Betty Frank
Honored at
Rosary Rally

UTICA -- Betty Frank, SFO, got more than she expected at the Public Square Rosary Rally on Saturday, Oct. 13, at Utica City Hall.

Mayor Tim Julian surprised her with a proclamation recognizing her untiring work on behalf of the poor and in promoting the praise and worship of God through the establishment of Utica’s only Perpetual Adoration Chapel and the erection of a shrine to Bl. Mother Marianne Cope, “Utica’s future saint.” Both are located at St. Joseph-St. Patrick Church.

Prior to the presentation, the mayor addressed the crowd, declaring: “I believe we are still one nation under God!”

It was one of an estimated 2,200 rallies held across the U.S. that day to honor the 90th anniversary of Our Lady’s apparitions at Fatima, Portugal. The rallies were sponsored by American TFP’s “America Needs Fatima” Campaign.

Some 80 people, including several members of St. Joseph Fraternity, participated in the Utica rally, which featured a procession around a city block and back to City Hall for the public praying of the rosary.

Tony Giglio was master of ceremonies for the rally, and Gabrielle Prestigiacomo was rally captain. A 15-year-old Proctor High School student, Jacob Perkins, sang “Ave Maria”, accompanied by Kathy Austin on the keyboard. One of the participants, Tony Veschusio of New Hartford, who has made some 3,000 chain rosaries for the missions, was draped with one of his special creations – a huge golf-ball rosary.

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Betty Frank, SFO, being honored by Utica Mayor Tim Julian


LEFT: Tony Veschusio with golf-ball rosary.
RIGHT: Standing, kneeling and sitting, local parishioners pray the rosary in front of Utica City Hall.


Children led the Public Square Rosary Rally procession through the streets of Utica with a banner that proclaimed: "Pray With Us for America."