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STEUBENVILLE -- Catholic churches in Marietta will be among those participating in the Eucharistic Rosary Congress, a week of nonstop prayer and eucharistic adoration in three locations as part of a nationwide prayer effort.
For a seventh time, the Diocese of Steubenville will join more than 30 other locations in more than 20 states, according to the Diocesan Rosary Congress.
Non-Catholic Christians as Christ's brothers and sisters are welcome to attend the congress, which will conclude Friday at all locations. The congress in Marietta will begin at 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 8, with an eastern Akathist hymn led by Monsignor Mike Campbell, organizer Shelly Medley said. Adoration will run from 8:15 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Friday. The congress will conclude at 5:15 p.m. Friday.
Holy hours for other churches in the area are at diosteub.org/rosary-congress.
Peggy Downs, coordinator for the Steubenville Rosary Congress, said churches in Marietta, Steubenville and Ironton will set aside multiple days for the congress, which consists of around-the-clock silent prayer, praying of the rosary and exposition of the eucharist, believed by Catholics to be the body and blood of Jesus.
"The whole point of the Eucharistic Rosary Congress is to gather Christ's brothers and sisters before him, the eucharist, who heals and saves us (and) to pray together for the salvation of the world," she said. "(It) is the upper room where we Christians gather together to pray to Jesus through Mary for a new Pentecost." Prayers for the congress, of which the theme to Jesus through Mary, will include peace, the diocese, life and its protection, the country and the Catholic church and deep healing, Downs said.
"Mary, who cooperated with God to bring Jesus into the world, continues as Queen of Heaven and Mother of all Christ's brothers and sisters to lead us back to him,' she said. "She always and only leads us to him."
The Steubenville diocese held its first congress in 2017, the 100-year anniversary of the Marian apparitions in Fatima, Portugal, where Catholics believe Mary appeared to and spoke with three children, at times emphasizing the devotion of the rosary.