PRAYER SHAWLS GIVE COMFORT AND HOPE
By: Janelle Snarsky, Assistant to the Pastor, St. Thomas More Parish

On a recent Monday afternoon in January, several ladies got together in the hall of St. Thomas More Church and shared prayers, chocolate chip cookies and knitting tips. The mission of the Prayer Shawl Ministry is to create hand made gifts of comfort and hope. Since the beginning of this ministry through March, 2008 over 90 beautiful shawls have been passed on to individuals in need of healing. A 94 year old knitter felt that the shawl may be a bit feminine for a boy so she created a blue “lap blanket” for him to use while playing video games and working on his computer. This young man is battling Hodgkins’ disease.

Another recipient was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her shawl has a medal of the Blessed Virgin Mary who appeared to St. Bernadette in Lourdes, France knit on the edge. February 11th is the feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes and commemorates the day of the vision in 1858. Lourdes France has become one of the major pilgrimage destinations in the world. After the vision of St. Bernadette, a spring emerged at the site and its waters were discovered to be of a miraculous nature. Many sick and lame have been healed by being immersed in the water or simply blessed by it.

The St. Thomas More Prayer Shawl Ministry was the inspiration of a parishioner who wanted to use her gift for knitting and share it with others. During each gathering, a prayer is offered for the recipients of the shawls. Father McCarthy then blesses the shawls. Members of the St. Thomas More faith community pray daily to discern who should receive the blessed shawls. Each is delivered by a member of the parish and includes the following prayer:

May God’s grace be upon this shawl
Warming, comforting, enfolding and embracing.
May this mantle be a safe haven,
A Sacred place of security and well being
Sustaining and embracing in good times as well as difficult ones.
May the one who receives this shawl be cradled in hope,
Kept in joy, graced with peace and wrapped in love.
The St. Thomas More Faith Community wishes you the
Blessings of our Lord Jesus and our Blessed Mother
And joins them in prayers for your healing.

The message of hope, comfort and supportive prayer is symbolized by the warmth and beauty of each shawl. The Ministry hopes that the shawls bring a feeling of support and compassion. As one recipient wrote recently "Thank you for thinking of me." Sometimes just being thought of is a form of healing in itself.

If you enjoy knitting and spending time with others and would like to help make shawls to pass on to those in need, please consider joining us. Use this LINK to email me for more information.