The Knights of Columbus of Georgia are participating in a special tribute to Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas, through the Our Lady of Guadalupe Silver Rose Run – One Life, One Rose Program.

The silver rose program began in 1960 as a project of the Columbian Squires of North America to honor the Blessed Virgin.

The 2012 run has grown to incorporate more than double the number of jurisdictions participating. Starting in May, the silver roses will travel simultaneously through 31 jurisdictions before entering Mexico for the final leg of the pilgrimage to Monterrey.

In recent years the rose has been run from London, Ontario, through 10 states in the United States, and then crossing at the International Bridge and ending in Monterrey, Mexico. Now four roses travel simultaneously starting in Ontario, and then moving to the west coast, central United States, the southeast and the east coast. All four roses come together in Texas to travel over the International Bridge and be handed over to Knights from Monterrey and arrive at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Dec. 12, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

“The ‘Running of the Rose’ is a perfect program for the Knights of Columbus,” said Supreme Knight Carl 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 route through Georgia with special prayer services honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe will be celebrated at each of these parishes ending on July 22: Good Samaritan, Ellijay, Thursday, July 5, 9 a.m.; Our Lady of the Mountains, Jasper, Friday, July 6, 6 p.m.; St. Michael, Gainesville, Saturday, July 7, 7 p.m.; Prince of Peace, Flowery Branch, Sunday, July 8, 4 p.m.; St. Michael the Archangel, Woodstock, Monday, July 9, contact church for time; St. Thomas Aquinas, Alpharetta, Tuesday, July 10, 6:30 p.m.; St. Peter Chanel, Roswell, Wednesday, July 11, 6 p.m.; St. Andrew, Roswell, Thursday, July 12, 7 p.m.; St. Thomas More, Decatur, Friday, July 13, 6:30 p.m.; St. George, Newnan, Saturday, July 14, after 5:30 p.m. Mass; St. Gabriel, Fayetteville, Monday, July 16, 12 p.m.; St. James, McDonough, Monday, July 16, 7 p.m.;  St. Mary Mother of God, Jackson, Tuesday, July 17, 7 p.m.; Our Divine Saviour Catholic Church, Tifton, Wednesday, July 18, 6 p.m.; St. Augustine Catholic Church, Thomasville, Thursday, July 19; St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Valdosta, Friday, July 20, 7 p.m.; St. Francis Xavier, Brunswick, Saturday, July 21, 4 p.m.