The Diocesan Rosary Shrine, St Dominic's in Haverstock Hill, is now twinned with the Rosary Basilica in Guatemala City. To celebrate this, on Saturday 7th January a candle-lit Rosary procession took place with Fr George Pittalis OP, Rector of the Rosary Basilica who presented an image of the much-loved statue of our Lady of the Rosary from Guatemala City printed on tiles. These tiles are matched with a set of tiles bearing the image of the Lady of the Rosary Altar in St Dominic's.
The image was installed in the 4th Glorious Mystery chapel of the church. After the blessing and veneration of the image, Fr George Pittalis gave an address on behalf of his Dominican community and brothers of Central America, thanking the London friars for their welcome, and for 'undertaking this celebration of the spiritual link, a "twinning" between The Rosary Shrine in London and the Basilica of the Rosary in Guatemala City where (in both) the devotion and veneration of our beloved Mary, the Virgin Mother of God , is carried out and attended to by the praying and preaching of the Holy Rosary.'
'Through this spiritual link', he went on to say, 'we would like to join forces for us both to be able to live with a particular enthusiasm our love and devotion to our sweet Lady, the Queen of the Holy Rosary and Mother and Queen of us all. This ‘twinning’ is to join forces to spread the Gospel of peace and salvation where it is possible by praying and preaching the Holy Rosary, and to commit ourselves to spending our life as true Christians.'
Both England and Guatemala have a history of rich devotion to Our Lady of the Rosary, and 'now we have the privilege and responsibility to continue in this tradition. With the words of Pope St John Paul II, we can say we are part of one the most praiseworthy traditions of Christian contemplation, that reminds us that our true devotion for Mary our Queen of the Rosary is a possession of a spark of heaven!'
Photos: Fr Lawrence Lew OP
