August 9th Silver Rose Event - Our Lady of Guadelope

Thank you to all who shared in this event!  This is the highest form of being a Knight of Columbus!
We celebrated the Culture of Life, we venerated Mary, and we came together as Christ's community.  4 parishes, multiple ministies, multiple cultures. 

August's activity was centered around one grand event.  On August 9th a Thursday at 6:30pm we started running the Silver Rose from 92 and I-4 up to CR 579 and South to St Francis.  It was a 4 mile run.  We had about 14 dedicated runners show up from all of the 4 parishes in our district.  This history and course of the Silver Rose is on this Website:  http://www.runningoftherose.org/en/index.html

Mary Blessed us with a rain shower as we ran.  It did not last long but it drenched us thoroughly.
Here, we are processing up the main drive to place the Silver Rose in Our Lady's hands. 

We have priests from most of the 4 churches in our district and the Bishop of our diocese.  The Color Corp is in position abd the rose is on the way in.  Our priests and the Bishop did a great job in executing the mass and ceremony that went along with the Silver Rose.  This event is not well known, and it was new to all of us.  Father Mic our Pastor made the whole event seem like a regular Sunday mass.  It flowed smoothly.  Many thanks to our District Deputy Julio Alvarez, and the committee chair Sam Puleo!  These guys also worked tirelessly for several months to create this unique event.  We feel that the attendance was very close to 1,000 people.  All the members of our council helped keep the church and congregation in order.  Ed Sleyzak and team kept parking in order, and Ron Mullen and team ushered a near record amount of people in and around the church. 
The Legion of Mary was a big help in the planning and participation of the event. 

Above, Mary is being escorted in by Jose Sanchez and the crew of John 23rd.  The aisles are lined with Color Corp members adding even more ceremony and holiness to this event.  The silver rose is in Mary's hand.  We all remarked on how the rain shower seemed to especially shine the rose.  It really did seem to glow!

The Silver Rose Event was created by a group of Squires.  We had the Squires from St Stephen's in the procession.  They are in yellow in the picture above.  The Columbiettes are in pink.  They distributed the roses at the end of the ceremony.  They helped the sacristans.  They were are big part of the event.  The runners are in light blue.  The red shirts are our members from 14278.  The black jackets are 4th degree color guard from the district.  This picture does not capture everyone who helped but it shows a lot of them.  Thanks you so much for helping make such a grand event.

There are many more pictures from members of church and from Knights of Columbus.  I have a link that I can share from a professional Photographer that is a Knight, and works for the Knights.
http://www.photoknight.net/KofC/2012-single-gallery/Silver-Rose-St-Francis/24722536_9NPPkM

I also have these photos on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.452401571448434.101694.100000357854629&type=1&l=45a9d3125d

I would like to share the words of our District Deputy as well.  He was an enthusiastic and inspiring leader throughout the planning process.  With his leadership this event was actually a fundraiser, instead of an expense.  We are very pleased to be able to contribute funds to several causes of Pro-life in the name of Our Lady of Guadelupe!  Here are his words:

We were truly Blessed and you should all be especially proud of yourselves for addressing the opportunity God placed before us only a little over three months ago, and took responsibility by stepping forward to make this very special gift a reality for the 1026 faithful present at Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Seffner, this past Thursday evening in a very exciting and spiritual receipt of The Silver Rose, representative of Our Lady of Guadalupe and our Commitment to the Culture of Life!  
At 6:30 pm, I presented the Rose to our host Grand Knight, Brother Tim O'Connor, Blessed Antonio Rosmini Council 14278, who led the run consisting of 14 participants, escorted by Hillsborough County Sheriff's Department Deputies, in a 3.9 mile trek along US Highway 92 and onto County Road 579 towards the gathered masses at St Francis of Assisi Catholic Church.  Hearing the distant rumble of thunder clouds approaching from the west, I could not help thinking, this was our Lord's 'starting gun' for what would initiate this great event.
Outside the Church - following a brief but torrential rain which could only have been meant to cool the runners following the very oppressive heat, waited a reception of Color Corps Members lining the path from the entrance to the Church up to the Statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe - carried by four members of the Saint Francis Parish's John-23 group led by Jose Sanchez, Knights of Columbus Council Banners carried by the Worthy Grand Knights of Mother Seton Council 6724 (GK Marc Andersen), Saint Clement Council 8095 (PGK Joe Moore), Saint Stephen Council 14084 (GK Patrick Roach), Blessed Antonio Rosmini Council 14278 (PGK John Wilbur), Bishop Charles B. McLaughlin Assembly 1850 (Sir Knight Don Clark), Saint Stephen Columbiettes Auxiliary 14084 (President Carrol Guettler) and in a place of Honor, Columbian Squires Circle 5209 (Chief Squire Thomas Berrie), as well as Legion of Mary from both Saint Stephen and Nativity Catholic Churches, surrounded by members, families and the multitude of Parishioners who came outside to bear witness to a once-in-a-lifetime event for our community of Faith.   We were Honored by the presence of His Excellency, The Most Reverend Robert Lynch, Bishop of the Diocese of Saint Petersburg to welcome the Silver Rose and initiate our Procession.
At precisely 7:30 pm, drenched but not dampened by the now-passed rain....energetic, proud and all smiles, our runners  - carrying the Silver Rose and flanked by the Flag of the United States of America, and the Papal Flag, arrived to the cheers of the multitudes anxiously awaiting this precise moment, and presented the Rose to District Deputy Julio Alvarez who placed it into the hands of Chief Squire Thomas Berrie assisting him as he placed the Rose in the praying hands of Our Lady of Guadalupe.   To the Salutes of the 16 Color Corps Members led by Color Corps Commander, Sir Knight Mike Formato, Bishop Lynch approached and Blessed The Statue of Our Lady  and the Silver Rose in her praying hands, thus initiating the large procession of Color Corps, Clergy from all local Parishes, Knights of Columbus following their Banners,  Columbiettes and Legion of Mary Members carrying the large Rosary, all preceding the glorious entrance of Our Blessed Mother carrying the Beautiful Silver Rose in her praying hands. 
Only those present could attest to the majesty, beauty and spirit-filled enthusiasm as songs of joy in both English and Spanish were sung in celebration of God's Blessings and the UNITY representative of just over 1000 men, women and children (in the sanctuary, in the hallways and in the overflow rooms where video and sound of the event were being broadcasted) to the cheers led by Father Rafael "Que Viva La Virgen de Guadalupe!" ...  "Long Live Our Lady of Guadalupe!"   The Bi-Lingual Rosary was recited with each Decade led by a member of each of the Parishes in the District, followed by the Liturgy of the Word.   After The Gospel Reading, Father Mick, Pastor of Saint Francis provided two brief points.  The first being that for those who did not know....that when Our Blessed Mother appeared to Juan Diego, the image left on his cloak when the Rose petals fell from it depicted her with a black sash across her waist.   He said this sash is what is worn when a woman is with Child....meaning, that when Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to Juan Diego, she was with her Son Jesus, carried in her womb...which is why we call her the protector of the unborn.   He then commented that the Rose Petals left the 'impression' of Our Lady on the cloak, which is still in the Basilica in Monterrey Mexico; and that the Silver Rose being a 'symbol' of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Protection of all Life from conception to natural death, that it was his hope that our bearing witness to this event would leave an 'impression' on all of us and strengthen our resolve through our physical efforts and collective prayers to devote ourselves towards making the Culture of 'Life' a reality in our Society.   Following Father Rafael's leading the consecration and the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Father Mick Blessed the Silver Rose and the 700 Red Roses that were provided, one per family, as mementos of this grand event.   Following the clergy's recessional our Columbiettes assisted by handing out the Roses as the crowd surged forward to receive a rose and catch a close glimpse of the Silver Rose in the Blessed Mother's hands, and silent reverence and prayer.....and for many - to get a picture taken in front of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Silver Rose, while the Choir continued to provide a beautiful musical background.    The evening ended on a truly spiritual high as members of the Knights of Columbus, the Silver Rose Planning Committee, Runners, and all other participants who helped put this event together joined at the Altar for group photos taken by the Florida State Council Photographer Randy Hale.

A very special Thank You to every member of the Planning Committee who without which this event could not have occurred. Our Committee consisted of 24 individuals representing each Council/Parish.... I cannot possibly mention all in this email; however,  I do wish to make special note of the following individuals who for the past three months have worked 'In Unity' side-by-side, beyond the meetings, on behalf of all of us, and especially our Parishes, Clergy and those who were able to enjoy this event (see the faces of the people in the photos whose lives your efforts affected).   My sincere and heartfelt thanks go out to Brother Sam Puleo, Ms. Sally Hazzard, Deacon (and Brother Knight) Jerry Thomas, and Worthy Grand Knight Tim O'Connor (St Francis); Brother Chris McManus, Ms. Dierdre Bristol and District Warden Tony Boes (Nativity); Brother Scott Huetteman, Worthy Grand Knight Patrick Roach & Worthy Chancellor Ed Sleyzak (St Stephen), and Brother James Villa (Saint Clement).  Although all the others on the team were stellar, these team members truly delivered above and beyond all expectations!  Finally, God Bless Father Mick...without which we could never had put on this great event for the people.  His support, charisma,  sense of humor, guidance and presence helped us stay focused on what was truly important and not stress....but to relax, enjoy ourselves and... "Trust in God".  Thanks to all the amazing men and women on this project team...for demonstrating that in selfless service, a small group of faithful, focused and driven by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, can accomplish grand things that make a difference in many peoples lives!   I am honored to have been given the opportunity to work with you.
God Is Great!

Julio
-- <BR>Julio Alvarez, Jr.<BR>District Deputy<BR>Knights of Columbus<BR>Florida State District 40<BR>&nbsp;<BR><A href="mailto:jalvarezjr@gmail.com">jalvarezjr@gmail.com</A><BR>(813) 401-7683