MILFORD -- The Massachusetts Knights of Columbus will be participating in a North American effort paying special tribute to Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas and protectress of the unborn, through the Our Lady of Guadalupe Silver Rose -- One Life, One Rose Program.

After reaching Massachusetts earlier in the month, one of five silver roses traveling routes in North America will be taken to parishes in the Archdiocese of Boston by the Knights of Columbus to promote devotion to Our Lady and commitment to the Culture of Life. Each stop will include a special prayer service honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe.

The Silver Rose symbolizes the Knights' commitment to restoring respect for the sanctity of human life from conception until natural death. The silver rose icons honor Our Lady of Guadalupe, who made known her will through Juan Diego -- who in 1531persuaded a Mexican bishop to build a chapel to honor the Virgin Mary in Mexico by presenting roses given to him during an apparition of Mary.

"It is to the Blessed Mother that we turn in prayer as we work to end the Culture of Death that grips our society. As we think in terms of 'One Life, One Rose,' it is most appropriate that we turn to Our Lady of Guadalupe," Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson said.

Five such roses are currently traveling routes covering Canada, the United States and Mexico. Four of these routes will travel through North America before meeting in Texas. From there, the program will continue into Mexico where it will continue until Dec. 12.

The New England rose will not travel to Mexico. It began its journey in Maine before moving to New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and finally Connecticut. The Massachusetts leg of the journey ends Oct. 13 with a Mass held in the Fall River Diocese. The journey will end in New Haven on Dec. 12.

Stops in the Archdiocese of Boston will be:

-- Sept. 24 in Bellingham at St Brendan's Church at 7 p.m. with a Mass.

-- Sept. 26 in Lowell at Holy Trinity Church at 7 p.m. with a prayer service and rosary.

-- Sept. 27 in Methuen at St. Monica's Church at 7 p.m. with a Mass and prayer service.

-- Sept. 28 in Lynn at St. Joseph's Church at 4 p.m. with a Mass.

-- Sept. 29 in West Roxbury at St. Theresa's at 3 p.m. with a Mass.

-- Sept. 30 in Cambridge at St. Paul's Church at 7 p.m. with a Mass.

-- Oct. 1 in Jamaica Plain at Our Lady of Lourdes Church at 6:30 p.m. with a Mass and rosary.

-- Oct 2 in Brockton at Our Lady of Lourdes Church at 9 a.m. with a Mass and rosary.

-- Oct 3 in Middleboro at Sacred Heart Church at 3 p.m. with adoration, a Mass and rosary until 8 p.m.