Man Answers ‘Mamma’s’ Request to Make Rosary Video

Charles Barbre teamed up with daughter, Karen Ullo, to record a video on praying the rosary for the simple reason that “Momma (his term of endearment for the Blessed Mother) asked me. And when Momma asks me to do something, I do it.” 

Underlying his matter-of-fact answer is his knowledge and belief in the power of the rosary and Mary’s urgent request to spread the devotion for the salvation of souls.

Barbre, a member of Knights of Columbus Council 9247 of St. Jean Vianney Church in Baton Rouge, has wanted to record a video on the rosary for years but could not find someone to volunteer their skills or talent to do it. Brett Cormier, through his work as state audio visual chairman for the Louisiana State Knights of Columbus, obtained the equipment for the project. Cormier recorded the presentation and started the editing process, and Catholic Life Television completed it.

Barbre was joined in the video by Ullo, music director at St. Jean Vianney and at the Cypress Springs Mercedarian Prayer Center chapel in Baton Rouge.

“She (Karen) is a smart cookie. She knows her liturgy and spirituality. She was an excellent partner to do the video with,” said Barbre.

Having worked in sports talk radio and television for the past 25 years, Barbre is known by many as “The Rooster,” a nickname given to him by a caller during one show. He is comfortable in front of the camera but even sports “takes a back seat” when it comes to encouraging others to pray the rosary.

Barbre began the devotion on a daily basis in 2009, after he re-visited the story of Our Lady of Fatima’s apparitions to the shepherd children at Fatima Portugal.

“I hadn’t read the story since junior high school. I thought I knew it all, but I kept realizing ‘She said that’ and I didn’t realize that and ‘she wants us to do that’ and I didn’t realize that,” Barbre said. “One thing the Blessed Mother said in all of six (Fatima) apparitions was to pray the rosary.

“So I figured she wasn’t coming down here because she was bored and needed something to do, she was coming down to help save our souls.”

He and his wife, Betty, pray the rosary together daily, while traveling in the car, walking the neighborhood, or walking “laps around the house” in inclement weather.

After the 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, Barbre was moved to pray the rosary when he served meals to workers during recovery efforts at the scene of death and destruction.

“It was on my heart that the reason that I was supposed to go to the World Trade Center was to stand at ground zero and pray the rosary, which I was able to do,” said Barbre.

Doctors determined Barbre’s exposure to pollutants at the World Trade Center caused his kidney cancer that has spread to his lungs. He accepts his illness with faith.

“If I knew then what I know now that I would have cancer, I wouldn’t trade a thing,” he said. “What I got out of that is so much more than whatever I am dealing with now.

“When I found out I had cancer, I gave my cancer to the Blessed Mother. I told her it’s hers to do whatever she wants with it. If she wanted me to come home, that’s fine, and if she wanted to keep me around for a while, that’s fine too. She’s in charge.”

He continues his mission to spread the rosary. In addition to his work with the Knights of Columbus, he has lead a pro-life rosary in front of Delta Women’s Clinic in Baton Rouge and weekly rosaries at his home (which turned into a carport rosary during the COVID-19 pandemic). On the 25th day of each month he also leads an Armada Rosary Prayer Group dedicated to Our Lady of the Most Precious Blood, which involves praying the rosary, litanies and prayers of supplication.

Ullo noted how her parents’ devotion to prayer has been a good model for the family.

“When they started hosting rosary groups in their home several years ago, we were sometimes able to bring the children to pray with them,” she said. “It was easier when they were younger and had less homework than it is now, but my husband and I have tried to let our children see how the rosary shapes our family and leads us closer to God, both through my parents’ example and our own.” 

 Barbre said many Catholics know about the rosary but many do not pray it daily or at all. In his video, Barbre gives an overview of how to effectively pray the rosary and addresses the question, “Why pray the rosary?”

“If you understand the ‘why you pray the rosary, what’s in it for you,’ the how of praying the rosary is easy,” said Barbre.

For those who think that the rosary and devotions to the Blessed Mother are worshipping Mary, Barbre said, “They don’t understand, they’ve never looked into it.” 

He said the best way to discover the richness of meditating on the mysteries of her son Jesus  through the rosary is to “just start.”

“Since my conversion (of praying the rosary daily) in 2009, the Blessed Mother leads me closer to her son,” Barbre said. “It’s as simple as that. She is looking out for my salvation. 

“If you pray the rosary everyday, you will be amazed at the blessings that will come to you.”

To view the video, visit kc9247.org and click on the rosary tab and select the Why Pray the Rosary option on the dropdown menu.