Prayer Shawl Ministry

You formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb.
I praise you, so wonderfully you made me; wonderful are your works!
Psalm 139: 13-14

A small group of women felt moved by the Spirit to bring the Prayer Shawl Ministry to our parish. Since that time, women have come forward to join this ministry and are providing prayer shawls to people inside and outside of the parish, bringing comfort and prayer support to many. Through knitting and crocheting prayerfully, shawls are created that link our belief in the healing touch of Christ to those in great need of His touch. Shawl recipients span all ages, from the very young to the very old. Most shawls are requested by family or friends seeking to bring comfort and care to a loved one. Some recipients have shared their shawls with others as they have experienced healing.

Whether the shawl is worn to keep out evening chill, bring strength during a medical procedure, or just feel its soft presence, each person who creates a shawl and the one who uses the shawl are linked in a bond of grace, blessing, and abundant love. All shawls are blessed before they begin their journey home.

The Guidelines We Follow
-Large (average size 11) needles for knitting
-Large (average size K) hook for crocheting
-Acrylic yarn so the shawls can be washed with ease
-Finished shawl dimensions – 22”-24” wide and 66”-72” long
-Lap and baby blankets 36" x 36"
-No fringes
-A 2-foot piece of matching yarn for each shawl to add our prayer greeting and ceramic cross
-Your name and date the shawl was created for the ministry (for inventory purposes)
-We also create 5” x 5” prayer patch for the parish homebound and St. Vincent de Paul Ministry.

Monthly Gatherings
-First Thursdays at 1:00pm in the Parish Pastoral Center
-No more than 1½ hours in length
-To pray together, learn new stitches, share techniques and for fellowship
-To prepare shawls for giving to those who request them