St. Martin's has recently brought a new ministry into the parish. While this ministry has been active in other churches, it is new for ours. It is called the Prayer Shawl Ministry and is administered through the Pastoral Care Office, specifically in the purview of the Befriender and Nursing Home Ministries. The shawls are knitted or crocheted by a small number of volunteers in their own homes. As they are being created, the person doing the work is praying for the blessings of courage, strength, and hope for the recipient. When the shawls are completed they will be blessed by one of our priests before they are given away.
These shawls are created as a comfort for those who are seriously ill or who are in grief over a recent loss and as a reminder of the ongoing prayers and support of our community. It can be a very compassionate and spiritual moment for those receiving this powerful gift.
Our first shawls were created by the Bellarmine Amen Sewing Group. Now, St. Martin parishioners have begun to create these shawls for our parish use. If you are interested in joining this meaningful knitting or crocheting ministry, call Leslie or Rose Frankina at the Pastoral Care Office, (408) 289-9617, ext 16. Please consider becoming a part of this important ministry. This is another example of our parish motto at work, "People Ministering to People"
A note is attached to each shawl. It reads as follows:
"This shawl was made for you be the members of the Prayer Shawl Ministry of St. Martin of Tours. You were being prayed for as it was being created. The prayers were that our Heavenly Father would give you blessings of courage, strength and hope.
May this shawl remind you of God’s love for you and the prayers offered by the Pastoral Care Ministries and the community."
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