Rosary Makers bring blessings

On Tuesday mornings, a group of people from around the Diocese of Baton Rouge who are dedicated to the Blessed Mother gather at the coffee shop at Our Lady of Mercy Church in Baton Rouge. 

While they chat, laugh and enjoy snacks they make an array of rosaries that are used by churches and a myriad of ministries throughout the diocese, other states and even overseas. During October and especially on the feast day of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary on Oct. 7, the Blessed Mother continues her urgent call to “pray the rosary.” In their unique way, the Rosary Makers create the tools by which people can answer the call.

The Rosary Makers, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, was founded by Alice Lowery upon a suggestion from her sister and received support from then pastor Father Michael Moroney.

“I am so excited to make the rosaries, I know there are people who need them,” said Lowery.

“Every year we give away thousands of rosaries,” said Karen Dake, also a member of OLOM.

Before the rosaries are sent out they are blessed.

The rosaries of various color combinations are distributed to people who request them. The devotional aids have been given to women with crisis pregnancies who approached the abortion clinic but decided to keep their babies or sought prayer as they took time to reconsider their decision.

“They (are also) very good for women who are having difficult pregnancies to help give them comfort,” said Dake.

The rosaries  have been given to people undergoing physical therapy, residents of nursing homes and the homebound seeking peace and comfort. They have been given to the incarcerated (following the specifications of the prison facilities) seeking hope and inner freedom. They have also been prayed with at large-scale events, such as The Men of the Immaculata Conference held annually in Baton Rouge. 

They have also been in the Catholic schools classrooms.

OLOM member Maryanna Pelkowski, who substitute teaches and helps with the OLOM school extended care program, noted that one year the group made one-decade rosaries for the three-year-old children (“Little Saints”) at OLOM.

 “A teacher asked if we could make rosaries for the children so they could take them home for the summer,” Pelkowski said.

Even New Orleans Saints fans have a “weapon on the field” as rosaries featuring black and gold have been made.

The rosaries have been in the mission fields overseas and other places the Rosary Makers say only the Blessed Mother and her son Jesus knows.

In addition to making rosaries, some of the members help mend “broken hearts” by repairing rosaries.

Elaine Juneau, a member of St. Alphonsus Church in Greenwell Springs, noted on one occasion a woman came in and was upset because she had broken her grandmother’s rosary. The Rosary Makers fixed the rosary.

One man’s son had died during the war in Afghanistan. He often sat by the pool in the church’s meditative garden near statues depicting the Blessed Mother and the shepherd children of Fatima. One day he walked into the coffee shop and proudly showed a picture of his son and a simple brown rosary he carried with him that had been broken. They fixed the rosary.

“He was happy, it was a treasured memory,” said Juneau.

As they happily commit themselves to their craft the friendship and devotion to prayer keeps them coming each week. During the middle of their fellowship time, they stopped and prayed the prayer of intercession of Our Lady of Prompt Succor for protection during hurricane season.

“They taught me how to make rosaries and I couldn’t stop,” said Celeste Deville, a member of St. Isidore Church in Baker, who prays the rosary, especially for people in need at the end of the day.

Dorothy Cwieka, another member of St. Alphonsus who exhibited a flair for making uniquely crafted rosaries, said she enjoys the “snacks and the second cup of coffee” with her friends. She said during the COVID pandemic it was “hard to remember what day of the week it was” without the Tuesday morning gatherings.

“You feel like you belong,” said Cwieka.

The hope and prayer for every rosary sent out is that each person praying it will feel their own special connection with the Blessed Mother and Jesus.

“If you touch one person it’s worth it,” said Cwieka.

The group meets from 8:30 – 11:30 a.m. and is open to people of all church parishes. Those interested in participating can stop by the coffee shop or call the OLOM office at 225-926-1883.