Dear Brother Knights,
Each year, from February through mid-December, Silver Roses are stewarded by Knights of Columbus councils along routes from Canada to Mexico. Every stop the Silver Rose makes throughout the pilgrimage is a rosary-centered occasion for Knights, parishioners, and community members to pray for respect for life, for the spiritual renewal of each nation, and for the advancement of the message of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
We have received our Silver Rose schedule from Supreme, now comes the hard part; setting up the state schedule. I know there are some who may request hosting the Silver Rose on a specific date, or want to have it longer than one (1) Day, or they may even wish to reserve it on a specific date or wonder why it cannot be received for their scheduled Mass.
Well, the answer is really simple; There are approximately 137 Parishes and missions throughout the Great State of Alabama, and the state will host the “Silver Rose” for just 29 days before it moves on to Mississippi. Of those 29 days, 2 of them are travel days, leaving just 27 available slots. The dates that Alabama has are set by Supreme and cannot be changed. Alabama is one of 10 states in Region #5, and each state has the Silver Rose for a limited time.
There is a total of 8 Silver Rose Routes that journey across North America, with all routes meeting in December in Texas. They will then join together and cross into Mexico, enroute to the Basilica in Monterrey, Mexico.
Here in Alabama, we are part Route #5 that starts its journey in February in Florida, then traveling through Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee before arriving in here in Alabama. The 1st stop in Alabama will be in the Mobile area and its last stop will be at E.W.T.N. in Irondale. Following the E.W.T.N. Mass the “Silver Rose will be transferred to Mississippi to continues its journey on through Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas and finally arriving in Mexico on December 8th for the celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
So, as you can see, it is a challenge ever year to produce a State Schedule for the “Silver Rose”. So, please help us to ensure that the “Silver Rose” is transferred between each parish smoothly. We as members of the Knights of Columbus, should lead by example and attend a “Silver Rose” service and encourage your family and friends to attend with you. Please make sure that you coordinated not only with your council members, the Knights in the 4th Degree, your parish, also please invite parishes in your local area to join you. Please remember that not all parishes in the state will have the honor of hosting the Silver Rose.
With that, here is the scheduled dates for Alabama:
August 24, 2026: Official transfer from Tennessee to Alabama; one-day visit in Huntsville, followed by a transfer to Corpus Christi Parish, Mobile, to begin the statewide pilgrimage.
August 24–September 20, 2026: 29-day pilgrimage visiting 27 parishes across the Archdiocese of Mobile and the Diocese of Birmingham (27 parish stops, 2 travel days plus the concluding Mass on 20 September).
September 20, 2026: Concluding events transfer from the Cathedral of St. Paul, Birmingham to EWTN in Irondale, for the nationally televised 7:00 a.m. Mass at the EWTN Chapel, Irondale. After the Mass, the Silver Rose will be transferred to representatives from Mississippi as it continues to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico.
For more than 60 years the Silver Rose has united Knights of Columbus members in Canada, the United States, and Mexico in prayer and devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe and the protection of human life. Each year eight Silver Roses travel designated routes, stopping at churches and community sites where thousands gather
to pray.
Everyone is encouraged to attend a prayer service or Mass at a local parish during the pilgrimage. Media interested in covering local events or the televised EWTN Mass are invited to contact the Alabama Silver Rose Chairman for interviews, photos, or coordination.
Contact John Blackburn
Alabama Silver Rose Chairman, Knights of Columbus
2094 Lakeview Road, Ozark, AL 36360
al.silver.rose.24@gmail.com
Note: Follow this link for a detailed schedule listing dates, parishes, and locations of each Silver Rose stop in Alabama.
So in the future, please sign up as early as possible to ensure a spot on the schedule. Please remember when submitting your application to include: Council #, Parish, Location and TIME of Mass, Point of contact to include e-Mail and phone # (the person responsible for the icon during its entire visit from arrival to transfer to next location and who receiving the Silver Rose).
Remember the Silver Rose is 1st come, 1st served.
To schedule your parish, contact the Alabama Silver Rose Chairman, John Blackburn at e-mail: al.silver.rose.24@gmail.com.
After your council/parish has concluded your Silver Rose Service, Please complete and file your Fraternal Programs Report Form #10784 and could you please send me the attendance numbers and any pictures, to al.silver.rose.24@gmail.com as soon as possible.
The Silver Rose along with the prayer service booklets in both English and Spanish, will be transferred to each Parish Council as indicated on the scheduled prayer service spreadsheet, including date and time. If you have any questions, please contact John Blackburn at: al.silver.rose.24@gmail.com
The Alabama KofC Riders is tracking the travels of the “Silver Rose” on their Facebook page as it travels along Route #5 and would love to post your pictures.
Please remember to keep me informed on the Silver Rose location at all times.
Thank You and God Bless!
VJ,
John
John L. Blackburn
Silver Rose Chairman
Alabama
E-mail: al.silver.rose.24@gmail.com