Photo Caption: More information on the Rosary Victory Project can be found at rosaryvictory.com

A small group of Peoria area Catholics has embraced an enormous challenge — to convince 1,000,000 people to say the rosary for the needs of the United States on the same day: Sunday, Oct. 7.

The group has created a website, rosaryvictory.com to enlist support and track participants. Word is also being spread through social media including Facebook, Twitter, and Catholic bloggers, and perhaps in the coming days via Catholic radio.

Michelle Rebello, a member of St. Jude’s Parish in Peoria, told The Catholic Post she believes God inspired her with the idea about a month ago. She shared it with friends who are studying the books of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, and received their support.

Rebello said the project has twin goals of honoring the Blessed Mother and “bringing our nation back to God.” The Rosary Victory Project, she noted, dovetails with Bishop Daniel R. Jenky’s recent call for Catholics to increase their devotion to Mary and turn to her to protect our country.

Oct. 7 is the Feast of the Holy Rosary. While the devotion can be prayed either in a group or privately, organizers ask Catholics to consider the strength of the “immensely powerful prayer” if an “army” of a million faithful band together to ask Mary’s intercession to change “a godless culture.”

In Peoria on Oct. 7, the rosary will be prayed at 2 p.m. at St. Vincent de Paul Church, 6011 N. University, prior to the Life Chain observance. The project is asking that, if possible, all pledged rosaries be said at that time at all locations.

Rebello believes the million goal is reachable if the idea spreads across the country. Regardless, she expressed confidence that “Our Lady will bring victory about in our country in whatever way she wills.”

Assisting in the effort are Stefanie Rupert, Mary McKean, Teresa Hardesty, Rose Marie Rudolph, Susan Kanowski, Nancy Piccione, and teenagers Michael Rebello, Natasha Rupert, Joe Rudolph, and Jim McKean.