Communications
Franciscan
Friars - Holy
Name Province
Today
newsletter
January
23, 2008
Vol. 42,
No. 2
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Wood-Ridge
Parish Reaches
Out to the Needy
With Needle-Work
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WOOD-RIDGE, N.J.
— Inspired by
the prayer shawl
ministry at St.
Patrick-St.
Anthony Church
in Hartford,
Conn.,
Cassian Miles,
OFM,
organized a
similar program
in October at
Assumption
Church here.
"The initial
response was
very
encouraging,"
Cassian said.
"Before long, we
had more than 20
women interested
in knitting and
crocheting
shawls.
The prayer
aspect is a
personal matter,
with some women
praying while
their fingers
work the needles
and yarn into
distinctive
patterns of
shawls.
Madeline Spies,
Jean Zoch and
Marie Ward
volunteered to
get our group
started. They
reached out to
parishioners
they knew who
would be
interested in
this ministry,
and we also
invited others
through our
parish
bulletin."
The very first
shawl from
Spies’ nimble
fingers was
presented
personally by
her and Cassian
during their
visit to Mabel,
mother, of
Paul
Sinnema, OFM,
at St. Vincent’s
Nursing Home in
Cedar Grove,
N.J., early last
month.
Homebound
members of the
parish and
residents of
other area
nursing homes
and
rehabilitation
facilities also
received shawls.
A prayer card
and Christmas
greeting
accompanied each
shawl donation.
"Our group now
meets once a
month in the
early afternoon
at Fr.
Patrick Morris
Hall in the
basement of our
church," Cassian
said.
"Instruction is
offered to
newcomers to
needle-work.
Usually by the
end of our
meeting, our
skilled ladies
have turned out
either finalized
beautiful
products or
sections of yard
on their way to
becoming
completed
shawls.”
“Those who have
welcomed the
shawls tell me
that there’s
nothing like the
cozy feeling of
this knitted
piece around
their shoulders
or placed over
their laps. And
they are
grateful for the
prayer that goes
with each
shawl,” Cassian
said, adding,
“At the end of
our meeting, we
pray over the
shawls made
there, as well
as others we
have received
from
parishioners who
made them at
home. Yes, a
blessing has
done with each
of the 41 shawls
created so far.”