A Banner for Our Lady

2013 Roses for Our Lady May Crowning

2013 Roses for Our Lady May Crowning

2013 Roses for Our Lady May Crowning
Bishop Donald Hying, Fr. Tim Kitzke, Fr. Paul Schneider, OFM Conv., Fr. Enrique Hernandez

2013 Roses for Our Lady May Crowning
Fr. Matthew Widder carrying the Eucharist

Over the years that I have been writing Imprisoned in my Bones, I have shared many posts about Roses for Our Lady, an organization of laity in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee which seeks to bring honor and glory to Jesus and Mary in our world today.  One of the ways in which Roses for Our Lady brings about that honor and glory is through Eucharistic Rosary processions. Each year, Roses organizes at least three processions, one on Mother's Day, which also includes a traditional May Crowning, one to celebrate the Nativity of the Blessed Mother and another on the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.  In addition to these, Roses is the only non-Italian organization to participate in the annual Festa Italiana Mass and Eucharistic Procession, devoutly praying the rosary as we process through the Summerfest Grounds in Milwaukee.

When Roses for Our Lady was first organized as a religious society over 30 years ago, we proudly carried a banner during our processions, but with the passing of time, that banner is no longer in existence.  We are currently working on designing another banner to carry in our processions and to display during our monthly holy hours for vocations at Saint Francis de Sales Seminary in Milwaukee. The cost of a custom-designed hand-made banner is quite expensive, and we are currently holding a fund-raising drive to raise the necessary money to purchase the banner with the hopes that it will be ready for the Festa Italiana Mass and Procession this July.

If you would be interested in making a donation to this fund-raising effort, we would be most grateful!  Memorial donations will be accepted in honor of your deceased loved ones, and they will be remembered at our Mass in honor of the Nativity of the Blessed Mother which will be held at Divine Mercy Parish in South Milwaukee on Monday, September 8th at 7 PM with Bishop Donald Hying presiding.

To make a donation, please visit the Roses for Our Lady website donations page and conveniently pay using pay pal, or send a check to the address listed.  Please make sure to send us the name of the person you would like us to pray for in the comments box or on the memo line.  Thank you so much and may God bless you and Our Lady love you!

Bound

artwork drawn by my son, Justin, when he was eleven-years-old,
based upon a drawing found in a Stations of the Cross booklet for children
from Gesu Parish in Milwaukee, originally drawn by Mugsie Pike

Here He is,

painfully bound-

bound by my sin,

my misery,

my indifference.

How can I loosen

those binding ties, my Lord?

How can I relieve

your suffering and sorrow?

Let my tears of repentance

fall in abundance.

Let the hope in my heart

set you free.

Let the joy of my life

lived with gratitude

be the dagger

to cut the burning ties

that excoriate Your skin,

scorching through to Your 

Most Sacred Heart,

already burning with the fire

of love for my pitiful soul.

The only binding I can bear
to see You held within, my Lord,

is the fastening You desire.

I will wrap my life around Your holy will

and forever be held close to You, 

bound to Your beautiful love

today and into eternity.