole as the sun shone overhead. The plan was to stay there from noon until 2 p.m. to pray the Rosary for the spoken intentions. These included “to honor the 90th anniversary of Our Lady’s Apparition at Fatima…. for the urgent triumph of her (Our Lady’s) Immaculate Heart in America and the world,” an end to abortion, “for all those who suffer in this city,” comfort for the dying and “for those who struggle and vacillate this day between vice and virtue.”

The group sang “Hail Holy Queen Enthroned Above” before continuing with the Rosary and a Litany to Our Lady of Fatima.

They concluded by consecrating “body and soul, my goods” and actions to the Immaculate Heart of Mary before singing Immaculate Mary.

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