Shower of Roses at Tilma: Our Lady’s Store

When Our Lady brings people together, it often happens quietly — through a friend, a conversation, or even a phone call. That’s how I met Jan Marie Shannon, the owner of Tilma: Our Lady’s Store in Berea, Ohio. Though I’ve never visited in person, our friendship and shared love for the Blessed Mother have grown through many heartfelt conversations.

Some moments in life feel quietly arranged by Our Lady herself. My connection with Tilma: Our Lady’s Store in Berea, Ohio, was one of those moments.

It all began through my son-in-law’s mother, a long-time patron of Tilma. Through her, I was introduced to Jan Marie Shannon, the owner.

From our very first phone conversation I could tell Jan wasn’t just running a business. She was nurturing something sacred. What started as a simple introduction quickly became a friendship grounded in faith, beauty, and a shared love for the Blessed Mother.

Though I have never visited Tilma in person, I have come to know it through the lovely photos Jan has shared and through our many heartfelt conversations. It is clear that Tilma is more than a Catholic gift shop. It is a Marian haven filled with warmth, prayer, and peace. Jan has created a space that invites the soul to rest and the heart to be renewed. People come not only to shop but to pray, to visit, and to be uplifted.

When Jan sent me photos of my holy cards and mugs displayed in her shop, I felt such gratitude. Seeing them among so many beautiful devotional items made me think of how Our Lady always finds ways to bring her children together. What a gift to have my work resting in such a holy space.

Every piece I design for the Shower of Roses Shoppe is made with prayer and love, hoping to bring someone a little closer to Jesus through Mary. Knowing that those same pieces now find a home at Tilma, a place filled with devotion and joy, fills me with peace.

It reminds me of the miracle of St. Juan Diego’s tilma. When he opened it, roses spilled out and revealed the image of Our Lady. In a small way, I believe she continues to do that even now. She still places roses in unexpected places and still reveals her Son’s love through beauty and friendship.

If your path ever leads you to Berea, Ohio, stop by Tilma: Our Lady’s Store and rest for a bit among its sacred treasures. You may find something Our Lady wishes to place in your hands. And if you do, may it remind you that we are united in prayer beneath her mantle of love.