Knights from the United States and Mexico met at the Gateway to the Americas International Bridge in Laredo, Texas, to pass on Knights of Columbus Silver Roses Dec. 10. Two days later, on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mexican Knights brought the roses to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, where they were placed on the altar during Mass.
The Silver Rose program began in 1960 and has grown to include eight roses that travel along different routes through Canada and the United States from March through December before being passed to Knights in Mexico for the final leg of the journey. Along the way, hosting councils hold prayer services to promote the dignity of life and honor Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Knights of Columbus. The Silver Rose symbolizes the Order’s devotion to Our Lady and its commitment to peace, unity and a culture of life.
“This is a sign of our unity as brother Knights throughout the world, and a reminder of our commitment to defend life in all its stages, from conception to natural death,” said Supreme Master Michael McCusker, who participated in the border exchange.
McCusker handed over a Silver Rose to Father Jesús Alberto Tijerina Bernal, vicar general of the Diocese of Nuevo Laredo, on the bridge. “We met on a bridge and stood at borders created by men,” the supreme master explained. “But we also stood under a brilliant sky that reminded us that in God’s kingdom there are no borders.”
The occasion in Laredo, the last stop in the U.S. before the roses passed into Mexico, was marked by a special procession through the city streets, followed by a Mass at San Agustín Cathedral celebrated by Bishop James Tamayo of Laredo. Hundreds of people participated in the joyful event, including Knights from many local councils, together with Texas State Deputy Ron Alonzo and Supreme Directors Alfredo Vela, Jaime Roth and Rene Treviño.
During the procession, a Fourth Degree honor guard escorted the Silver Roses, which were carried beside an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Matachines — traditional Mexican dancers — accompanied the procession, embodying centuries of devotion and cultural tradition through their drumming and dances.
In his homily, Bishop Tamayo thanked the Knights for their witness of service and charity. “Dearest Knights of Columbus, you’ve been at a task that is heavy,” he said. “The Church has asked you to model good Catholic leadership … the truth that the world is so desperately in need of. Come to [Jesus]. He will guide you. He will help you.”
Following the Mass, the assembly processed toward the middle of the international bridge, where their Mexican brothers waited to receive the roses. The passing of the Silver Roses at the U.S.-Mexico border emphasized the Order’s unity and brotherhood, which spans nations.
“Now, more than ever, the exchange is a sign of what is right in this world,” said Supreme Master McCusker. “There was a great showing of Fourth Degree Knights, which is appropriate, because the passing of the Silver Rose reminds us that we are all brothers created by God, who calls us to live as his sons. In doing so, we express patriotism in its truest form.”