Families from across the country and as far away as the Philippines are expected to attend the Rosary Bowl in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles May 19.

The event, called A World at Prayer is a World at Peace: The Rosary Bowl, is expected to be the largest communal prayer of the Rosary in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in 50 years. It will be held in the famous Rose Bowl of Pasadena, Calif.

The archdiocese used to hold Rosary events, called Mary’s Hour, in the Los Angeles Coliseum in the 1950s and 1960s, according to organizers.

This year’s event is sponsored and organized by Holy Cross Family Ministries, Easton, Mass., and its media arm, Family Theater Productions, Hollywood, in collaboration with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

The Glorious Mysteries will be prayed in 55 languages representing the varied ethnicities that comprise the church of Southern California. The Eucharistic celebration will combine music, inspirational talks, Eucharistic adoration and prayer of the Rosary.

The Rosary Bowl is being held in order to encourage Catholics and others to enhance their faith through prayer of the Rosary. Participants will pray for world peace and the strength and unity of families, especially in war-torn areas.

The venue will begin welcoming participants at 5 p.m. There will be praise and worship, including witness talks, starting at 6 p.m. A Eucharistic procession will begin at 7:30 p.m., followed by adoration, prayer of the Glorious Mysteries and a homily by Cardinal Mahony. Benediction is at 9 p.m.

Twenty-eight million people world-wide have attended 40 such events organized and conducted by Servant of God Father Peyton, now a sainthood candidate.

Admission is free, but tickets are required.  Free tickets can be ordered online at http://www.rosarybowl.org/about-ticket-request.html or by e-mailing info@rosarybowl.org.