The St. Jerome Catholic Parish in Oconomowoc was among the list of sponsors for an Unite Our Nation Eucharistic procession and patriotic Rosary this past Sunday.

Pastor Thomas Brundage shared photos and a video of the event, part of the national Rosary Coast to Coast celebration held Oct. 11, on his Facebook page.

“Thank you to all who came to the Unite Our Nation Eucharistic procession and patriotic rosary,” Brundage wrote. “Nearly 300 voices united in one prayer for the healing of our country and for our Lord’s mercy and protection.

Unite Our Nation was founded this year as a response to the protests, demonstrations and violence that have marked 2020. Two Wisconsin men, Kevin O’Brien and Patrick Ciriacks, intended to start a group called Unite Wisconsin.

After Father Richard Heilman organized a procession on State Street in Madison on June 14 with 300 people joining together to pray at the same place protests had been held, the movement took on a life of its own.

A larger Eucharistic procession and patriotic rally was held in Madison on Aug. 15 and about 3,000 people took part. Catholics from across the country, including priests, church staffers and the laity, asked if they could take part as well. Unite Our Nation moved forward.

Tim Kasza, a pastoral associate with the St. Jerome Catholic Parish in Oconomowoc, said organizing the event was the right thing to do.

“Because the Parish of St. Jerome recognizes the division and fear being sown in our world and we want to 'light a candle in the darkness' and point people to the only real source of hope – our Lord,” Kasza told Wisconsin Catholic Tribune. “Given all of the troubling news we’ve been bombarded with this year, people naturally want to do something. This type of event gives them that chance. All they need to do is gather and pray.”

He said Unite Our Nation is helping Americans show their support for peaceful rallies during a year filled with so much anger and chaos.

“They provide ordinary citizens with the means to quickly and easily organize nonpolitical, prayer-focused events,” Kasza said. “In a sense, they provide a banner for people to rally around who otherwise might sit at home wishing they could have a voice. In the case of Unite Our Nation, it’s about giving public praise to God and recognizing him as the voice we should all be listening to at a moment like this.”

On its website, Unite Our Nation explains its goals.

“We are passionately patriotic, with a deeply rooted love for America," it said. "We believe in the power of the Eucharist and the serenity of the rosary. In unison with our bishops and priests, we help the faithful plan processions throughout our country, as a balm to violence and fear.

“When we bring Our Lord and the Blessed Mother out of the churches and into the streets of America we create a powerful witness. We ask for grace for our country with our most powerful weapons, the Blessed Sacrament and the rosary – all for the greater glory of God, through our Immaculate Mother.”

The events are strictly nonpartisan.

“Unity will not be achieved by shouting, mocking, or ridiculing others,” the website states. “This is a time for prayerful reflection – a time to give witness to others that even in difficult times, people of all races and beliefs can come together under the watchful eye of Our Lord through the intercession of the Blessed Mother.”

Kasza said Unite Our Nation is gaining support because it is an inclusive organization.

“I would say that this type of organization offers ordinary citizens, particularly Catholics, the opportunity to make a positive contribution to the very public discourse that has been evident in American society this year,” he said. “The goal is to gather people together in prayer for peace and unity.”