Prayer Shawl Ministry

By Ellen G. Krenke
     When Mary Karels’ brother passed away in 2017, she was given a prayer shawl by the parish.
     “When that happened to me … the prayer shawl was put on my shoulders, and I felt it. I was in such despair, I really felt the holiness of that. I can’t explain it, but I felt it.
     “I had it by me when I went to bed … whenever I felt that need … so much love was put into it. I can’t tell you what it meant to me.” 
     Mary’s story is an example of why two parishioners, Laurie Zimmerman and Sharon Braem, believed the prayer shawl ministry should be reinstated here at St. Bernard.
     Braem said the ministry was started in 2008, but “fell by the wayside” when the parish nurse position went away.
     “I like to make those prayer shawls, so let’s see if we can get this going again,” said Braem.
     So, they held their first meeting on Feb. 13.
     “This is not a race to see how many we can make. It is not a competition to see who can make the prettiest. It is not a test of perfection,” said Zimmerman. “It is a way of infusing a piece of fabric or yarn with mindful prayer to bring comfort to someone in need.”
     Who is someone in need? The group decided that it could be anyone who needs prayers.
     The pastoral associate visits with parishioners who are homebound. Local nursing homes often ask for blankets or shawls. Our sister parish in Milwaukee has asked for blankets for their prison ministry. A teen may need emotional or psychological support.
     Zimmerman said her sister’s parish has a hope chest in their parish hall filled with prayer shawls.
     “Anybody at any time could come by and pick one up for someone who needed it … or for themselves,” she said. “Some-times when a loved one dies, you need comfort too.”
     Everyone at the meeting loved the idea, so they decided to work on the details at the next meeting.
     Braem also suggested having prayer shawls available on Coffee Sundays along with some information about the ministry.
     Prayer shawls are prayed over throughout their creation and then blessed by Fr. Brian before they are distributed.
     “Some people pray at the beginning of a row, some people pray at the beginning of a session, some people pray with every stitch, it really doesn’t matter as long as you realize this is prayerfully done,” Zimmerman said.
     When she makes a shawl with three colors, Zimmerman said she might also pray in threes to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit or Jesus, Mary and Joseph or for perseverance, patience and hope.
     “It’s just something that I am infusing this prayer shawl with,” she said.
     Before making a shawl, Zimmerman encouraged parishioners to prepare their setting: 1) Find a quiet place, 2) Light a candle, 3) Get a cup of tea and 4) Add a scent to the room.
     But you can also crochet in the car, said Zimmerman.
     “I do try for quiet, because I am saying a prayer as I am working, but I have also been in groups where all of us are talking … so silence isn’t always necessary,” she said.
     “If you are crocheting in the car, I hope you are not driving!” said Dotty Meier.
     If you can knit, sew or crochet or if you can make tie blankets, you can join this ministry.
     If you don’t know how to do any of these things, but you want to learn, you can join this ministry!
     “If anybody is rusty on their crocheting or knitting skills or if you would like to know how to know how to do any of these things, I can get you started,” said Zimmerman, who is a former art teacher.
     Braem said there are all kinds of patterns available on the internet.
     “They don’t have to be anything fancy,” she said. But you should use acrylic yarn, because it is easy to wash!
     Someone worried about making too many mistakes when they are making a prayer shawl.
     Zimmerman said some sites encourage parishioners to purposely include a mistake in their prayer shawl.
     “It keeps you humble, and you realize that only God is perfect!” Zimmerman said. “Usually I never deliberately have to make a mistake! They just happen.”
     Finally, if you have any yarn that you can donate to the group, please feel free to drop it off in the designated spots at the church entrances.
     Each shawl will be finished with a label that says it was made by the St. Bernard prayer shawl ministry.
     “We’ve got over 400 labels, so you better get busy!” Braem said.
     For now, the group will meet each second Wednesday of the month at 10 a.m., in the parish center meeting room.
     But they want to be flexible, so dates and times may change during the year.
     About 10 attended the first meeting, but Braem said she had a list of several others who work during the week, but would like to participate in the group.
     “We would like to include as many people as possible,” Braem said.
     At least one of the parishioners was ready to get started by the meeting’s end.
     “I’m ready to go out and buy some yarn,” said Rick Bailey.

Note: The Prayer Shawl Ministry meets at 10 a.m., every second Wednesday of the month in the parish library.