In 1998, Janet Bristow and Victoria Galo, two graduates of the 1997 Women’s Leadership Institute at the Hartford Seminary in Hartford, Connecticut gave birth to a ministry as a result of their experience in this program of applied Feminist Spirituality under the direction of Professor Miriam Therese Winter, MMS.
Our Lady of Mercy Prayer Shawl Ministry began in November of 2007, and in the 3 plus years since its beginning, the ministry has grown to 20 ladies who meet Tuesday afternoon and Thursday evening to share their love of knitting and crocheting. They begin and end each session with prayer, especially for all the recipients and their families. The ladies continue stitching hundreds of blessings into each shawl during the sessions. It is a wonderful opportunity to use their talents or learn as they go. All beginners are welcomed.
Love of knitting (and crochet) combined with compassion has developed into a prayerful ministry that reaches out to those suffering physically, mentally or emotionally. Many blessings are knitted into every shawl. When the shawl is completed, it is offered a final prayer by each lady at the session laying her hand on the shawl before it is presented to its recipient. The shawls are meant to be reminders of God’s arms that bring warmth, healing and comfort. As said by Janet Bristow:
- Shawls…made for centuries, universal and embracing, symbolic of an inclusive unconditionally loving God.
- They wrap, enfold, comfort, cover, give solace, mother hug, shelter and beautify.
- Those who have received these shawls have been uplifted and affirmed, as if given wings to fly above their troubles…
Wings of Mercy have made and presented 375 shawls since their beginning. One recipient, Msgr. Sperry, prayed daily while wearing his shawl. Msgr. Sperry asked to be buried with his shawl wrapped around his shoulders, a symbol treasured by our ministry ladies. Other recipients feel the need to pass theirs on to someone in need, thus, the blessing is rippled from person to person.
Our ministry is always open to new members. We also welcome you to provide names of people who you feel would benefit from a shawl. Contact Marilyn at 899-7762 or Kay at 899-2770, or email boppaMcD@aol.com or kayfredkaeb@aol.com.
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