On Friday, March 21, the Knights of Columbus Orange Park Council conducted a Silver Rose Ceremony at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church. The ceremony was celebrated by Fr. Mason Wiggins with Knights on Bikes, the Color Corps of Assembly 3154, a few members of the Council, and a few parishioners.
The Silver Rose was organized by the Knights of Columbus in 1960 by the Columbian Squires, a youth organization of the Order. They wanted to give something back to Our Lady of Guadalupe because she has done so much for the people of North America; in particular, Mexico.
The group of young men in Knights of Columbus Council in Monterrey, Mexico, came up with the idea of running a rose to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Monterrey. The rose was chosen to commemorate Juan Diego and the miracle of the roses, an important part of the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The first rose was a natural rose and was blessed by Bishop John C. Cody of London. It was then flown to New York and finally delivered to the Supreme Knight Luke E. Hart. Mr. Hart then shepherded the rose to Laredo, Texas, where it was finally given to the Squires from Monterrey, at the International Bridge located there. They ran the rose from there to the Basilica in Monterrey, on December 12, 1960.
The Squires were so enthused by the success of this effort that they wanted to invite other Squires from around the world to participate.
They called on Squires from Texas and Ontario to join them. The Canadian Squires asked that the journey of the rose begin in their home and move from there through the United States, finishing at the Basilica in Mexico.
After a year, the first rose had decomposed, so a group decided to make a bronze rose that would not age. When the Squires in Monterrey heard of the bronze rose, they decided to make a similar rose. Silver was chosen for this new rose because it is a precious metal of Mexico.
The first Silver Rose was blessed by Bishop Alfonso Espino Silva and sent to the Supreme Council headquarters of the Knights of Columbus in New Haven. Both the Bronze Rose and the Silver Rose were received by Supreme Knight Luke E. Hart and were so admired by Archbishop Francis J. Spellman of New York that he kept them for a special Mass before they were flown to Texas to once again be turned over to brother Knights at the midpoint of the International Bridge.
After 1961, the program was conducted by the Knights of Texas and Mexico and the Our Lady of Guadalupe Province of the Fourth Degree until the mid-1990s, when it was adopted as a Knights of Columbus Supreme Council program. In 2001, Supreme Knight Carl Anderson expanded the Silver Rose program further to not only honor 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. ‘One Life, One Rose’
Today, eight roses run along different North American routes that include Canada, every U.S. state, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, and Mexico. This tradition spreads devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe and embodies international brotherhood as jointly nurtured across the continent.
The Silver Rose was transported to our sister parish, Mary Queen of Heaven for their Silver Rose Prayer Service by Knights on Bikes. Faithful Navigator & District Deputy, Tom Scherch, retrieved the Silver Rose from MQOH the night before our service. A Group of Knights on Bikes were in attendance at the St. Catherine Silver Rose Prayer Service. They were then going to take the Silver Rose to its next destination, Resurrection Catholic Church in Jacksonville.
Knights on Bikes is its own fraternal organization made up of Knights of Columbus members to provide fellowship, brotherhood, and assistance to all its members while enjoying and promoting safety in motorcycle riding. Their mission includes assisting the Roman Catholic Church, the Bishops of each Diocese, the Knights of Columbus, charitable organizations, individuals, and the community. They promote and adhere to the doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church, and evangelize through fellowship, charity, and service. They maintain and support the Knights of Columbus’ missions and goals.
The service consisted of a brief history of the story of Juan Diego and Our Lady of Guadalupe, read by Grand Knight David Coughlin, followed by a Rosary. Patty and Scott Woods assisted with the readings and the Responsorial Psalm. Fr. Wiggins read the Gospel and gave a short homily, relating Our Lady of Guadalupe to things going on in our world today. He suggested that we get the Silver Rose next year and plan for a larger ceremony.  After consecrating those in attendance to Our Lady of Guadalupe, the service concluded with a Final Blessing from Fr. Wiggins and an opportunity for anyone interested to examine the Silver Rose more carefully.
Photos Courtesy of Francis Vallencourt, Parish Photographer