Prayer Shawl Ministry: Comfort, Healing, and Blessings for All

Kirsten, Sally, and Diane chatted as they knit, adding stitches while catching up on each other’s lives. Colorful shawls covered the table in front of them and more filled a closet.

I was attending a gathering of the St. Mary’s Catholic Church Prayer Shawl Ministry, which meets the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 1:30pm. As an avid knitter, I’ve been involved with a Prayer Shawl Ministry at my church in McCall, Idaho, so I was very glad to discover one in Grayling.

Started in 2008 by Sister Marita, the St. Mary’s Prayer Shawl Ministry has delivered hundreds of shawls, which are available to anyone, whether they are in need of comfort and healing or are celebrating one of life’s many blessings.

"Shawls… made for centuries universal and embracing are symbolic of an inclusive, unconditionally loving God,” Janet Severi Bristow, founder of one of the original Prayer Shawl Ministries, said. “Those who have received these shawls have been uplifted and affirmed, as if given wings to fly above their troubles."

The meeting at St. Mary’s ended with us all gathered together, reciting a prayer:

May God's grace be upon this shawl,

warming, comforting, enfolding and embracing.

May this mantle be a safe haven,

a sacred place of security and well-being,

sustaining and embracing in good times as well as difficult ones.

May the one who receives this shawl be cradled in hope,

kept in joy, graced with peace, and wrapped in love.

Blessed Be!

If you know of anyone who might benefit by receiving a Prayer Shawl or if you’d like to get involved in St. Mary’s Prayer Shawl Ministry, please let me know.

~Erin