I Could Do That!

"I could do that!" Kathy Worboys said to herself after reading about America Needs Fatima’s Public Rosary Rallies held annually around the country. She was particularly impressed when she saw a picture of a banner that read:

"As human efforts fail to solve America’s key problems, we turn to God, through His Holy Mother, asking His help!"

She wasted no time and called the number at the end of the article. “Those words captivated me,” she said. “I really wanted one of those banners, and I thought that assembling a public rosary rally was really a neat idea.”

Becoming a Rosary Rally Captain

She immediately agreed to become a Rosary Rally Captain. That was in 2010, and every year since then she has organized her Public Rosary Rally with great success each time at the Harry Allen Park in downtown Honeoye Falls, New York.

Kathy’s desire to be closer to God started in 2006 when a friend gave her a book that recommended, among other things, Eucharistic Adoration. She immediately found a perpetual adoration chapel near her home. There she met Virginia Tondryk, who taught her how to pray the Rosary and since that day, the two ladies have been close friends. They are members of a prayer group that gathers at their parish church, St. Paul of the Cross, to say nightly Rosaries and pray in front of an abortion clinic once a week.

However, something terribly unexpected happened to both of them on the exact same day in March of 2012. Virginia was diagnosed with acute leukemia and Kathy with breast cancer. Despite the setback in their health, they continued to pray and promote the Rosary: this time, with an added purpose. “It helps us to fight our cancers with faith,” said Kathy. “We would not be able to face any of our trials without our faith,” she added.

Her fourth rosary rally, held in 2013, might very well have been her last. At one point, her doctor told her that she had only six months to live….

…but Our Lady had other plans for Kathy.

You see, Kathy strongly believes that her faith in God and the Blessed Virgin Mary is her strongest defense against her disease. “The Rosary has been a powerful weapon,” she affirms.

In planning her Public Rosary Rallies, she relies mainly on Our Lady’s inspiration. "She has certainly motivated me and kept me organized in all my efforts to promote the Rosary Rally,” she said.

In recent years her rallies have been attended by over 200 people - even a local chapter of the Knights of Columbus were there in their gala uniforms.

Father Michael Upson of St. Paul of the Cross parish often gives an inspiring talk before the Rosary.

And now for the rest of the story…

In November of 2013, Kathy went on pilgrimage to Lourdes and Fatima. She knew that it was going to be difficult. She had to be in a wheel chair, so weakened was she by the cancer. Her companions, including Father Upton, had assured her that everything was going to be alright and encouraged her to join the pilgrimage.

When she got back from her trip, she had an appointment with her doctor after a few tests she had taken.

His face beaming as she came into the room, her doctor announced, “This is remarkable! Jesus loves you!” The tests he held in his hand showed that the tumors in her spine had disappeared. The tests also showed no trace of the cancer that had covered her chest wall and was in her bones.

After thanking all those who had been praying for her, Kathy immediately signed up for the next Public Square Rosary Rally, saying in her email that, “It looks like I may be around for a while – praise be to God and Mother Mary!”

Regardless of what the future holds, Kathy cannot forget the two devotions that changed her life. She proudly declares, "Eucharistic Adoration is a powerful place and the Rosary is a powerful weapon."