By Our Hands, devoted Rosary Makers

For many years, the Priests of the Sacred Heart have been blessed to receive handmade rosaries from many faithful friends. This is a story of one of our friends who have blessed us with hundred of rosaries to share with our missions all over the world, sharing the grace and love of His Sacred Heart.

Forty-two years ago, five women formed a prayer group with a desire to not only pray together but also perform a service. Rosary making seemed like the solution.

Many faithful joined them over the years, finally becoming known as, Our Blessed Mother's Rosary Makers.

"I believe it was in 1979 when we learned my mother had ovarian cancer. I was concerned what my mother would have to endure during the next couple of years, especially the pain," shares Marie, one of the founding members.

"About that same time, I had read an article about a woman whose husband was dying of cancer and was in a lot of pain. The woman prayed asking if she would make rosaries and give them away, for her husband to die without pain.

She went to all of her friends and collected old jewelry and started making rosaries. As she was making them, her husband's pain started to go away. He died without any pain.

Remembering that story, I thought maybe I could ask our prayer group if they would consider making rosaries. They all thought it would be a good idea to make rosaries not just for my mother but also to give them to churches and missions.

I asked my mother if she would like to make rosaries and she did not hesitate to say, yes. Now, my mother had macular degeneration, cancer and a minor heart problem. It was difficult for her to see the hole in the beads but she managed to string the beads.

She never cried about her problems or the cancer but when I told her the rosaries she made went to the missions, she cried. She was happy to know that, in spite of her physical condition, she was still useful and could help someone. She died with very little pain."

With the help of the pastor from one of the parishes, they also promoted the rosary by making a recording of the group praying the rosary and it was shared on a local radio station for a couple years.

In 1981 the rosary makers made a king size rosary to be used as a Living Rosary and it took 60 people to hold the rosary made from Styrofoam balls.

These rosaries have graced the hands of children making their first communion, foreign missions, prisons, nursing homes, hospitals, service men and women and so many more. More than 80,000 rosaries have been given away and we are grateful to be the receipent of these rosaries to share with so many faithful.

Of the original five rosary makers, only two continue to be active. There have been mothers, daughters, husbands, wives and even non-Catholics making rosaries over the years.

"Mary has always blessed us with devoted members and the funds to support our mission." states Marie.

Several of the women who made rosaries have said making rosaries has helped them both physically and calmed them emotionally.