Priest fashions rosaries for the poor

The first time Rev. Joseph Schuck made a rosary, it was because he was "a poor seminarian" who couldn't afford to buy a silver wedding anniversary present for his parents.

That was nearly 50 years ago when materials to craft a pair of matching sterling silver rosaries cost just $15. Today, Father Schuck estimates, a set of such lustrous devotional prayer beads would fetch about $500!

While Father Schuck, weekend associate at Sacred Heart, Sidney/St. Ambrose, Unadilla/St. Paul's, Franklin cluster, doesn't string many sterling silver beads these days, he's almost always got a rosary restoration project in the works. Specifically, he transforms used or broken rosaries, medals and chains into religious items for missionary sisters in New Mexico.

Rosaries re-done

Father Schuck, who celebrates his 45th anniversary as a priest this year, thoroughly enjoys "patching up" the old rosaries so they may be passed along to worthy recipients in the southwest.

The vast majority of the prayer beads go to the children who attend religious education classes from the missionary sisters. Others are passed on to those with special needs, such as the elderly who are visually impaired. One recent project involved converting two large nuns' rosaries with 15 decades apiece into smaller rosaries with five decades each.

"The larger beads are good for older people whose eyesight is failing," explained Father Schuck. "They like the feel of the bigger beads in their hands when praying."

Filling a need

The tradition of sending the rosaries started in 1991 after Father Schuck, who is also diocesan Boy Scout chaplain, spent time at a Boy Scout ranch in New Mexico.

"I saw all these nuns puttering around town and asked about them. I found out they did missionary work and that one of the things they needed was rosaries," he recalled.

The response to a recent appeal for donations enabled him to refurbish 37 rosaries to be sent to the Sisters of Christian Charity in Cimarron, New Mexico.

Helping parents

Father Schuck came to the Albany Diocese in 1977 when he was a granted a leave of absence to help his aging parents on their dairy farm in Afton.

"My parents had 30 cows at the time and needed help," he explained. "While in the area, I began helping out at the local parish on the weekends. Soon, I was being called the weekend associate. It's been 19 and a half years now since I was granted a leave of absence. In fact, I'll be celebrating 20 years here in October."

Though he has since moved from the farm to the Gilead House of Prayer in Unadilla, Father Schuck continues to watch out for his mother, Anna, who also calls Gilead "home." Now 93, she treasures the rosary her son so lovingly crafted for her for half a century ago and uses it every Sunday. Its mate was put away after her husband, Fred, died 14 years ago.

Gift from heart

Father Schuck has never forgotten the angst he experienced when he feared he could not afford a worthy gift for his parents' anniversary.

Spurred by that memory, he also solicits donations of "used but wearable" costume jewelry to be sent to the children's mission in New Mexico.

"I thought it would be nice if the jewelry could be put out for sale at a booth at a very low price -- like 50 cents," he explained, "so even the little ones could afford to purchase something truly beautiful for their mothers."

(05-15-97) [[In-content Ad]]