ROGERS — Since January members of the Knit, Purl & Pray Ministry have gathered at Jane Quinn’s home in Rogers to prepare prayer shawls, lap blankets and other items for parishioners who are homebound, in nursing homes or undergoing medical treatments, such as chemotherapy.
Two years ago, Quinn and her husband, Edward, moved to northwest Arkansas after retiring. As newcomers to St. Vincent de Paul Church in Rogers, both have participated in a variety of church activities.
But as a craftsperson at heart, Quinn felt that the Knit, Purl & Pray Ministry has a special mission in parish life.
“I felt this is a ministry that has several purposes,” she said. “Our members can knit here or at home and feel a connection to the church and others in our community. We are witnesses to the homebound parishioners that the church has not forgotten them. And we are witnessing as examples or role models for the younger people who follow.”
Susan Hubbard, a mother of four, was drawn to the ministry because “the homebound and nursing home patients are the people who helped to build this parish, who have prayed for St. Vincent de Paul Church over the years, and who may feel forgotten.”
Hubbard learned to knit as a youngster with her grandmother as her teacher.
“I decided to join this group because I thought I might be able to help teach others. I am new to the parish, so I appreciated the opportunity to meet other Catholic women,” she said.
Like Hubbard, many women in the group have knitted for years. Others are now learning to knit. Some are older women; some are young mothers with children.
To create these prayer shawls, parishioners meet monthly to share ideas and to teach each other the various patterns. Topics, such as selecting the right yarn for the item or the right color for the recipient, are all part of the discussion.
Alma Belesky, now retired, enjoys the camaraderie in the group.
“The central interest of this group is for those in our parish who really need these items. This is something I can do while I am watching television. I can do this and still be productive,” she said.
Jane Grace started knitting argyle socks for her husband in 1948. Today she and those who have been knitting for a long time play an important role in helping the newcomers.
“I was surprised to see so many young women wanting to learn to knit with us,” she said.
Beth Parks is learning from Grace and the others in the group. Until this year, she homeschooled her children and was not able to participate in parish activities during the day.
“I was looking for something I could be more involved in — something I would still be able to do to help the other people in the parish,” she said. “Our parish is so big and the people we are serving are people who can’t make it to Mass. This will help them stay connected so we don’t lose track of those people.”
It is also an opportunity for Parks to share something special with her daughter who is now home from college for the summer.
“She has learned to knit so I have picked up some yarn for her. She is helping me knit this summer while she is home,” Parks said.
Parks finished her first shawl and is preparing to give it to the person selected to receive it. These recipients are chosen from a list compiled by the extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist who visit the homebound.
In the presentation, the Knit, Purl, & Pray Ministry members first pray over and bless the shawl as a group. A blessed Sacred Heart medal is attached to the shawl that is then wrapped in tissue paper and tied with a strand of the yarn used to knit it. At the time of the visit, along with the Eucharistic minister, several members will accompany the presenter to pray with the homebound parishioner and to share how the prayer shawl was made.
It is in the knitting process, however, that the gift is prepared spiritually. Quinn encourages knitters to “weave prayers for the person who will receive your shawl as you are knitting. If you know the person to receive your shawl, you can use their specific name; it not, just pray for the one unknown at the time. God knows who will be receiving it. Ask God to provide healing of body, mind and spirit for this person and pray for God’s love and comfort to surround this person.”
Toni Morrison, a nurse, recently made a presentation of her prayer shawl to her homebound recipient.
“I think this ministry is a reminder that these individuals we serve are a part of the loving body of Christ. We are reaching out to remind them of this. This is a very big parish, and it is easy for people to be forgotten, especially those who aren’t able to come to church anymore,” she said.
The Knit, Purl & Pray Knitting Ministry will be showcased at the parish Oct. 3-4. Members of the ministry will display their knitting handiwork at the church to encourage participation in the ministry and to educate parishioners about the project.
