SFA Prayer Shawl Ministry held its first meeting in January of 2006. St. Francis of Assisi Parish had just formed in July of 2005, combining the six individual Manitowoc parishes into one Catholic community. The new St. Clare Women’s group had heard of prayer shawl ministries and wished to support one in our new parish. It was introduced at one of their meetings by the parish nurse. It is a ministry that none of the six pre-vious parishes had, so was a uniting ministry for this new parish.
What is a prayer shawl?
Prayer shawls are knitted or cro-cheted, and sometimes even woven, with prayers and blessings for the recipient. These prayers continue throughout the crafting of the shawl. When the shawl is completed, it is blessed by members of the ministry and by a parish priest, before being delivered.
Who may receive a prayer shawl?
Anyone may receive a prayer shawl for joyous celebrations, such as birthdays, anniversaries or graduations, or solemn occasions like the loss of a loved one, or coping with an illness. They are also giv-en to people in nursing homes or home-bound as a way to communicate the parish’s concern and care.
How does the ministry work?
Meetings are held from 6-7:15 pm , the first Tuesday of every month, in the St. Joseph Room at Grand Avenue. (Bottom of the ramp to the school hall and to the right). Members bring completed shawls, which are blessed by all present at the end of the meeting. The meetings begin with prayer followed by announcements, and then everyone works on shawls, un-til it is time to bless those completed. Each meeting ends with prayer. The shawls are then blessed by a parish priest, and distributed to the recipients. They may be distributed by the maker of the shawl or by a member of the care team. As a symbol of our shawl ministry, a St. Francis medal is attached to each shawl.
Do I have to attend the meetings to belong?
Attendance at the monthly meetings is not required to be active in this ministry. Many members are homebound or have conflicts at meeting times, and cannot attend. The shawl patterns are available from a shawl ministry member, or by calling me. Laurale Stern. Completed shawls can be dropped off at the parish office. They will be taken to the next meeting to be blessed and returned to the maker for delivery, or delivered by a member of the care team, whichever is re-quested.
Who may belong to SFA Prayer Shawl Ministry?
Membership is open to any parishioner in-terested in knitting or crocheting, who wish-es to share her/his craft with people in need, or to any parishioner wishing to learn how to knit or crochet and give back to the parish community in a unique way.
How can I request a prayer shawl?
Complete the form below and return it to the parish office, put it into the collection box or give it to a prayer shawl ministry member, or email to: [email protected]
Prayer Shawl Request Form:
Your Name_______________________
Your Address_____________________
Your Phone_______________________
Shawl requested for:
Name____________________________
Address__________________________
Phone____________________________
Reason___________________________
Do you want to deliver the blessed shawl?
Yes_______ No_______
PRAYER OF ST. FRANCIS.
Lord,
Make me an instrument of thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek to be
understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love, for it is in giving
that we receive; it is in pardoning that
we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we
are born to eternal life. Amen
To learn more about our Prayer Shawl Ministry, Contact: Laurale Stern, (920) 683-3966
email: [email protected]