Volume I Issue 4

The Little Rose Newsletter

On August 5, 2017, the Foundation went into an agree-ment to purchase the property located at 339 Arnold St., Woon-socket, R.I. consisting of 2 build-ings. One building is a stone structure that was built in 1934 and used as an office for a fuel company for many years and the other is wood and was a large garage for the company. In its last life, it was a café/bar. If everything goes well, we will take possession in mid-September, then the work begins. Current plans are to have a museum to Little Rose in one wing of the main building. On display will be some of the items that Rose Ferron made while alive, her clothing, her breviary and crucifix among other items. The second wing will con-

Words from the Foundation President

To all the friends of Little Rose-Praise be Jesus and Mary!

We Have Good News to

Report!

I believe we told you that Carl Leclair had joined the RFFRI back in April 2017. Carl is from the Boston area and a dear friend of the McHugh sisters, friends of Flora Lemire, Little Rose’s sister. Carl was offered the position of Vice-President when Richard White-sell stepped down and has ac-cepted!

Congratulations Carl!

The Voice of the Rose Ferron Foundation of Rhode Island

September 2017

tain a recreation of the domes-tic chapel of Rose Myette, cousin of Little Rose, contain-

ing religious furnishings that she created with her own hands. These items were previously

More Good News!

Long have the devotees of Little Rose been without a place to visit! Flora Lemire’s- Little Rose Private Chapel was put into storage many years ago. Rose Myette, Little Rose’s cousin’s private “Chapel of Thorns” has been in storage for over two years. As some of you may know the RFFRI has been looking for a home to display the Private “Chapel of Thorns". Our goal is to reassemble the Chapel at a new location. The Foundation has recently found a property for sale- located at 339 Arnold Street, Woonsocket, R.I. and has put a deposit on the proper-ty. The asking price is $92,000.00! Please feel free to pull up the address on Google, located on the internet, to view the property. The Foundation

located in her home in Burrillville, RI but placed into storage upon her death in 2014. “The Chapel of Thorns” was inspired by Rose Fer-ron’s example of suffering and faith; it was based on Rose Myette’s own deep spirituality of the Passion of Christ. The exhibit of this family chapel with its many artistic dimen-sions demonstrates the Catholic culture of our Franco-American families and the faith that sustained them through poverty and sufferings of many kinds. Also planned is a bookstore nook in which visitors may purchase books and other mate-rial on the life of Marie Rose Ferron. The second building will contain the offices of the Founda-tion. Much work is involved in this building and we will be looking for volunteers. Hanging sheet rock, electrical wiring, painting along with just manual labor setting things into place and doing outside work in the court yard - Someday, possibly the scene of a contemplative garden. This is all in the future but there is no time like now to gather names of people who want to help or donate building material or funds. If the spirit moves you to be involved, even in a small way, please contact our president David Ethier at 401-568-0349 and let him know how you can help. You can also email the foundation at:

roseferronfri@gmail.com. Monetary donations can be sent to the foundation at;

Rose Ferron Foundation of RI P.O. Box 3441

Woonsocket, RI. 02895

The foundation is a 501c3 non-profit and any donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

The Future Foundation Home

has also seeked the advice of an Attorney for the transaction and will hopefully close on the prop-erty mid-September!

A devotee has come forward and is willing to be a benefactor to give the Foundation an inter-est free loan, which is a big help! Two other devotees are willing to help with the monthly mortgage payments, but we do need additional help!

Now, I say to the friends of Little Rose, if you are able, please help! Remember the Foundation is a 501-c3. Thank you, and may Little Rose watch over you! David P. Ethier (President) Rose Ferron Foundation of Rhode Island

A Visit With Little Rose Elizabeth Barron

Extracted from the “Little Rose” magazine, Spring 1965

Page 2 The Little Rose Newsletter

and I remember saying… ”Rose, ask for something easy…this is winter,” Rose smiled and said… “I have already received my answer…my request has been granted.” We had a heavy snowfall that week and Rose related to me her little story of the three roses. Mrs. Beaudoin, Rose’s landlady, lived downstairs, on the first floor. She became worried about her rose bushes; went out in the garden to tie them up and, lo and behold, she found a rose on one of the rose bushes. She picked the rose and brought it to Little Rose. That very day, Rose’s sister

Rose and I were quite friendly, especially while she lived on Asylum Street. Almost every time she had the privilege of a Priest to say Mass in her Chapel, she sent for me. We had many confidential chats together. I knew that Rose was stig-matized and I considered her a living saint. It was during one of our little chats that she showed me the wound in her side. It looked so real…as if one had tak-en a sword and pierced her through. It was very sore and yet a sweet odor came from it. The day she showed me the wound in her side she told me she had asked Almighty God to send her three roses as a sign that her wounds were the same as His. I remember that conversation so well. It was during the winter

who lived in New Bedford, Mass. was on her way to see Rose when she stopped in her garden to tie up the branches of her rose bushes. To her surprise, she found a rose on one of the bushes and brought it to Rose. Rose had a friend (in Spring-field, Mass, I believe) who had made an appointment to visit Rose. In passing through her garden, she also found a rose, which she brought to Little Rose. Ah, Father, I can still see Rose and her lovely sweet smile as she told me this story. . . and how we laughed and exclaimed over it. I called it a “miracle.” Editor’s note: Little Rose lived on Asylum Street in Woonsocket between 1926—1933. The second of the four streets she lived on prior to her death.

One of the purposes of the Foundation is to bring word of Little Rose to the public. We do this by lectures, tri-fold handouts, novena cards (in four languages), a newsletter, pray-er cards, even a weekly novena insert in the local Woonsocket newspaper, all at no cost to the recipients. All of this comes at a cost for replenishment and this effort is supported solely by donations from devotees. We are coming to you for your help in supporting this, out reach program. While we are grateful for any size donation, for a $20 or more donation, the foundation will send you a laminated business card size memento which contains a piece of ribbon touched to the hair of Little Rose which you can use as a bookmark in your bible, prayer book or carried in your wallet.

Information Outreach

Every day people walk through Pre-cious Blood Cemetery, either for exercise, to visit loved ones who have passed or to visit the grave of Little Rose. Those who go for exer-cise pass by her grave, see the large flat marker and often wonder what her story is. For those, and also for people who know her story, a brochure holder with the story of her life was placed at the head of her grave in July. The brochures are free for the taking and replen-ished every few days. With over 150 given out in July and August, the word of her life is being spread.

Little Rose Ferron A chosen soul From harvest’s reaping Is Little Rose Especially asked In God’s holy keeping To suffer pain and shame For wayward soul’s. Jesus’ choice was she Outside of time From Love sublime Yet amongst us all Close as eternity. Always humble Our Little Rose Many graces to earn For those Who from Him turn; In greatest need She is indeed A Rose very rare Helping all Who ask her care. Thus was spent Her life A constant Lent Till called to God Trough consummation Was taken to heaven In final Expiation. The above appeared in the “Little Rose” magazine in Spring of 1965

Page 3

Our third (June 2017) newsletter saw 474 mailed to those without an email address. Of these, 98 were foreign (including Canada) and 371 in the US. It was sent to 335 worldwide via email. If you are receiving this as a hard copy and you have an email address, please think of providing it This will be the last newsletter that will be mailed, further newsletters will only go out electronically. It can also be read on our new website:

roseferronfri.org If you still would like a hard copy, for a donation of $10.00 to cover costs we will send it to you in hard copy for one year.

Little Rose and the French Heritage Festival

For the third year in a row the foundation will have a booth at the fes-tival held in River Island Arts Park in Downtown Woonsocket off Bernon St. On display will be some of the items she made, her clothing and other items relating to her. There will also be books and information on her. The festival is being held on Sept 9, 2017 between 9 and 2 in the afternoon and includes traditional French Canadian music, meat pies and various local vendors. Stop on by to learn more about Little Rose, speak with Foundation members, learn about our soon to be new home, enjoy the music and shop the local vendors.

Our Foundation Supporters

David Ethier Timeless Antiques Normand D. Brunelle Helen M. Peltier Mrs. Terri Wells Pauline L. Belair Norbert Gorny

Carol Powanda Marguerite J. Wejnert Mary E. Grosinger In memory of Rosanna Whitesell Several wished to remain anonymous.

The Rose Ferron Foundation of Rhode Island is a 501c3 nonprofit, all volunteer organization. All donations are tax deductible.

Rose Ferron Foundation of RI PO Box 3441 Woonsocket, RI 02895 Email: roseferronfri@gmail.com WEB: roseferronfri.org

Rose Ferron Foundation of Rhode Island

Helping the Foundation

There are many things we need volunteers for. Some are only occasional such as arranging for a place for a lecture and coordinating it or manual labor in the construction needed in our soon to be office annex. If you like plants and flowers, there is a large courtyard that will need tending. You have a talent in research and writing? The Foundation is looking for someone who knows the grants world and can research and write them to aid in the funding of the founda-tion. We have collected much material from the past on Little Rose and need assistance in cataloguing and organizing what we hold once the office is set up. In June, the foundation was fortunate in having an anonymous donation in the amount of $4,000 and then one for $2,000 for the building fund. However any amount you can spare will help. Remember, the Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit and any donations made to it are tax deductible. We are looking for a core of people who could make a monthly commitment to donate at least $50 at the beginning of each month to help repay the loan on the building and operating expenses. If you have ideas to bring her name and life forward, please feel free to contact the Foundation President, David Ethier by EMAIL : roseferronfri@gmail.com Calling David at 401-568-0349 or on FACEBOOK: Rose Ferron Foundation of Rhode Island

Foundation Book Store

Bookstores no longer carry books on Rose Ferron’s life and to obtain one must go to second hand book dealers and even then they are hard to find.

We have a limited supply of:

“She Wears a Crown of Thorns.” By Rev. O. A. Boyer, S.T.L

This is a definitive work by her biographer in hard cover consisting of 364 pages published in 1951. It tells the story of her life and includes some testimonies from people who have obtained favors through her. They have never been read and are in perfect condition with dust covers. The cost is $25.00 plus $5.00 P&H.

“My Heart Speaks to Thee” The Life of Marie Rose Ferron—Little Rose”

Written by Wanda Sadowski and first printed in 1964 by Little Rose Friends in Detroit, MI. In 2015 the Foundation had a Third Printing produced. A soft cover booklet consisting of 22 pages concerning her life with illustrations. The cost is $4.00 plus $2.50 P&H.

“Virtues and Glories of Marie Rose Ferron”

A reprint of the 1984 book originally printed by the “Friends of Little Rose.” in Detroit, MI consisting of 130 pages of selected articles and testimonies that appeared in the “little Rose Magazine” issues from 1965—1979. The cost is $15.00 plus $4.00 P&H. Also available are novenas in English, French, Spanish and Polish as well as some tri-folds on her life with prayers. These are FREE. We do ask, if pos-sible, for a small donation so they can be replaced.