The Shawl Ministry is an ecumenical group of ladies who knit or crochet shawls.  These shawls are then given, as a tangible sign of God’s love and compassion, to people who need to be consoled and need to be reminded of God’s love. With God’s help and the support of the Seton community, over 9,500 shawls have been given thus far to individuals and institutions in our community and beyond. 

This ministry began in the Fall of 2003. It was initiated by a small Seton RENEW group.
 

Our Mission

The Shawl Ministry of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is dedicated to:

• Providing a prayerful ministry that combines ritual, care, and compassion with the love of knitting or crocheting.
• Providing a ministry that touches the lives of others by distributing the shawls through the various outreach ministries of our parish.
• Providing a contemplative experience that winds itself through our hearts and into the presence of God.
• Providing a fellowship of people working together to make God visible in the world, enabling us to care for others in a straight-from-the-heart approach.
• Providing a ministry that will encircle our parish in an eternal shawl of peace, healing, and compassion.
  
  

Our Patron Saint

Mary Undoer of Knots  - Feast day September 28

Monthly Meetings 

We always welcome new members to our circle of friends, whether they like to knit, crochet, or help in other ways to finish the shawls and get them ready for blessing and distribution. 

Blessing of the Hands

In September, close to the Feast Day of Our Lady Undoer of Knots (the 28th of September), we hold a special service called The Blessing of the Hands.  It is open to everyone. During this service, we have our hands blessed, and we renew our commitment to the work of our hands.

History of the Shawl Ministry

In 1998, Janet Bristow and Victoria Galo, two graduates from the Hartford Seminary in Hartford, Connecticut, created the Shawl Ministry. Care and the love of knitting and crocheting have been combined into a prayerful ministry that reaches out to those in need of comfort and solace, as well as those celebrating baptisms or other milestones of life

Many blessings are knitted or crocheted into the shawl. Designers begin each shawl with prayers and blessings for the recipient. Intentions are continued throughout the creation of the shawl.

 The shawl is based on a 3-stitch seed pattern. The pattern of threes can be found in every religion and society. This is a reflection of planting peace, healing, love, comfort, and hope. In the tradition of Christian faith, the number three symbolizes the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). It is said that the number three is used 523 times in scripture!

We also make Joseph’s Shawls by collecting yarn remnants when the shawls have been completed.  When woven together, these shawls are similar to Joseph’s Coat of Many Colors (Genesis 37:3)

When the shawls are completed, they receive a final blessing before being sent on their way.

Fr. Bradley blessing shawls

How YOU CAN HELP

• Join the Shawl Ministry to Knit or crochet shawls. 
• Donate yarn: 4 skeins of Lion’s Brand Homespun. PLEASE MAKE SURE ALL THE SKEINS HAVE THE SAME DYE LOT NUMBERS.
• Donate financially to help support this ministry. We do not sell our shawls but accept contributions which are used to buy the yarn to make our shawls. 
• Write prayers to add to our collection of prayers for the various seasons of life to be included with the shawls.
• Sew on labels.
• Tie on fringe.
• Pray for this ministry.
• Pray for the recipients of the shawls.
• Pray for our volunteers.
   

Opening Our Hearts

A special thank you to those who taught us to knit and served as teachers, mentors, and friends. We praise God for His divine intervention through all the people who have stepped forward to give this ministry the strength to move to the next level.

 Thank you to all those individuals who will join in the knitting or crocheting of the shawls as well as the many other contributors. It has been said, "God does not call the equipped. He equips the called." So come join the mystery that unfolds silently in the rhythm of knitting or crocheting.