The Rosebud Program, also known as the "Blessing Bouquet", is part of Elizabeth Ministry International which honors the sacredness of life through its most tender moments. It was founded on the story of Mary's visitation to her cousin Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-56). This apostolate helps identify, pray for, and support those who are pregnant, celebrating birth or adoption, grieving miscarriage, stillbirth, abortion, infant or child death, and waiting to become pregnant or adopt, as well as grandparent concerns, and troubled times. 

Ss John and Paul parish held a dedication for this ministry on March 24, 2025. 

Rosebuds are in a basket and set near a vase with baby's breath flowers. These rosebuds each represent a sacred life, identified by color:

• pink rosebud is to honor pregnancy and the unborn baby;
• red rosebud celebrates a birth or adoption;
• yellow rosebud represents prayers requested for those desiring to conceive, suffering infertility, or seeking to adopt;
• white rosebud remembers a child lost through miscarriage, abortion, stillbirth, infant or child death;
• purple rosebud is for grandparent concerns; and
• blue rosebud is for troubled times.

Each rosebud has a tag attached with a ribbon. The tag offers space to share information relative to the color of the rosebud. People are invited to remove a rosebud from the basket, fill in the attached tag, and place the rose in the vase. A member of this ministry will collect the tags weekly to pray for each person's special intention/rosebud. 

Prayer cards for the various situations are also near the vase. Those filling out the tags are invited to take a prayer card for their personal meditation. 

The vase will be appropriately and visibly placed in the church on the fourth Sunday of each month. Our parish will offer an intention within the Prayer of the Faithful. 

A Stephen Minister will reach out to each person who provides their name and phone number on the tag. See the Stephen Ministry page for more information about that apostolate. This is another special way we can support the varying needs of our parish family.