About Public Square Rosary Rally
The Public Square Rosary Rally is the flagship annual public-prayer crusade of the Catholic lay apostolate America Needs Fatima (ANF), a special campaign of The Foundation for a Christian Civilization, Inc. (the American TFP). Each year on the Saturday in October closest to October 13 — the anniversary of the 1917 Miracle of the Sun at Fatima, Portugal — thousands of volunteer "rally captains" gather family, friends and neighbors at street corners, parks and public squares across the United States (and increasingly abroad) to recite the Holy Rosary publicly for the conversion of America and the triumph of Our Lady's Immaculate Heart. Started in 2007 with about 2,100 rallies, the campaign has grown into what ANF calls the "World's Largest Rosary Crusade," reaching a record 23,090 simultaneous rallies on October 11, 2025, and surpassing 354,000 rallies organized since its founding.
Mission
To win the heart and soul of America for Mary by spreading Our Lady's Fatima message — prayer, penance and conversion — through public recitation of the Holy Rosary on the streets of the United States, imploring God's urgent help as 'human efforts fail to solve America's key problems.'
- Founded
- 2007
- Founder
- Francis Slobodnik (campaign coordinator) and Robert E. Ritchie (director of America Needs Fatima); concept inspired by Catholic Duke Paul Oldenburg of Germany
- Leader
- Robert E. Ritchie, Director of America Needs Fatima; Francis Slobodnik, District Manager / Public Square Rosary Crusade coordinator
- Reach
- 23,090 simultaneous rallies across all 50 U.S. states in 2025 (including a flagship rally at Rockefeller Plaza, NYC); 22,662 rallies in 2024; cumulative of more than 354,000 rallies organized since 2007; expanding presence in Canada and other countries
- Serves
- American Catholics and any neighbors of good will who wish to pray the Rosary publicly for the conversion and protection of the United States; the rallies are family-friendly and open to all
Public Square Rosary Crusade — Overview
The Public Square Rosary Crusade is the signature annual campaign of America Needs Fatima. Held on the Saturday in October closest to October 13 — the anniversary of the 1917 Miracle of the Sun near Fatima, Portugal — it mobilizes thousands of lay Catholics to pray the Rosary publicly in every U.S. state. Rallies begin at noon local time, mirroring the historic hour of the miracle, and consist of reciting the Holy Rosary, singing Marian hymns and offering prayers for the conversion of America and the triumph of Our Lady's Immaculate Heart. What began with 2,107 rallies in 2007 has grown into a record 23,090 rallies in 2025, making it, in the organizers' words, 'the World's Largest Rosary Crusade.'
- Held the Saturday in October closest to October 13 at noon local time
- Started 2007 with 2,107 rallies
- Reached 10,000 rallies milestone on September 24, 2013
- 22,662 rallies on October 12, 2024 (previous record)
- 23,090 rallies on October 11, 2025 (current record)
- More than 354,000 rallies organized since 2007
History & Founding Story
The concept for the Public Square Rosary Crusade came from Catholic Duke Paul Oldenburg of Germany, who organized a public rosary with family and friends. America Needs Fatima director Robert E. Ritchie encountered Duke Paul at a TFP student conference in Europe and brought the idea to ANF's U.S. headquarters. Campaign coordinator Francis Slobodnik enthusiastically embraced it, and on October 13, 2007 — the 90th anniversary of the Miracle of the Sun — the first nationwide Public Square Rosary Crusade was held with 2,107 rallies. The campaign exceeded its goal nearly every year afterward, growing steadily from a few thousand rallies into tens of thousands.
- 2007 — 2,107 rallies (first year, 90th anniversary of Fatima)
- 2008 — approx. 3,500 rallies
- 2009 — 4,337 rallies on October 10
- 2013 — surpassed 10,000 rallies two weeks early (Sept 24)
- 2017 onward — consistently in the 15,000–20,000+ rally range
- 2024 — 22,662 rallies (October 12)
- 2025 — 23,090 rallies (October 11)
How a Public Square Rosary Rally Works
Rallies are organized by volunteer 'Rosary Rally Captains' — ordinary Catholics who gather family, friends and neighbors at a public location (street corner, park, plaza, or busy intersection) and pray the Rosary together at noon on rally day. Captains may request a free rally banner and a printed Captain's Manual (in English or Spanish) from ANF, which are mailed before the event. The rallies are intentionally simple: a Rosary, a few people, a public place and confidence in the Blessed Mother.
- Choose a public location (street corner, park, plaza or busy intersection)
- Gather family, friends and neighbors
- Pray the Rosary at noon local time on rally day
- Sing hymns to the Blessed Mother
- Offer prayers for the conversion of America and reparation for sin
- Optional: display the rally banner and other signs
America Needs Prayer Campaign — Year-Round Rallies
After more than a decade of October rallies, America Needs Fatima expanded into the America Needs Prayer Campaign, holding monthly public Rosary rallies in addition to the October crusade. Each month carries a special prayer intention tied to a current issue facing the nation or local communities. Captains who already have banners from previous rallies can reuse them for the monthly gatherings, making the year-round campaign a low-cost extension of the October crusade.
- Monthly rallies on themed intentions
- Held at noon in a public place chosen by the captain
- Builds on existing October rally infrastructure
- Open to first-time captains as well as veterans
The Fatima Message Behind the Rallies
The Public Square Rosary Crusade is rooted in the messages of Our Lady of Fatima to the three shepherd children in 1917. America Needs Fatima teaches that the remedy for America's moral crisis is the very program Mary requested at Fatima: consecration to her Immaculate Heart, wearing the Brown Scapular, praying the Rosary daily, offering daily prayers and sacrifices, and making the Five First Saturdays Devotion. ANF describes Mary's requests as a 'heaven-sent survival manual' for the nation.
- 1) Consecrate ourselves to her Immaculate Heart
- 2) Wear the Brown Scapular
- 3) Pray the Rosary daily
- 4) Offer daily prayers and sacrifices
- 5) Make the Five First Saturday Devotion
Get Involved — Become a Rally Captain
Anyone can sign up to lead a Public Square Rosary Rally in their hometown through the online Captain sign-up page. Captains select whether they need a free banner and/or manual (English or Spanish), supply a mailing address, and ANF ships the materials before the rally. Veterans can reuse banners from prior years. The 2026 goal is 23,500 rallies on October 10, 2026. There is no minimum group size — one or two people on a street corner is enough.
- Sign up online at americaneedsfatima.org/october-rally-captain-sign-up
- Request a free banner and/or Captain's Manual (English or Spanish)
- Choose a public location and gather friends
- Pray at noon local time
- 2026 goal: 23,500 rallies on October 10, 2026
Support the Crusade
Donors can support the Public Square Rosary Crusade by sponsoring 'White Roses' sent to Fatima in their name — a spiritual and financial contribution that helps spread the Rosary across America. Contributions are managed through The Foundation for a Christian Civilization, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and are 100% tax-deductible in the United States.
- Sponsor one or more White Roses sent to Fatima
- Make a tax-deductible donation to The Foundation for a Christian Civilization, Inc.
- Monthly donor program available
- Mail donations to P.O. Box 341, Hanover, PA 17331
Organization, Leadership & Headquarters
The Public Square Rosary Rally is organized by America Needs Fatima (ANF), a campaign of The Foundation for a Christian Civilization, Inc. (the American TFP), a Traditionalist Catholic 501(c)(3) nonprofit incorporated in Delaware in 1973 and headquartered in Spring Grove, Pennsylvania. ANF is led by Director Robert E. Ritchie, with Francis Slobodnik serving as district manager and longtime coordinator of the rally crusade. The campaign is supported year-round by a small full-time staff and 75–100 summer volunteers. Mailing address: P.O. Box 341, Hanover, PA 17331.
- Director of ANF: Robert E. Ritchie
- District Manager / Crusade coordinator: Francis Slobodnik
- Parent organization: The Foundation for a Christian Civilization, Inc. (American TFP)
- Tax status: 501(c)(3) (EIN 23-7325778)
- Headquarters: Spring Grove / Hanover, Pennsylvania
- Mailing address: P.O. Box 341, Hanover, PA 17331
- Customer Service: 888-317-5571
- Rosary Rally Hotline: 866-584-6012
- Email: [email protected]
Rally Resources & Materials
America Needs Fatima provides downloadable rally resources, captain's manuals, and pre-printed banners to help captains stage successful rallies. Materials are available in English and Spanish, and downloadable versions can be taken to a local copy center for reproduction. Veterans are encouraged to reuse banners from previous years. The standard rally banner displays the campaign's signature message about turning to God through the Holy Mother as human efforts fail to solve America's problems.
- Standard rally banner (English and Spanish versions)
- Captain's Manual (printed and downloadable)
- Free signage and printable materials
- Spanish-language options throughout
- Rally-news email newsletter
