Although the 88th annual Shower of Roses may have been a bit unconventional this year, Sheree Strauss, director of the Shrine of St. Therese Lisieux in New Columbus and the Rev. Allen J. Hoffa, rector of the shrine and pastor of St. Joseph Parish of the Panther Valley, put together a beautiful service that still managed to encompass the traditions of the past.

The event ran from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday and began with outdoor Mass and the crowning of the Rose Queen, which was Lauren Reaman this year.

Gina DePuy drove from Lansford to view the ceremony in New Columbus. As someone who attended the Mass and crowning, she said the experience was absolutely beautiful.

DePuy also participated in the drive-in food sale that was held. Roads were sectioned off from traffic during the event to keep participants safe as they attended outdoor service and walked around eating any food they bought.

While the church was not able to continue certain traditions this year due to COVID-19, other arrangements were made to make the event successful.

Since the church could not call in a helicopter to drop the roses at the end of the day, a rose was gifted with each order of food.

The shrine was also open for private prayer throughout the day and the pews were marked to meet social distancing guidelines.

Gianna Steber attended the event this year with her family of New Columbus.

Steber said attending this year was in part to aid her research for her college class about the traditions of the Italian Americans of New Columbus.

“The Shower of Roses is such a big part of the culture that I could not miss the opportunity to attend,” Steber said. “I have many fond memories of celebrating the Shower of Roses with my family … despite the changes from the usual celebration, things may have been different from past years but I am still glad the tradition has continued.”

Strauss said those in attendance expressed their gratitude to the church for giving them the opportunity to attend the event at all so they could properly express their love and devotion to St. Therese.

“It inspired a positive perspective to participate in a very beautiful service,” Strauss said. “It filled my heart with joy and thankfulness to see the blessing of the beautiful young women in the rose courts reflecting devotion to St. Therese.”

Hoffa said the event means so much to him because he is able to share the life of St. Therese with others. He said she is an inspirational saint that people should seek to use as an intercession tool to God.

St. Therese of Lisieux is a patron saint of missionaries who aided sufferers, florists and the sick. World War veterans carried pictures of her to protect themselves from harm.

She had the nickname of “Little Flower” because of her well-known undying love for nature. She explained to those that listened that the Divine Presence is found everywhere and she often said she was “the Little Flower of Jesus” because she was unnoticed by the mass yet growing and giving glory to God.

When St. Therese was dying in a convent infirmary, it is said that she explained that following her death, she will let a shower of roses fall. She loved roses and vowed to spend her time in heaven doing good for the earth.

Following her death, it is said that sometimes roses appeared and sometimes it was just the smell of them that could be detected.

The Shower of Roses celebration of St. Therese’s life as a healer and spiritual guide was received well with viewers watching on Facebook Live from as far as New York and New Jersey.

With a turnout greater in number and participation than last year despite restrictions, Hoffa credits the events success largely to the creativity of those involved in the event planning process.

“I think it’s amazing what you can accomplish with awesome people and a little creativity.”