As an outgrowth of Deacon Doug Moorer’s prayer time during the Easter season, he was directed through a prayerful study of the story of Fatima. During that time of prayer, there was a constant encounter with the number 100 during his daily activities, especially as he went deeper into his studies of Fatima.

For his homily on the fourth Sunday of May, the deacon used the example of Mary's promises and the power of praying the Rosary. He recalls, “Later that day, it became clear that our Lady's promises as to the power and circumstance of the Rosary are even more critical for us now than in the time of Fatima.”

Thus the 100 Rosaries in 100 days was organized for peace and an end to youth and gun violence in America. The official start was May 3, the feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the conclusion will be Sept. 8, the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Speaking on the intention of the prayer initiative, Deacon Moorer said, “Christ's continuing call for the unity of the Body of Christ has helped me to more fully present to His people that this scourge and its solution is not a matter of race or racism but one that calls for us to put on Christ and set aside the boundaries and barriers that man has imposed to create division.”

The deacon’s parish, Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Birmingham, invites all the faithful in the diocese to join them, for it is never too late to “besiege our Blessed Mother as she requested.”