Knights of Columbus Honor Guard Steward the Silver Rose
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April 22, 2019Each year, from early March through mid-December, Silver Roses are stewarded by Knights of Columbus councils along routes from Canada to Mexico. Every stop the Silver Rose makes throughout the pilgrimage is a rosary-centered occasion for Knights, parishioners and community members to pray for respect for life, for the spiritual renewal of each nation, and for the advancement of the message of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
On Monday, April 22 nd at Holy Family Church, Knights of Columbus Honor Guards from the W. Robert Bachelder Assembly #357 brought the Silver Rose to the front of the church to initiate a 6:30 pm Rosary Prayer Service.
4th Degree Honor Guard surround the Silver Rose, from left to right: George Tranchemontagne, Frank Pease, Ray Sargent and John Greenlee
In March 2019, Our Lady of Guadalupe Silver Rose - One Life, One Rose Program began when eight Silver Roses started their journeys on various routes in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Three routes will end in Mexico, another three in Texas, one other in Washington, D. C., and the eighth route will complete its journey at St. Mary’s Church in New Haven, CT, where the Knights of Columbus was founded. All eight of the routes will conclude their journeys on December 12, 2019 on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas, the same day when the three Silver Roses in Mexico reach the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Monterrey.
2019 marks the 60th year of the program which began in 1960 to honor the Blessed Virgin under her title of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas. The program has continued since then as a project of Knights of Columbus councils and Fourth Degree assemblies in several jurisdictions.
In 2001, Supreme Knight Carl Anderson expanded the program by beginning the “Running of the Rose” from the 119th Annual Meeting of the Supreme Council in Toronto. This is “a perfect program for the Knights of Columbus,” said Supreme Knight Anderson. “Through it we honor not only Our Lady of Guadalupe and express the unity of the Order, but we also reaffirm the Order’s dedication to the sanctity of human life. It is to the Blessed Mother that we turn in prayer as we work to end the Culture of Death that grips our society. As we think in terms of ‘One Life, One Rose,’ it is most appropriate that we turn to Our Lady of Guadalupe who made known her will through Juan Diego and the miracle of the roses.”
The Silver Rose being displayed before the Altar
Today, eight Silver Roses travel through North America exemplifying Knights of Columbus devotion to Our Lady and commitment to the Culture of Life.
State Silver Rose Chairmen in each state or province set the schedule for Silver Rose prayer services within their jurisdictions. The Silver Rose which was brought at Holy Family Church in Sanford originally started out in Nova Scotia before being transferred into Maine. From here it will be transferred to New Hampshire, then onto Vermont, New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and finally into Connecticut.
A Higher Purpose
Share the message of Our Lady of Guadalupe and promote respect for life by participating in this meaningful pilgrimage. The Silver Rose program demonstrates the unity between Knights of Columbus in Canada, the United States and Mexico, through a series of prayer services promoting the dignity of all human life and honoring Our Lady.