Shower of Roses to be held on Sunday

Roses from heaven will fall over the Shrine of St. Therese Lisieux, the Little Flower of Jesus, on Sunday during the 87th annual Shower of Roses.

The event is held at the shrine, which is the former Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 1 E. Garibaldi Ave., in the New Columbus section of Nesquehoning.

The day starts at 11 a.m. with a spaghetti dinner at the Madonna Hall behind the shrine. Food and entertainment will also be available on the grounds of Madonna Hall during the event.

At 1 p.m. there will be a Mass in the shrine, celebrated by the Rev. Allen J. Hoffa, rector of the shrine, and the crowning of the Rose Queen.

This year’s queen is Emily Reaman, daughter of Ric and Kathy Reaman of Nesquehoning; and her princesses are Ashlyn Klitsch, Lauren Reaman, Bella Lesante, Ryli J. McGorry and Megan Reaman.

The Little Flowers include Serenity Noelle Fritz, Giavanna Larry, Meara Shultz, Esmarelda Petschauer, Margaret Petschauer, Isabella D’Ancona and Hunter Field.

At 3 p.m., there will be a rosary and military procession. The devotees will process around the Little Flower development.

Hoffa said that this year’s procession is a little different in that it includes the military and will conclude at the grotto, which was recently finalized in the national register.

Once the procession concludes, a prayer service in the grotto will include a memorial service for those who have served in war, Hoffa said, adding that members of the Carbon County veterans associations will be there doing the color guard, gun salute and taps.

“It’s going to be an emotional moment,” Hoffa said.

A benediction will be held at 4 p.m., with the Shower of Roses taking place at 5 p.m., weather permitting.

The Rose Queen will change into Carmelite habit during the benediction to represent St. Therese during the rose drop. She will be standing on the stairs of the shrine as the roses fall down over the attendees.

The roses represent the belief that when someone’s prayer is answered by St. Therese, that person will smell the fragrance of roses, or find a rose in an unusual place. The belief is thought to have come from St. Therese’s promise to send a shower of roses to earth as proof of God’s existence. St. Therese was canonized in 1925.

For more information on the Shower of Roses, call St. Joseph Parish of the Panther Valley office at 570-645-2664, visit www.shrineofsainttherese.com or find the event on Facebook at Shrine of Saint Therese.

The shrine celebrates Mass weekly at 9 a.m. on Saturdays.