On Aug. 16, the St. Rita Knights of Columbus Council 7624 in Rockford held a Silver Rose prayer service in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Each year, eight Silver Roses begin a pilgrimage through Canada, the United States, and Mexico.

Eventually, the roses reunite at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City.

Every parish where the roses stop provides a chance for Catholics to unite their prayers and petitions with the faithful of the entire North American continent.

When the Silver Rose left St. Rita, it headed for St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Crystal Lake on Aug. 18, where the visit was hosted by Knights of Columbus Council 10678.

It was the second and final stop in the Rockford Diocese before moving to the Archdiocese of Chicago.