Star of the Sea Parish and Brothers in Prayer warmly invite you to the 2026 Eucharistic Rosary Congress, dedicated to honoring Our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament through continuous Eucharistic Adoration, the Holy Rosary, and communal prayer.

Throughout the Congress, our church will become a place of uninterrupted prayer as parishioners and visitors gather before the Blessed Sacrament day and night. The Holy Rosary will be prayed at the beginning of every hour, accompanied by Holy Mass, opportunities for Confession, spiritual conferences, and other devotional events.

We are honored to welcome our keynote speakers:

• Fr. Joseph Illo, Pastor of Star of the Sea Parish (10/7 The Miracle and Lepanto and the Message of Fatima, and 10/13 –  The Miracle and the Message of Fatima)
• Fr. Javier Olivera Ravasi, Parochial Administrator of Saint Monica Parish (10/8 – Spiritual Warfare)
• Fr. Mikhael Mihic, Parochial Vicar of Mater Dolorosa Church (10/9 – The Altar and the Battle:
  The Four Ends of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and the Path to Virtue )
• Fr. Vincent Woo, Director of Liturgy at St. Patrick’s Seminary (10/12 – Mental Prayer as a Remedy
  for Spiritual Dwarfism)
• Fr. Gerardo Vázquez, Pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Palo Alto (10/14 TBA)

The 2026 Eucharistic Rosary Congress takes place October 7–15, unfolding during several significant days in the Church’s liturgical calendar.

The Congress begins on Wednesday, October 7, the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, with a Solemn High Mass. In his homily, Fr. Joseph Illo will reflect on “The Miracle of Lepanto and the Message of Fatima” .

Following the Mass, the faithful will gather for the first Eucharistic Rosary Congress Rosary at 8:00 PM

On Saturday, October 10, we will participate in the Mass in honor of St. Junípero Serra. This solemn liturgy is part of the 250th Anniversary Year of the Founding of Misión San Francisco de Asís (Mission Dolores) and also commemorates the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi (1226–2026).

The Congress continues on Sunday, October 11, with a Traditional Latin Sung Mass at St. Monica Parish, celebrated by Fr. Javier Olivera Ravasi, who will also preach the homily in Spanish.

The Congress also includes October 13, the anniversary of the Miracle of the Sun at Fatima, a particularly meaningful day to reflect on Our Lady’s message of prayer, penance, conversion, and devotion to the Holy Rosary. At 6:00 PM, Fr. Joseph Illo, Pastor of Star of the Sea Parish, will celebrate an English Sung Mass, with a presentation reflecting on the Miracle of the Sun and the message of Our Lady of Fatima. Fr. Illo is currently completing his forthcoming book, Mother of Light, a study of 18 approved Marian apparitions and their significance for the life of the Church.

Whether you can spend an hour in silent prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, join in the hourly Rosary, attend the liturgies, or participate in the spiritual conferences, your presence will be a beautiful offering to Our Lord. Everyone is warmly welcome.

Additional information, including the complete schedule, will be posted as it becomes available.

Please join us in honoring Our Lord and the Blessed Virgin Mary by signing up to lead an ERC Rosary. Beginning Wednesday, October 7 at 8:00 p.m., a new Rosary will begin at the top of every hour, continuing day and night through Thursday, October 15 at 8:00 p.m.

Please sign up for the ERC Rosary in 3 easy steps:
1. Click REGISTER FOR ROSARY to go to our invitation page
2. Enter your email address: (You will NOT need to register an account)
3. Sign up! Choose your spots – You will receive an automated confirmation and reminders.

Fr. Joseph Illo, Pastor of Star of the Sea Parish

Homily, Oct 7: “The Miracle and Lepanto and the Message of Fatima.” On October 7, 1571, God preserved Christian Europe, despite the infidelity to Him within the Church and the revolt against the Church herself from various “Protestantisms.” God saved Europe from being overrun by superior Islamic military forces when Catholics prayed the rosary in 1571, and He saved it again 350 years later when Our Lady of the Rosary urged the children at Fatima to pray the rosary daily. This presentation will draw parallels between the miracles and messages of Lepanto and Fatima.

Presentation, Oct. 13: “The Miracle and the Message of Fatima.” Our Lady’s miracle of the Sun at Fatima was seen by more eyewitnesses, including many confirmed atheists, than any other miracle in history. Unlike previous apparitions, she had promised a miracle for October 17, 1917, for several months before it happened, “so that they might believe.” Her messages over six months were of unparalleled urgency and universality. This presentation will detail precisely what happened, from Lucia’s own words, and how the miracle of October 13 confirmed and validated her messages.

Fr. Javier Olivera Ravasi, Parochial Administrator of Saint Monica Parish

Discover the spiritual weapons God has given us to overcome temptation, discouragement, and spiritual attacks in everyday life. Through prayer, the Holy Rosary, Confession, and the Holy Eucharist, we can strengthen our faith, protect our families, and stand firm in Christ the King.

Father Javier Olivera Ravasi, PhD graduated as a lawyer from Buenos Aires Law University (UBA). In 2002 he entered the seminary and after concluding his first years of formations he was sent to Europe where he received a doctorate in Philosophy from the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome (2007) to receive priestly ordination a year later. He received a doctorate in History (UnCuyo) and is also a University Professor in Legal and Social Sciences.

Fr. Ravasi is a regular lecturer and professor in the fields of philosophy, history, and classical languages. He is the author of twelve books and several articles published in national and foreign editorials. He is a Full Member of the academic body of the Juan Manuel de Rosas Historical Research Institute and co-founder of the San Elías Order, a society of apostolic life which purpose and mission are «ad gentes» and the apostolate of the counter-cultural revolution. Fr. Ravasi is the founder and director of the site quenotelacuenten.org(QNTLC).

Fr. Mikhael Mihic – Parochial Vicar of Mater Dolorosa Church

In traditional Catholic theology, the four ends or objectives of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass can be understood as four dimensions of Christ’s victory, sacramentally made present and applied to the faithful. Each has a direct connection to spiritual warfare and the growth of the soul in virtue. The goal of this presentation is to awaken the love and zeal for the preparation to enter into the Mass and the actual participation in the Mass. This will help all of us to see that all of it matters for eternity.

Father Mikhael was born in Zagreb, Croatia. As a young man, he entered the minor seminary in Zagreb during the 2004/2005 school year but left after a year. Later, he discerned with the Franciscans and Jesuits and had a couple of relationships in pursuit of marriage, but none of this was meant to be. After coming to San Francisco in 2016, he was eager to find a more stable job and get married, all according to his own plans. But the Lord Jesus had other plans! Within a few months of living and working in San Francisco, the Lord called him in a deeper, more profound way to be His priest. This call primarily happened at Star of the Sea parish, where he began serving Sunday Mass.
After applying to the Seminary, he was providentially sent to spend a year with the Contemplatives of Saint Joseph (COSJ), not knowing that it was there the Lord wanted him to become a priest. During his seminary formation, he took solemn vows for the COSJ in 2024 and was ordained a priest on January 11, 2025, at Saint Patrick’s Seminary. Currently, Father Mikhael helps serve two parishes: Mater Dolorosa and Saint Elizabeth.
All glory to the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! Amen!

Fr. Vincent Woo – Director of Liturgy at St. Patrick’s Seminary

St. Alphonsus once said that mental prayer is morally necessary for one’s salvation. In today’s busy world, there is a temptation to become frantically engaged in parish activities at the expense of one’s interior life.
This presentation emphasizes the importance of mental prayer in the life of a Catholic, with the hope that the audience will begin practicing mental prayer before the Blessed Sacrament for a substantial period of time each day.

Fr. Vincent Woo is a canon lawyer, liturgist, and priest of the Archdiocese of San Francisco. He served as priest-secretary and Master of Ceremonies to Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone and oversaw the Archdiocesan Office of Worship, coordinating major liturgies including the Chrism Mass, Ordinations, and the Walk for Life Mass.

As a canon lawyer, Fr. Woo has served as a stable advocate for the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, and has provided pro bono assistance in marriage nullity cases. He is also an appointed member of the Sacramental Law Committee of the Canon Law Society of America and contributes to academic journals on sacramental and liturgical law. In 2024, Raymond Cardinal Burke invited him to speak at the Speculum Iustitiae Conference.

Fr. Gerardo Vázquez, Pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Palo Alto

TBA

Fr. Gerardo Vázquez is Pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in East Palo Alto and a priest of the Archdiocese of San Francisco. Ordained in 2022, he previously served as a parochial vicar in San Francisco and at the Mission parishes of St. Peter, St. Charles Borromeo, and St. Anthony of Padua, and has assisted the Missionaries of Charity.
Fr. Vázquez has supported Gabriel Project retreats as well as marriage and family retreats and has taught Sacred Scripture through the Archdiocese of San Francisco’s Leadership Program. Before entering seminary, he worked for nearly twelve years as an aerospace engineer.
His vocation to the priesthood was deeply shaped by Eucharistic Adoration, through which he discerned God’s call to give his life more completely to Christ and His Church. His love for the Eucharist also fostered a profound devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, whom he credits with continually leading him closer to her Son.