Spokane Catholics make rosaries for African missions
Members of the St. Thomas More Rosary Makers (L-R) Joanne Covey, Steve Ferrera, Mary Manfred, Will Russell, Jan Russell, and Mary Dighans. (Courtesy Photo)
STORY SUBMITTED BY — Joanne Manfred Bovey, parishioner at St. Anthony, Spokane
The good news is that the Catholic Church is booming in Africa! The bad news is that there are not enough rosaries for everyone who wants one. Here in Spokane, we are making a small dent in the need for rosaries in Africa.
A rosary-making group started by Brother Don Jellison at Gonzaga University has been slowly enlarging from our present base of activities at St. Thomas More Catholic Church to the Cathedral of Lady of Lourdes and St. Ann Catholic Church. At St. Thomas More, we meet every Tuesday from 12:30 to 2:00. Here, you can receive instructions on making a string rosary for Africa and buying inexpensive supplies to make them.
We mail rosaries to Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, and Zambia. Fortunately, email helps in this process. They let us know when a box of 100 rosaries arrives.
Dr. Colman Msoka said that Dar es Salam, Tanzania, is a strong area of Catholicism. The parishes divide into prayer groups instructing their children about God and praying the rosary. We sent them a box of 100 rosaries on December 8, 2023, and I emailed him that it was coming. His response was immediate, "Thank you, thank you, thank you! It is a good gift for the New Year."
In Kampala, Uganda, Fr. Silas Kikulwe received a box of rosaries on November 18, 2023. His parish is also divided into prayer groups called 'Basic Small Christian Communities! He said, "Some children who know how to pray the rosary have no rosaries, while those of the elders are worn out. Consequently, I received these at an opportune time...." In October, he said, "'...we have many children both at the main church, Entebbe Catholic Church, Bugoga, and at the eight substations of the parish. Even the elderly need them. On behalf of the parishioners, I will be very grateful to you."
Fr. Jakub Maria Rostworoski, S.J., is working in Kasisi, Zambia. He wrote in December 2023, "Thank you from all my heart for rosaries... have my Mary gold once again. Thank you. Christmas time was busy, but thank God for many baptisms and blessed marriages."
Sr. Noelina Namagembe works with children in Uganda and sent an email on December 3, 2023, "There is a great thirst for Rosaries. We are blessed that we have received them during Advent. We are praying that Mother Mary teaches us what Jesus wants, and above all love her more and more as our Spiritual Mother."
We get our supplies from Our Lady's Rosary Makers in Kentucky. They send out a quarterly flyer with information from places around the world which are requesting rosaries. There is a great need.
Robin Sparrow leads a rosary group at the Cathedral that meets the first and third Monday nights from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. This group has been making rosaries regularly for many years.
A new, vibrant group is starting at St. Ann's Catholic Church here in Spokane. Lucia Ngatia has been in contact with parishioners who previously lived in Africa and have moved to Spokane. As they travel home, they are given rosaries to take, which saves on postage, which has gone up.
This group meets after the 9:00 a.m. Mass every Sunday from 11:00 - 12:30. They are still gaining rosary makers and getting a supply cabinet to hold their rosary supplies.
Some of our rosary makers are homebound because of illness or caregiving. Rosary making is a beautiful ministry that can be carried on at home once you learn the skill.
This is not only an adult ministry. Children learn quickly how to make string rosaries. It is our faith in quiet action.
If you are interested, join any group. We'll teach you the simple process of making a string rosary. You may even want to start a rosary-making group in your parish! You will be spreading the gospel through Mary's spiritual weapon.
