The Little Rose Newsletter The Voice of the Rose Ferron Foundation of Rhode Island Volume 2 Issue 4 September 2018 Little Rose’s Castle Work continues on the North Huntingdon, PA and has Be Part of the renovation of the complex. brought the archives from that Renovations Apostolate and the previous In June, a portion of the “Little Rose Friends” from the private domestic chapel (Chapel Detroit, MI area to merge with With the completion of one room in of Thorns) that Rose Myette had information the Foundation has. the main building, we were able to created under direction of Little open a portion of the larger chapel to Rose was temporarily assembled Monetary donations to support the public - a great start. in the main building for use. the rehabilitation of our buildings Labor was donated by local, profes- With completion of renovations “Miraculous Medals” were also can be made online through our sional volunteers with paint, carpeting in the Annex in the future, it will given out. secure site at: be moved to an area which will and other needed items provided by roseferronfri.org the Foundation to finish the room. be four times larger than the tem- At the end of June, the Remember that the Foundation porary location. Foundation greeted Paulette is a 501(c)(3) and so any dona- We currently have a small core of Nickel, formerly of York, Also in June, the Founda- tions are tax deductible. donors who donate toward building fund used for maintenance. The main tion participated in the first “St. Pennsylvania, who will assist castle currently has a couple of rooms Jean the Baptist Festival” held in the Foundation in her capacity as Foundation Archivist. needing maintenance. Woonsocket since 1946. Infor- mation on the life of Little Rose Paulette has much knowledge, concerning Marie-Rose Ferron. Renovation phase will be in turning a was made available to the public. 4-bay garage into the new chapel, For many years she was in Also available was traditional main office/archives, handicap re- Québécois faire—yellow pea charge of the “Little Rose strooms and a multi-purpose meeting soup, meat pies and Marguerites. Ferron Apostolate” based in room. Donation are needed for a heating/cooling system, drywall, doors, lighting, restroom facilities and Words From the Foundation President a utility room so we are asking gener- L’Union St. Jean Baptiste, a Work is continuing in the ous hearts to consider donating so benefit society founded in 1900 main building and we hope to Little Rose’s Castle will be realized. in Woonsocket, had been locat- have what was originally the ed. After some 72 years in stor- kitchen area finished for use as age the statue was offered to be the Foundation office and Ar- One Little Rose chives. It will be good to get the used for the June procession. I would rather have one little rose multiple sources of articles that From the garden of a friend has been gathered over the years The Foundation will, for Than to have the choicest flowers into one place. the fourth year, be a presence at When my stay on earth must end. With Summer almost over, the downtown Woonsocket it’s time to look forward to the French Heritage Festival in Riv- For the time being, the Domestic Chapel is only open I would rather have one pleasant word coming Fall. er Island located on Bernon St. In kindness said to me Along with books, prayer pam- on the first Sunday of the month from 1 to 5pm, we hope to be Than flattery when my heart is still. With assistance from the phlets and miscellaneous infor- And life has ceased to be. Fransciscan Tertiaries from mation about Little Rose, some able to expand the hours this coming Fall. Along with access Rhode Island, the Foundation of the articles she made and I would rather have a loving smile members manned an infor- owned will be on display. to viewing and praying in the temporary chapel setup, mem- From friends I know are true. mation booth at the St. Jean the Than tears shed round my casket The video production of bers will be there to answer Baptist Festival in downtown When this world I’ve bid adieu. “Marie (Little Rose) Ferron” questions about what has been Woonsocket. They also partici- began to be worked on by two done and the future plans for pated in a procession held be- Bring me all your flowers today seniors at Smithfield High the organization. fore the outdoor Mass given in Whether pink, or white, or red; School in Smithfield, RI. Inter- French and held in the parking I’d rather have one blossom now views with multiple devoteés Yours with “Little Rose,” lot off Railroad St. The original Than a truckload when I’m dead. will give a wide view about Little statue of St. Jean the Baptist David P. Ethier Rose. that was used in the past by —-Author unknown Page 2 The Little Rose Newsletter Rose Myette Domestic Chapel Rose Myette was a third cousin graces and help received through the interces- ‘mementos.’ While much work has to be done on and caregiver to Woonsocket’s Little sion of Little Rose. The theme of the chapel the building, the chapel was taken out of storage Rose who required 24-hour care. She is somewhat different in that 100’s of thorns and a portion was assembled temporarily for pray- lived in Glendale, RI, worked as seam- are represented on everything to indicate the er services in June of 2018. In time, it will be relo- stress at the Little Rose Shop in Woon- suffering of Jesus. Myette had purchased a cated within the complex to an area that will be socket, RI and made all of Little Rose’s band saw at the direction of Little Rose and four times the current size. clothes and habit. One day she was told would create them. Little Rose stated to by Little Rose to build a ‘domestic Myette that one could never have enough chapel’ in her home and that Little Rose thorns in life. The chapel was disassembled The chapel is open to the public would give directions as to what it would with the death of Myette and placed into every first Sunday of the month look like. The chapel was begun and storage as the home had to be sold quickly through bilocation, it was viewed by from 1 to 5 p.m. Members will Little Rose while she was alive. Rose The Rose Ferron Foundation of RI be there to answer any questions Myette would bring Little Rose was incorporated in July of 2015 and in Sep- detailed designs drawn on tissue paper tember of 2017, it purchased the property at you may have and give a tour of for Little Rose to approve before work 339 Arnold St. in Woonsocket, RI to eventu- the buildings. would begin and Myette continued to ally house the chapel and it’s many receive instructions after the death of Little Rose. Flora Lemire, Rose Ferron’s younger sister had inherited the original personal chapel of Rose Ferron and would make it open to the public in her home on Providence St. Rose Myette did not want to conflict with this one so the “Chapel of Thorns” as it was later called, was not open to the public until 2005; only five people knew and even kept as a secret from the public. With the death of Flora, Myette opened her chapel to the public and prayer meetings were held once a month. In 2014, Rose Myette died and David Ethier took over the chapel and secured many historical items that had belonged to Little Rose. Myette had clothing and artifacts that belonged to Little Rose along with testimonies from people on Video Story of Little Rose At a board meeting in June, the like to pursue a career in film (and/or adver- By the printing of this September newsletter, Rose Ferron Foundation of Rhode Is- tising/marketing). Anthony is the nephew we hope the final editing stages will be well land has approved Anthony Corticelli and God Child of Cathy Boisvert, who is one under way. This may be the first in a serious and Evan Fortier, seniors at Smithfield of the Directors of the Foundation and she of films on the subject of Little Rose. The High School in Smithfield, Rhode Is- says regarding the project: “The idea that Foundation’s hope is this project will help land, to work on a summer video pro- they came up with is to have a documentary keep things current and continue to spread the duction project on Marie “Little Rose” type film told in the Foundation members knowledge and love of Little Rose to a whole Ferron to be counted towards their voices”. Interviews began June 28th and more new generation. career exploration hours. Both would will be done throughout the summer. Page 3 The Little Rose Newsletter The Holy Cross Congrega- tributed to him are an asthmatic on tion estimates that in the 60 years of the point of death after six years of his healing ministry, some ten thou- sufferings is healed instantly; like- sand cures can be attributed to St. wise, a four-year-old child is held up Brother André. He can be termed by his father, touches the dead saint, one of the greatest healers that has and is instantly able to take his first been produced by the Catholic steps.