Flowers for Our Lady of Guadalupe to support parish

Friday, Nov. 27, 2020

OREM — Beautiful flowers offered to Our Lady of Guadalupe on her Dec. 12 feast day are a tradition for some people.

This year, for the convenience of parishioners and in keeping with the health and safety requirements of the pandemic, St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Orem has arranged an online preorder of flowers for the celebration.

“Usually what we would do is have the flower arrangements available directly at the parish, but this year with the pandemic, as a precaution we are inviting people to preorder them online,” said Yaneli Sandoval, the parish’s bookkeeper.

Listed on the parish web page are the different arrangements, sizes and prices. All proceeds will go directly to the parish.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, parish finances have suffered. “Sometimes people do not realize what the parishes have gone through, and right now they need the support. Getting these flower arrangements is a way to support it,” Sandoval said. “Now more than ever, with all the pandemic challenges, we need to be united,” and a good way to do that is through a religious avenue, she said.

Flowers, especially roses, played a significant part in the miraculous event commemorated in the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. That event took place on Dec. 12, 1531, when the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared on Tepeyec Hill, near Mexico City, to a peasant named Juan Diego. 

Our Lady requested that a church be built on that site. Juan Diego relayed that message to the archbishop of Mexico City, Fray Juan de Zumárraga.

Not convinced by the message, Fray Zumárraga requested proof. Our Lady told Juan Diego to gather some roses that were growing on the hill – the flowers weren’t native to the area, and it was out of season for them – and take them to the archbishop. Juan Diego obeyed and placed the roses in his cloak to carry back as evidence of Our Lady’s appearance.

When Juan Diego opened his cloak in front of the bishop to reveal the miraculous roses, an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe was imprinted on his cloak. That cloak, known as a tilma, now is on display at the Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico City. Juan Diego was canonized on July 31, 2002, by Pope John Paul II.

To order roses for the Our Lady of Guadalupe celebration at St. Francis of Assisi Parish, visit www.oremstfrancis.org or call 801-221-0750.