The Rosary Team, founded and currently led by palliative care nurse Teresa Rodriquez, has a bold goal. Rodriguez recently wrote in an article for the Denver Catholic that they are in pursuit of offering a “Rosary Team in every nursing home in America.”
As Rodriguez noted, “What started in the Denver Archdiocese as a single Rosary Team serving local seniors has grown into a national ministry that builds and supports Rosary Teams in senior living communities throughout the United States.”
The Rosary Team is a nonprofit that builds Rosary Teams serving seniors in assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, and independent living communities. As reported by Aleteia in December 2024, some 75,000 rosaries had been prayed throughout 12 states since the ministry was founded in 2019.
Today, more than 300 Rosary Teams (approximately 850 volunteers) serve seniors in 35 states, praying more than 120,000 Rosaries each year. Visiting the same nursing homes at the same time weekly, these volunteers perform a corporal work of mercy by visiting the sick and dying. But their spiritual companionship also brings the powerful love of Christ to those in their final years.
The impact of a Rosary Team’s mission is affirmed by residents who share that praying the Rosary is “the highlight of their week,” Rodriquez told Aleteia. She added that family members also thank them, “knowing their loved ones have the opportunity to pray in community"; and that nursing home staff “frequently observe that the Rosary brings peace, friendship, and a stronger sense of community among residents.”
“Seniors are reminded that they continue to have a meaningful mission and purpose by praying for others,” Rodriquez stated. The weekly time of dedicated prayer gives them an opportunity to bring their personal intentions to God, but also to intercede for the needs of others.
The Rosary gives seniors an opportunity to live a “vocation of prayer … reminding them that they still have an important role in the life of the Church and the world,” Rodriguez asserted. As volunteers and seniors gather together to meditate on the Gospel and grow closer to Christ, they offer prayers for their families, their communities, and our world.
One Colorado resident, Jamie, expressed her gratitude to Rosary Team volunteers: “You have turned my life around and I feel like a better person, and I treat others better. I love you guys so much.”
A Rosary Team volunteer, Ken Stangland, shared this testimony: "Last week, one of the residents grasped my hand as we were leaving and told me this was the highlight of her week. Mine, too."
Some of the people served through this apostolate of prayer are brought back into communion with the Catholic Church through the relationships established with volunteers. As participants in the weekly time of prayer are not required to be Catholic, conversions have been another fruit of the Rosary Team’s dedicated efforts.
Warren, a resident of a facility in Boulder, Colorado, is one of these stories. Although he was raised Methodist, Warren first encountered Catholicism at the age of six through neighbors. Seven decades later the seed planted in his youth was cultivated by a Rosary Team, bearing fruit as his reception into the Catholic Church. Providentially, these events took place only weeks before Warren would pass away.
Rodriguez hopes to reach 1,000 volunteers by the end of 2026, “allowing us serve even more seniors across the country.” Volunteers don't simply lead the Rosary, “they pray alongside residents, forming meaningful friendships.”
“Over the years, I've come to realize that the ministry flows both ways,” she said. “Every week, seniors faithfully pray for their families, their communities, and our world. They remind us that no one retires from God's mission and that prayer continues to change lives."
Looking ahead, the ministry knows that their vision of establishing a Rosary Team in every senior living facility is ambitious, but they also understand, as Rodriguez explained, that “every new volunteer, donor, and customer helps make that vision possible.”
There are nearly 50,000 senior living communities across the United States. Reiterating the bold vision, Rodriguez is convicted that “God is calling many people to be part of it.”
Every volunteer, donor, and purchase from The Rosary Team Shop helps bring the Rosary and the powerful love of Christ to one more community. Items for sale include handcrafted gemstone, wood and artisan glass rosaries as well as one-of-a-kind rosaries and “lovingly restored vintage rosaries.” Original sacred art is offered—primarily scenes to accompany the Mysteries of the Rosary—along with spiritual bouquet gift cards, bags, gifts and apparel.
Every purchase directly supports Rosary Teams serving seniors. Their newest rosary was designed in honor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
The Rosary Team provides a beautiful opportunity for this Marian spirituality to flourish as volunteers gather seniors weekly to pray the Rosary, reminding elderly residents, who are often spiritually overlooked in senior-care facilities, that they continue to have an essential role in the Church offering their sufferings in union with Christ and praying for their families, our communities, and our world.
Rodriguez explained that the Rosary Team’s ministry expands by hiring Program Managers whose mission is to build and sustain Rosary Teams. In turn, Program Managers identify senior living communities, recruit volunteers, and provide ongoing support so each team continues to thrive. “This model allows us to continue expanding while also supporting the hundreds of Rosary Teams already serving each week,” the founder and president said.
“We are grateful to collaborate with organizations such as the Knights of Columbus, the Order of Malta, the Legion of Mary, the World Apostolate of Fatima, Dominicans, parishes, dioceses, and many other Catholic apostolates who have a love for the rosary.
“Together, we can accomplish far more than any one ministry could alone, ensuring that more seniors have the opportunity to pray the Rosary in community.”
The Rosary Team has participating facilities in 39 of the 50 United States. Some states have only one active location but many have five to 10, with Colorado leading the locations count as that is where the organization started.
To see the list or sign a facility up visit here. Volunteers always visit facilities to pray with residents as teams of two or more. Those interested can find more information about joining this special mission of the Blessed Mother.
*Full names not provided to respect privacy of the nursing home residents.
