The remnants of Hurricane Ian didn’t dampen the spirits at the 90th anniversary of the Shower Roses at the Shrine of St. Therese of Lisieux, in the New Columbus section of Nesquehoning on Sunday.

The faithful gathered for the Rosary at 1:30 p.m. in the shrine, followed by Mass, with Rev. Robert George celebrating, assisted by Deacon Joseph Cannon.

“It’s important that, when we celebrate a day like this, when we look at those roses, St. Therese was completely other-centered, and that she is praying for us,” Rev. George said. “The roses remind us that it’s up to us to serve one another.

“As we continue this beautiful tradition of 90 years; 90 years of remembering and praying to St. Therese, let us find comfort, and a little bit of peace and security in our hearts, knowing that regardless if we grab one of those roses, she is still praying for each of us.”

Rev. George said the roses symbolize the different ways that parishioners can show love, compassion and mercy to people they come in contact with every day.

At the end of Mass, Rev. George crowned Megan Reaman the 2022 Rose Queen. Reaman and the rest of her court then exited the church and gathered in front of the Grotto.

At 4:15 was Benediction and the Novena to St. Therese.

Because of the rain, the helicopter was canceled. Reaman, Megan Paisley, and Jenna Goff boarded the St. Therese float and distributed roses to the crowd.

The St. Therese Celebration was started in 1932 by Monsignor Agnello J. Angelini, who had a great devotion to St. Therese of Liseiux, known as “The Little Flower of Jesus.” The celebration drew pilgrims from around the country. At one time, more than 60 buses brought people to the shrine, known then as Our Lady of Mount Carmel. In 2008, after the Diocese of Allentown closed and merged many parishes, the church became the Shrine of St. Therese of Liseaux.

As she was dying in the convent infirmary, Therese said, “After my death, I will let fall a Shower of Roses. I will spend my heaven doing good upon earth. I will raise up a mighty host of little saints. My mission is to make God loved ...”

The day started with a homemade spaghetti dinner, plus other ethnic foods like bleenies, pirogies and sausage sandwiches.