St. Philip Neri
Non Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID City, ST Permit #
C AT H O L I C C H U R C H 292 Munn Road East Fort Mill, SC 29715 803.548.7282 saintphilipneri.org
Rose Garden Guild Ministry continued from page 7 ‘deadheading’ of the roses,” Joe says. “The 24 are divided into 12 teams of two each, and I set up the schedule annually. Each team works once a month.” As the project was in its early stages, Joe received an apparent message from St. Therese that the rose garden was important to our parish. “My wife and I were on our way from the parking lot to the sanctuary for Mass on a winter Saturday evening,” Joe says. “Our rose garden was dormant at that time. All of a sudden, I saw rose petals on the path to church. I mentioned this to my wife, ‘Where did they come from?’” When they reached the church, the couple met several friends in the vestibule, and Joe asked them if they had seen the petals. They had not. There were no petals, they said. “But I saw them,” Joe says. “I don’t know where they came from. There were no roses in church, and no one had brought roses up the path. But St. Therese had said of the time of her death, ‘I
will let fall from heaven a shower of roses.’ That strengthened my resolve to make sure the rose garden was a success.” The simple life of St. Therese and her firm faith made an impact on Joe. As he is working in the garden, he feels drawn closer to Christ, thanks to St. Therese. He has made note of St. Therese’s writings — termed “simple,” but significant enough to earn St. Therese the designation as a Doctor of the Church. She is the youngest receiving that designation, despite her lack of a theological education. She died in 1924, and, as she foretold, there was a shower of roses at the convent. She was canonized May 17, 1925. New Rose Garden Guild Ministry members are always welcome. Those wanting to join or who would like more information may call Joe Knippenberg at 803-400-3838.
