Star of the Sea Parish and Brothers in Prayer hosted the 2026 Eucharistic Rosary Congress, bringing together parishioners and visitors to honor Our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament through continuous Eucharistic Adoration, the Holy Rosary, and communal prayer.

Throughout the eight-day Congress, our church was a place of uninterrupted prayer as the faithful gathered before the Blessed Sacrament day and night. The Holy Rosary was prayed at the beginning of every hour, accompanied by Holy Mass, opportunities for Confession, spiritual conferences, and other devotional events.

We are grateful to the clergy, speakers, volunteers, musicians, and all who joined us in prayer and helped make this Congress possible.

Wednesday, October 7

Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary — Opening of the Congress

The Congress opened with a Missa Cantata at 6:00 PM, celebrated by Fr. Javier Olivera Ravasi, Parochial Administrator of St. Monica–St. Thomas the Apostle Parish. The opening Rosary at 8:00 PM marked the beginning of continuous Eucharistic Adoration, with the Holy Rosary prayed at the beginning of every hour throughout the Congress.

Thursday, October 8

Following English Mass and Rosary at 6:00 PM, Fr. Javier Olivera Ravasi presented “Spiritual Warfare” at 7:00 PM. The evening continued with a Latin Sung Rosary at 8:00 PM.

Friday, October 9

Following English Mass and Rosary at 6:00 PM, Fr. Mikhael Mihic, Parochial Vicar of Mater Dolorosa Church, presented “The Altar and the Battle: The Four Ends of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and the Path to Virtue” at 7:00 PM. A Latin Sung Rosary followed at 8:00 PM.

Saturday, October 10

Mass in Honor of St. Junípero Serra

A Mass in honor of St. Junípero Serra was celebrated at 11:00 AM, as part of the 250th anniversary year of the founding of Misión San Francisco de Asís (Mission Dolores). The celebration also commemorated the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi (1226–2026).

Sunday, October 11

Fr. Javier Olivera Ravasi celebrated a Traditional Latin Mass at 3:00 PM at St. Monica–St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, with the homily preached in Spanish.

At 6:00 PM, Sr. Mara Grace Gore, O.P., Vocation Director for the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia in Nashville, Tennessee, presented “Coming to Know God’s Will” in the Auditorium.

Monday, October 12

Feast of Our Lady of the Pillar

The evening began with a Latin Sung Mass at 6:00 PM in honor of Our Lady of the Pillar. At 7:00 PM, Fr. Vincent Woo, Director of Liturgy at St. Patrick’s Seminary, presented “Mental Prayer as a Remedy for Spiritual Dwarfism.”A Latin Sung Rosary followed at 8:00 PM.

Tuesday, October 13

Anniversary of the Miracle of the Sun at Fatima

Fr. Joseph Illo, Pastor of Star of the Sea Parish, celebrated an English Sung Mass at 6:00 PM. The evening included a presentation on “The Miracle of the Sun and the Message of Fatima” and a Latin Sung Rosary at 8:00 PM.

Wednesday, October 14

Following English Mass and Rosary at 6:00 PM, Fr. Gerardo Vázquez, Pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Church in East Palo Alto, presented “Restoring the Catholic Family” at 7:00 PM. A reception followed the talk in the Auditorium, and a Latin Sung Rosary was prayed at 8:00 PM.

Thursday, October 15

Feast of St. Teresa of Ávila — Closing of the Congress

The Congress concluded with a Solemn High Mass at 6:00 PM at the Carmelite Monastery of Cristo Rey, celebrated by Fr. Vincent Woo, with Fr. Joseph Illo and Dcn. Dereck Delgado assisting.

Following Mass, the faithful walked in a candlelight procession from the monastery to Star of the Sea Parish. The closing Holy Hour at 8:00 PM brought eight days of continuous Eucharistic Adoration and prayer to a close.

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

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!

Sr. Mara Grace, O.P. – the Vocation Director for the Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecilia in Nashville, Tennessee.

“Coming to Know God’s Will” is a talk geared toward young adults and the discernment of vocation, but its message is relevant to everyone seeking to understand God’s direction in their lives. The event will be held in the Auditorium.

Sr. Mara Grace, O.P., is a member of the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia Congregation in Nashville, Tennessee, where she serves as Vocation Director. Her journey toward religious life began during high school, inspired in part by her older brother’s vocation to the priesthood and by a retreat at the congregation’s motherhouse. During college, through prayer and a growing relationship with Christ, she discerned a call to consecrated religious life and entered the community. Today, she accompanies young women as they seek to understand God’s will and discern their vocations.

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

Join me as we reflect on God’s design for the family and the sacred roles of fathers and mothers. Together, we will explore how a strong, Christ-centered home can protect our children from falling through the cracks of today’s culture and form them in faith, virtue, and truth.

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.