QUEENS VILLAGE — In this knitting circle, God’s handiwork is a part of every stitch.
Once a month at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Queens Village, a group of women come together, pick up their knitting and crocheting needles, and get to work. And out of their talented hands, shawls, blankets, scarves, and hats are born.
The women are members of the Prayer Shawl Ministry at Our Lady of Lourdes.
They’re a group devoted to spreading God’s love by making items of clothing to be given away to people battling cancer, elderly nursing home residents, premature babies and others in need of warmth and comfort.
Prayer shawls, which are mentioned in the Bible and typically worn over the shoulder, are meant as a physical reminder of God’s love and can be worn by faithful when they pray.
Mary Mooney, a parishioner of Our Lady of Lourdes for more than 50 years, leads the ministry. Approximately 20 years ago, she learned about a prayer shawl ministry in New England and was inspired to create one in her parish.
Today, the ministry attracts 10-15 members who come together monthly at the Bethsaida Spirituality Center, down the block from the church, to knit shawls for people in need.
While the women work diligently at the meetings, they do most of their knitting and crocheting at home and bring their finished products to the church.
The ministry, which raises its own money to purchase wool and needles, accepts requests for shawls, blankets, and other items from institutions and individuals alike.
On the day The Tablet visited with the ministry, the members unanimously voted to accept a new request — to make hats for a group of female patients undergoing treatment for breast cancer. Mooney didn’t know exactly how many shawls the ministry has made over the past two decades but estimated it’s in the thousands.
The ministry can deliver the finished items to the recipient or, if the recipient wishes, arrange for the person to pick the items up.
Father Patrick Longalong, the pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes, makes sure items the group produces are blessed by a priest before they are distributed. Every shawl, blanket, scarf, and hat comes with a prayer card that includes the name of the ministry member who knitted or crocheted it.
“We like to give it a personal touch,” Mooney explained.
Rita Watson said it takes her about a week for her to finish a shawl.
“I like working with soft colors,” she noted while working on a pink shawl.
For Mooney and the other members, the ministry is one way for her to live out their Catholic faith.
“You suddenly have the strength to conquer whatever comes before you, and it’s through the power of God. That’s his gift to you,” Mooney said. “How can you not want to share that with people in any way that you can?”
Arlene Wittig, who joined the group nine years ago, said the ministry has strengthened her faith. She added that her heart is filled with joy at the thought of someone — even a stranger she will never meet — wearing a scarf she made.
“It does inspire me,” she said. “I have empathy for people who are suffering.”
Carol Washington joined the ministry 15 years ago because she wanted to be of more service to her church. Although she was already a choir member and participated in other ministries, she felt the need to do more.
“I wanted to do something that was more hands-on,” Washington said. “So I started coming, and it was so nice to sit around and have coffee, no pressure, and work.”
One does not have to be an expert to join. Newcomers to knitting and crocheting are welcome, too, as group members are happy to teach new members to knit.
Like Wittig, Washington believes that being part of the group helps her live out her faith.
“It’s all about giving,” she said.