Prayer Shawl Ministry provides a loving embrace

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COVENTRY — “It feels like God is protecting me,” said Amanda Raposo, as she draped a soft purple shawl, speckled with colorful maroon and turquoise fibers, over her shoulders.

Raposo, 33, a new parishioner at SS. John & Paul Church, had just been praying for a full recovery for her mother, who is ailing, at Mass.

Afterward, she entered the church hall where the parish’s Prayer Shawl Ministry was holding one of their two annual Prayer Shawl Sundays. She was quite surprised to learn that such a well-crafted shawl was being offered free of charge to anyone entering the hall that morning and wanted one.

She left with a broad smile on her face and feeling better that her mother would get better soon.

Prayer Shawl Sunday is the time of year when a very dedicated group of women lovingly give thanks for the blessings they have received in their lives by giving of their time and talent to others through their handiwork, producing shawls free of charge for anyone in need of spiritual or emotional healing.

It all began in 2007, when parishioners Betty Dockray and Linda Phaneuf, along with about 20 equally dedicated volunteers, started the ministry of knitting or crocheting prayer shawls with the blessing of then-pastor Father Peter D’Ambrosia.

“May every color, soft or bright, bring pleasure to the eye, and lift each broken ailing heart to you with joy on high. May every stitch crocheted or knitted bind up wounds and heal so that everyone who wears a shawl will know your love is real,” Father D’Ambrosia said, as part of a prayer offered to invoke blessings upon this ministry built from love and caring.

Since then the ladies of the group have created more than 3,200 shawls, baby blankets and lapghans. Each is blessed on Prayer Shawl Sunday and given free of charge to anyone then and throughout the year who wants to feel God’s loving embrace.

There are now about 28 members of the Prayer Shawl Ministry, which meets on the first Wednesday of each month at the parish to continue their crafting — which they see as a mission and also do regularly at home, usually while watching television or just relaxing. About 12-15 ladies attend regularly, while the others knit or crochet at home.

The ladies of the group buy their own materials, although they always welcome donations of supplies, and give generously of their time.

While they work they share fellowship and tips of the trade. Inwardly, they infuse prayer into every loop and purl, focusing on the importance of their ministry to those who are seeking solace in their own lives, or the alleviation of suffering for another.

Over the past 11 years, the group has crafted more than 3,200 prayer shawls, which are blessed and selected by those in need on Prayer Shawl Sunday, although they are available throughout the year to anyone in need.

As each item is being created, prayers of encouragement and hope are worked into each stitch. The women do not know who will receive their labor of love.

“God will see to it that they are given to the individuals for whom they were intended, making the creations prayerful and powerful gifts,” said Dockray.

“These gifts are meant to offer tangible evidence of God’s love to those who receive them, letting them know that someone cares and is praying for them,” she said.

Phaneuf, who has crafted more than 500 shawls herself since 2007, said the ministry is a wonderful and very powerful one, a mission that moves her to tears as she knits.

“I always cry, it’s so beautiful. You think about the people that you are about to touch, It’s a gift from God,” Phaneuf said.

Longtime member Margaret Woolley, whose son, Father Michael Woolley is the new pastor of SS. John & Paul Parish, said she derives a great deal of personal comfort knowing her handiwork can help lift up a troubled soul.

“We’re praying over the shawls as we’re working on them. It’s like having our hands holding and comforting anyone who picks up a shawl,” Woolley said.

The shawls are crafted in a variety of colors, with some even created in camouflage or patriotic patterns for veterans. Some can take 20 or 30 hours to complete.

After each is done, a card with the name of the crafter is affixed to it and it is lovingly folded and placed in a clear plastic bag.

Once a shawl is chosen, the receiver completes the card by writing their name and the name of the person they intend to give it you if it’s for someone else. There is also a space for prayer intentions.

Dockray then takes the card and records all of this info in a special prayer book which gives the ladies yet another place to focus their prayers as they work, all with the goal of comforting the recipient.

“It’s our purpose,” said Dockray.

“This work means the world to me. I feel it’s a mission that God wanted me to do.”