Prayer Shawl Ministry adopts new project

For many parents, the birth of a new baby is a joyous occasion. 

But when a child is stillborn or dies shortly after birth, the heartache is felt by hospital staff as well as the family.

That gave Mindy, a labor and delivery nurse at St. Elizabeth Boardman and member of the Ursuline Sisters Prayer Shawl Ministry, an idea.

Shawls made by the group are given freely to people who need to feel wrapped in the comfort of God’s love. Why not make ones special for suffering moms and the children they must say goodbye to? 

Mindy’s idea was warmly accepted by the group. In the last few months, 10 sets of shawls have been made – a larger one for the mother, and a tiny matching shawl to envelop their little one when they’re buried.

Shawls for this special project are created with matching, soft white yarn. Mindy, longtime Prayer Shawl Ministry member Alice, and Youngstown State University honors student Mason have made shawls for this special project. Mason even created a little stuffed bear with a prayer shawl to go with his donation. 

Thousands of prayer shawls have been created by our group since it was founded by late Ursuline Associate Eileen W. Novotny in 2008. Anyone can come by our offices from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday to request one. We’re located at 4280 Shields Road, Canfield, Ohio, USA. 

Eileen’s husband, Ray, and other ministry volunteers also take shawls to area hospice and cancer centers, assisted livings and nursing homes, parishes, and a veteran’s clinic.