COUNTING OUR BLESSINGS … Prayer shawls

 
Today you will notice Father Bo and Deacon blessing the Prayer Shawls as they do every 4th Sunday of the month.  Today we have an addition to the program, Prayer Squares.
 
These are smaller and can be tucked discreetly in a pocket or placed under a pillow.  Like prayer shawls, prayer squares are knitted or crocheted by volunteers who pray for the persons who will eventually receive them.  That is the reason they are called prayers squares.
 
They are brought to church on the 4th Sunday of the month and placed beneath the icon of St. Stephen where they are blessed by Father.  Then they are stored along with presentation bags and notes to recipients explaining what they are. The craft persons have requested that they remain anonymous.  The making of a shawl or square is a prayerful act of love for an unknown person - as the person touches it he is reminded that he has been prayed for even if at that moment he is not able to pray for himself.
 
Anyone can receive: they don’t have to be from St Stephen’s, Ukrainian, Catholic, or even Christian.  They are for everyone: women, men, and children. They are often given to people who are unwell but they are also nice for women expecting their first baby, for young people moving away from home, for someone lonely, fearful, or grieving.  They carry with them prayers, comfort, and reassurance.  Anyone can request a shawl or square for themselves or for someone else.   Sometimes people pass their prayer shawl on to someone else in distress and come back to get another one for themselves. 
 
To request a prayer shawl or prayer square contact:
 Sharon Oryschak at soryschak@gmail.com  Jean Pashulka at mykitchen@shaw.ca                    Marilyn Comchi at marilyncomchi@shaw.ca
 
 
Donations should be made to: St Stephen’s Protomartyr Ukrainian Catholic Church – Prayer Shawl Ministry- and can be made in cash or check and placed in an envelope in the Sunday collection basket.
We started in early 2015 and to date over 160 shawls have been sent out to people.  
 
Laurie Kindrachuk, editor
Contact me:  laurie.kindrachuk@shaw.ca  403-614-5581
 
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