WAYNESVILLE — Our Lady’s Rosary Makers held its annual fundraiser in conjunction with St. John the Evangelist Parish’s annual festival July 29. Under the guidance of pastor Father Paul McNulty and group leader Carol Kielb, handmade rosaries were offered for a donation to support the purchase of beads and other supplies.
Rosary Makers take beads and weave handmade cord rosaries for missions. So far, more than 7.000 free rosaries have been sent to missions.
Another opportunity to support Our Lady’s Rosary Makers will be Oct. 1 at St. John Parish, just in time for October celebrations of Our Blessed Mother.
There will be many original pieces available at the parish, including glass, stone and wood bead rosaries, rosary brackets, pocket rosaries and more.
— Carol Kielb and Lynn Jefferys
MARION — After nine months of daily prayer for children in danger of abortion, Our Lady of the Angels Parish hosted a Spiritual Adoption Baby Shower for the McDowell Pregnancy Care Center.
Father Carl Kaltreider and parishioners collected baby supplies including clothes, diapers, wipes, food, formula and bottles to help meet the local pregnancy support ministry’s needs.
Glen and Carole Keller, representatives of the Our Lady of the Angels pro-life ministry, were greeted with smiles and excitement as they delivered a carload of baby supplies and monetary donations to MPCC afterwards. “We are so grateful,” says Denise McCormick, director of MPCC. “These items will be passed along to our well-deserving clients.”
According to MPCC staff, the center is the busiest it has ever been since opening its doors just over 20 years ago. Its mission is to offer help and hope to families facing an unplanned pregnancy and to walk alongside families during their parenting journey. All of their services are free and confidential.
“My wife and I learned about the pregnancy center about this time last year,” says Keller. “We went by the center, took a tour, met the staff, asked questions, and immediately felt compelled to help. We just can’t imagine that people wouldn’t want to be advocates for children and be a voice for the unborn. We are called to make a difference, and this is one way we can do that.”
— Neil Schunke