Everyone is invited to join the Knights of Columbus for the Silver Rose Prayer Service at Saint Joseph Church on Sunday, July 3.

In 1960 the Columbia Squires of North America started a project to honour the Blessed Virgin under her tile of Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas. In 2001 the program was expanded by beginning the “Running of the Rose”.

A beautiful silver rose was specially hand-crafted to represent Our Lady of Guadalupe. The program involves running a Silver Rose from Ontario, through the U.S., to Monterrey, Mexico, arriving at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

The program has expanded and starting in May, three silver roses will travel simultaneously through 31 jurisdictions. Beginning in London, Ontario, the roses will move to the west coast, central U.S. and the east coast. All three will meet at the same time, in Texas, to travel over the International Bridge and be handed over to the Knights from Monterrey.

We are privileged to have St. Joseph’s Church in Radium chosen as the first destination in B.C. From Radium, the rose will travel to Kimberley, Cranbrook, Creston and on.

“Through the Silver Rose Program, the Knights of Columbus show our support for the Church and its bishops and priests as we pray for the continued strength to do so in these troubled times. The Silver Rose also symbolizes our commitment to restoring respect for the sanctity of human life from the conception until natural death. 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,” said Michael Yuo, state deputy, chief executive of the Knights of Columbus in B.C.

The Silver Rose Program is for everyone in the Parish.

Our date is: July 3, with the service beginning with a procession at 9:30 a.m., followed by a prayer service at 10 a.m., and mass at 11 a.m.

Herb Seel

District Deputy #13, Knights of Columbus