Ministry knits warm prayers to warm shawls

Following the publication last year of "Knitting into the Mystery: A Shawl-Knitting Ministry," women who can skillfully wield crochet hooks or knitting needles have begun making shawls to give away and praying for their recipients.

In the Albany Diocese, some Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet and parishioners at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Delmar have adopted the new ministry.

"We are making these shawls for anyone who needs prayer or comfort," noted Sister Mary Lou Delaney, CSJ, coordinator of the group at St. Joseph's Provincial House in Latham.

Knit more than one

At St. Thomas the Apostle parish in Delmar, the Elizabeth Ministry started the shawl ministry for ill or homebound parishioners, those having surgery, and those who have lost a loved one or suffered a family tragedy.

"We put a notice in our bulletin announcing a January meeting," said Pam Seward, pastoral associate for outreach and evangelization. "The response was amazing. We had 30 people show up for that first meeting. We've already completed three shawls and given them to people.

"Now we're making lap robes that were requested by our local nursing home, 'preemie hats' for newborns and hats for [chemotherapy] patients requested by St. Peter's Hospital. This ministry has really taken off."

Weaving a book

The authors of the book are Susan Jorgensen, a Catholic who is a spiritual director, and Susan Izard, a United Church of Christ pastor. Both are long-time knitters who have incorporated their craft skills into their ministries.

They believe that "contemplative knitting" is a fruitful spiritual practice, consisting of repetitive work of the hands and continuous prayer for the recipient of that work.

The book offers directions for the kind of yarn and stitches to use, and illustrations of shawls. "It also has prayers that can be used while the minister is making the shawl, and stories about some of the knitters and recipients," Sister Mary Lou noted.

Called to knit

Last summer, someone handed Sister Mary Lou the book because she loves to knit. Browsing through the book sparked what she described as a "call to this ministry. After I looked through it, the idea of starting a ministry kept coming back to me. I knew I had to do something about this."

She bought some yarn, placed notices up and began a knitting ministry.

"A lot of sisters responded almost immediately," she said. Now, a dozen nuns and lay women associated with the order -- "the Carondelet Weavers" -- meet monthly. They have completed 47 shawls.

"We make shawls for women and girls, lap robes for men and boys, and blankets for babies, praying, as we make them, for the person who will receive it," Sister Mary Lou noted. "We also pray for anyone who has already received one."

Rapid growth

The popularity and rapid growth of the ministry has surprised Sister Mary Lou. "Ours is spreading like wildfire among our sisters and their associates," she said.

At St. Thomas, the members of the shawl group range in age from young women with newborns to an 81-year-old parishioner.

"They are all interested in the same thing: making something for someone and praying for that person while they are knitting or crocheting," said Ms. Seward. "It's amazing, really, when you think about it."

(St. Peter's Hospital Foundation recently presented the Sisters of St. Joseph with a grant for $1,000 to be used specifically for shawl supplies. For information, call Sister Mary Lou at 783-3533 or Pam Seward at 439-4951.)

(3/17/05)