Teresa Rodriguez was working as a hospice nurse at a memory care facility when she noticed that the residents were not being offered any spiritual services. During a conversation with a patient and the patient’s husband, the idea of praying the rosary was proposed. According to Rodriguez, the response was immediate. “That day I talked to the activities director … and she was thrilled. [She was] so excited that we would even consider coming in and praying with the residents,” she told CNA in an interview.
At the time, Rodriguez was leading a Bible study at her parish, Sacred Heart of Mary in Boulder, Colorado. She asked her fellow Bible study members if they would be willing to volunteer to pray the rosary with residents at the memory care facility. Two volunteers joined her, and what started as a once-a-week event quickly grew to twice and then three times a week. Rodriguez also placed bulletin announcements in nearby parishes, and more volunteers stepped forward.
This small initiative became the foundation of the Rosary Team, a ministry that began in 2019 and now includes over 500 volunteers in 18 states. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, when in-person visits were suspended, the Rosary Team continued their mission through Zoom rosaries broadcast throughout the facilities. When the facilities reopened, the demand for in-person rosaries was even greater.
Rodriguez shared that one of the most moving experiences she witnessed was a resident who said, “That’s the first Hail Mary I’ve prayed in 45 years.” Moments like these demonstrate the profound spiritual impact of the ministry, as residents often reconnect with prayers they had not said in decades. According to Rodriguez, some residents who can barely speak will still join in saying the prayers of the rosary aloud, a testament to the lasting imprint of faith on the human heart.
Melanie McClanahan, one of the Rosary Team volunteers, described the ministry as a source of healing and transformation. “I have watched people heal, including myself; I have seen family members come together, and I have watched people who weren’t sure about their beliefs grow in their love of Jesus and their devotion to our Blessed Mother,” McClanahan said.
For Rodriguez, the elderly are a group often overlooked by society, especially those in care facilities. “The elderly are quiet and we don’t see them a lot — due to their health issues and their mobility — and they can be easily forgotten,” Rodriguez explained. She emphasized that this ministry is a pro-life mission that encompasses all stages of life. “This is a pro-life issue in pro-life ministry, that we need to take care of people from conception to natural death, and this is a part of caring for them and, you know, acknowledging them, and giving them love,” she said.
Rodriguez hopes that the ministry continues to expand, impacting both volunteers and residents alike. “The faith and love for God grows through the Rosary Team, and through the volunteers and the residents praying together,” she said.
The Rosary Team’s work exemplifies the power of prayer, compassion, and community, reminding Catholics of the importance of reaching out to those who may feel forgotten and isolated. For more information on how to join or support the Rosary Team, visit their website.
