The month of February, 2019, the members of the Prayer Shawl Ministry will be bringing beautiful baby prayer blankets to St. Gerard’s Campus  in St. Augustine. The campus is a fully accredited Christian High School for pregnant teenagers. It is a place where single mothers may go to school, complete their education, and learn job skills to provide for themselves and their babies. Many of these young women are in residence at St. Gerard’s until they finish their education and are able to independently provide for themselves and their child.

News

The Prayer Shawl Ministry recently spent an amazing morning at St. Gerard’s Campus in St. Augustine. St. Gerard’s assists pregnant teenagers and unwed mothers by providing assistance and referrals for medical care, educational needs, and job services.  They provide counseling with their free pregnancy testing and adoption services.  An accredited high school and day care is available for the students, and a residency program allows pregnant teens and their babies to live on campus.

The Prayer Shawl Ministry delivered 12 Baby Prayer Blankets to St. Gerard’s.  We were all very impressed with the dedication and compassion of the workers and volunteers, and our ministry felt very blessed to be able to share God’s love and the love and prayers of Holy Family Parish with these women.

Our Mission

The mission of the Prayer Shawl Ministry is to offer Prayer Shawls to those who are in need of comfort and/or healing.   The Shawls are made in prayer and with love by parishioners.  They are blessed, and then presented to members of the community.  The shawls remind the recipient of the love of God and the caring, support and love of our parish community.

Our Ministry has expanded to include “Prayer Bears.”   These are small stuffed teddy bears that are adorned with a knit or crocheted Prayer Scarf.   These bears are blessed and presented to children in need.  They are also given to adults, when appropriate, in the hope of giving comfort, healing and love.

We have also made and presented “Celebration of Life” Prayer Shawls.   These shawls are presented to persons who have made exceptional contributions to our parish, or are celebrating very important milestones in their lives.

In December we began presenting Baby Prayer Blankets to the babies baptized at Holy Family Parish.   The Baby Prayer Blankets are meant to be a welcome gift to “our family” and a reminder of the support of the parish community.

Our Ministry began in April 2015. In less than 2 years we have knit or crocheted over 500 shawls and made over a dozen scarves for prayer bears.   Approximately 174 Blessed Shawls, 13 Prayer Bears, and 10 Baby Prayer Blankets have been presented.

We meet monthly on the 2^nd Tuesday of the month at 10:00 a.m.  Meetings are held in the new Parish Life Center in room 217.

The Prayer Shawl Meetings are a time of prayer, contemplation, fellowship and renewal.  The meetings are a chance to reflect on what our ministry means to others by exchanging stories about our shawls and the recipients.   We pray for the comfort and healing of the recipients of the Prayer Shawls, Prayer Bears and Baby Prayer Blankets, and we also  share hints and tips on patterns, work on current projects, and provide assistance on the making of the shawls and scarves.   Attendance at the meetings, however, is not required to participate in this ministry.

We offer Saturday morning training sessions from time to time.   Please watch the bulletin for dates.

New members are always welcome in the Prayer Shawl Ministry.  If you knit, crochet or would like to learn or would like additional information, please contact:  Dianne Miiller at miiller@comcast.net or Cary Flynn at caryflynn.88@comcast.net.

“You formed my inmost being; you knit me in my Mother’s womb.   I praise you, because I am wonderfully made; wonderful are your works!”  –  Psalm 139:13-14

Prayer Shawls and Prayer Bears are always given as gifts.   Donations for supplies are gratefully accepted.  Please contact Dianne Miiller at miiller@comcast.net or Cary Flynn at caryflynn.88@comcast.net.