Creative ministry provides shawls, blankets to help spread warmth of God's love

Shawls made by members of the Prayer Shawl Ministry at Holy Family Parish in Granite City are blessed during Mass by Father Larry Brunette, pastor.

GRANITE CITY - No matter if temperatures are hovering below freezing, or weather forecasters are using the heat index, a group of 14 women from Holy Family Parish are doing their part year 'round to spread the warmth of God's love to others.

They are members of a Prayer Shawl Ministry at Holy Family, which started with just two people knitting and crocheting. As word of their ministry quickly spread, more people volunteered to share time and creative talent in a labor of love in God's name.

"Our mission is to provide God's love to anyone receiving a shawl, knowing they are wrapped in prayer," says Maggi Dettwiler, who co-chairs the group with Janis Patton. "The Holy Spirit touches all of us in this mission, whether a person is a donor, a crotchetier, a knitter, or a recipient of a shawl."

The group started by crocheting shawls for people in a nursing home, then for homebound people. They have gone on to make shawls for babies being baptized and students at Holy Family School. Members of the Prayer Shawl Ministry bring their handiwork to Mass, to be blessed by Father Larry Brunette, Holy Family pastor, before being distributed to  recipients.

Last year the Prayer Shawl Ministry at Holy Family gave away 131 shawls, 13 baptism blankets, 250 prayer cloths for students at Holy Family School and small items for the parish welcoming baskets.

Most members meet together on a regular basis to work on their individual shawls, but some members do not attend the group meetings.

"Everybody makes their shawls in different sizes, according to their own tastes. How they choose to incorporate prayer into making their shawls varies also. I say a prayer before I begin a shawl, and as I am crocheting," says Dettwiler. "That is part of the fun in it. This ministry allows members to do something they enjoy and know all the while that the person who receives it might be comforted by God's love through others."

Members of the group in addition to Dettwiler and Patton are: Betty Fackler, Judy Kalka, Mary Jo Kalka, Glenda Noeth, Andrea Oliver, Joann Rouse, Cathy Rudy, Cleo Schnefke, Mary Ellen Tanksley, Becky Thomas, Sue Wendel, and Sylvia Zabawa.

Monetary contributions as well as yarn donations from parishioners keep the crafters in stitches. Anyone interested in making a shawl request, should contact the parish office, at (618) 877-7158.