Visitation Parish 

Catholic Church

The Visitation Rosary Makers Ministry is a non-profit self-funded ministry that began in 2016, whose mission is to increase devotion to Our Blessed Mother Mary.  As part of our Rosary Rescue Mission, we repair rosaries for free and collect unwanted rosaries in any condition to repair, clean, and donate to those in need and make mission rosaries to donate as well.  In 2018, we raised funds to donate over $1000 to Pro-Life via the Knights of Columbus #1911 towards the ultrasound machine for ProNet.  In 2019, we made 120 special "wood bead seminarian rosaries" to give Fr. Michael Kearney to bring to St. John Vianney Seminary.  We have donated over 2000 rosaries to Zimbabwe, India, Haiti, Nigeria, Elmhurst Hospital, and more.  In order to raise funds, we create unique handmade rosary bracelets, ladder rosaries and traditional style rosaries to sell.  We go to Catholic events and visit other churches for a weekend of masses to repair rosaries for free and sell our rosary items.  We honor special requests and make rosaries and chaplets in all styles:  Baptism, Confirmation, First Holy Communion, Wedding, Irish / St. Patrick, St. Philomena and other saints, Divine Mercy, Seven Sorrows, Knights of Columbus, Lenten, Stations of the Cross, and more.  

All are welcome to join our ministry.  We usually meet the first and third Thursday of each month from 11 am to 2 pm in the Hospitality Room.  See bulletin for possible changes.  For more information, please text or call Lorene Palgen Bryan at (331) 642-0603 or VisRosaryMakers@gmail.com

What is a Ladder Rosary?

A ladder rosary (pictured above) is a type of rosary whose origin comes from Mexico.  It is named "ladder" because the beads are turned sideways and linked into a chain rather than to one another, making the beads look like rungs on a ladder.  THe ladder has a very long history in the scriptures and tradition.  Jacob sees a ladder in the Old Testament, representing the ascent to God.  Jesus appropriates this imagery to himself, the Ladder between heaven and earth.  St. Benedict speaks of the Ladder of Humility, by which we climb to God.  St. John Climacus speaks of the Ladder of Divine Ascent, the rungs being the different virtues leading to union with God.  The Marian significance was also drawn out over time.  St. Dominic experienced a vision of souls climbing into Heaven on the rosary.  St. Francis de Sales had a vision of two ladders to Heaven:  a rather steep one directly to Jesus, and another, far less steep, towards the Blessed Virgin Mary.  In the vision, St. Francis de Sales heard Jesus say, "Tell your people to come to me by this ladder, by way of My Mother."  The Russian word for rosary means "ladder," and Michaelangelo's "Last Judgment" in the Sistine Chapel shows two souls being pulled out of purgatory by a rosary!