God in School: Student-Run Rosary Club Converts Souls in Public School
Instead of retreating, one Texas high school student has started something daring. Philip confronted the immorality at school by launching a Rosary Club. What happened next is extraordinary. Not only did his club flourish in a hostile environment, but young souls at Kingwood High School started receiving graces of conversion.
The idea of rosary clubs at public high schools sounds impossible. Yet he accomplished it.
TFP Student Action encourages every Catholic student to follow Philip’s example and start a rosary club on their campus. Click here to get started.
What inspired you to begin a rosary club?
Philip: I was inspired to begin a Rosary Club after seeing the state of the student body at my high school. During my sophomore year, I began to notice the reality of the spiritual battle among the students at my school. I saw the drug use, the normalization of sexual promiscuity, and the rise of the LGBT agenda, to name a few. The school library even created a ‘shrine’ for LGBT-identifying students, which promoted pro-LGBT literature and invited students to the new ‘Gay-Straight Alliance’ club that was formed.
I was saddened to see my peers dragging themselves into hell with the lies they had bought into. I knew there had to be a voice of reason on the campus. I thought: “If they can have their club, why can’t we have one too?” I felt obligated to form the Rosary Club because Our Lady’s Rosary saved me from the darkness that the modern culture sows and encourages, and my fellow students desperately needed what I had been so mercifully and generously given by Our Lady. They needed the Truth. I got together with some of my fellow Catholic students, and we began the endeavor to bring Our Lady into our school.
Can you share some positive experiences/impacts it has had?
Philip: I have many wonderful stories about how the Rosary Club has affected my school! A story that immediately comes to mind is about a student named Landon. One Friday during my junior year, he showed up at a club meeting, knowing nothing about the rosary. I quickly explained it to him, handed him a rosary with a prayer pamphlet, and we began praying. Landon eventually became a regular club member and started associating with our Catholic student circle. Over the period of a year, he fell in love with the Faith. He is now in RCIA and will be initiated as a Catholic this Easter!
Another one of the most noticeable signs of grace from the club is the interest it has attracted from Protestant students. Before many club meetings, I find myself explaining the rosary and the Catholic faith to inquiring Protestant students. Over these two years, we’ve had plenty of Protestant students come to the club to see what the rosary is about and describe the peace they feel after they pray with us.
Finally, the biggest positive impact that the Rosary club has had is the community it has fostered. I believe that the Catholic students at my school feel they have a refuge during their school day. After every rosary, students embrace and socialize. We’re comfortable sharing our Faith in an environment that is normally so hostile to the very thing we love!
Was it hard to start?
Philip: It was not hard to start at all! We had the club up and running about two months after the idea was posed. Only two things were required of us from campus administration: a teacher to sponsor us and a club constitution. The sponsor provided us with a room and time to meet, and the constitution gave outlines of the club to explain our mission and purpose. From there, we collected rosaries and prayer pamphlets to give to students coming to the club.
What was your biggest challenge?
Philip: Our biggest challenge was to find a teacher who would be willing to sponsor the club. Most teachers are not open about their faith, so finding a Catholic teacher who would give us their room for half an hour every single week was daunting!
Thankfully, we found a teacher who subtly hinted that she was Catholic. We approached her and she eventually agreed to be our sponsor, mentoring us through the application and club set up process.
What advice do you have for other students who want to start a rosary club?
Philip: My best advice is to find holy friends to help you start the club. I began the Rosary Club at my school with two of my friends from the youth group at my parish, and this made it much easier and less daunting when we could collectively get things going. My second piece of advice is this: Be not afraid! Be bold!
If you decide to begin a Rosary Club, the Blessed Virgin will surely be with you, giving you an abundance of grace and assisting you along the way. Place everything into her hands, and she will take care of it! I also encourage you to read The Secret of the Rosary by St. Louis De Montfort; it will invigorate your love for the Rosary and give you all the motivation you need to promote it among your peers.
Were you ever afraid nobody would be interested?
Philip: I was never afraid of there being no interest in the club. I knew that my friends from the youth group at my parish would show up and had a desire to pray. Besides this, I understood that even if there were only two of us praying the Rosary for the school, the Blessed Mother would see our efforts and protect us, and all the students we were praying for! By the grace of God, the club started with six members, and after two years has grown to over 50 members!
What has worked to promote the club at school?
Philip: The most effective way to promote the club at school has been through word of mouth. My peers are greatly moved when they see young people their age with such zeal and desire to honor Our Lord and Our Lady. Highschoolers are at a time in their lives where they are searching for a deeper meaning, to look for what is really true. When we go about our lives with zeal and joy for the Faith, people notice and wish to imitate it!
I wear a suit and tie every Friday to promote reverence and show people that we give God our best. This always sparks conversations with students who are curious about why I’m dressed so nicely. These are the perfect moments to evangelize the rosary and invite them to come to the club.
We also have a Remind group chat to send meeting dates and alerts directly to student’s phones. Finally, we have set up social media accounts to show what we do in the club and encourage students to visit and pray with us.
Start a rosary club at your school or campus today!
Click here to get started.