Handicrafts Interwoven With Prayer
The apostolate within the Community of the Lady of All Peoples has taken on several forms in order to respond to a multitude of different needs. It is fitting to recall today one aspect of this apostolate: the “ouvroirs” or handicraft workshops which do their bit by contributing more particularly to the work of vocations.
Annette Mastropietro |
These handicraft workshops came into being in 1988 under the impetus of Mrs. Annette Mastropietro. At one time, there were up to seventeen handicraft workshops under the direction of members of the Army of Mary in several Canadian provinces. Skilled in sewing, knitting, crocheting, carpentry work, these artisans, men and women, did not count their hours of work, and their articles were distributed to the needy or sold, with the benefits going towards vocations to the priesthood.
The handicraft workshop at the Virgo-Fidelis Residence in Lac-Etchemin is under the direction of Mrs. Georgette Crôteau. Over the years, a great many people have provided valuable help. To the other types of work have been added weaving, the making of quilts, as well as different arts and crafts; and the handicraft workshop has become known as “Grandmother’s Boutique”.
Georgette Crôteau, responsible for the handicraft workshop at Lac-Etchemin. |
In 1995, Georgette and her sister Fernande who is a ladies’ tailor, went to Jamaica where the Daughters of Mary were running a school. Fernande made uniform patterns for the young school children (shirt and pants for the boys; dress and shorts for the girls), and upon their return to Quebec, Georgette sewed the garments with the help of a few ladies. Thus, the children’s uniforms were sewn at Virgo-Fidelis until the Daughters of Mary left the mission in Jamaica in 2001.
During those years, dozens of boxes of clothing, knitting, quilts were sent to Africa, Jamaica and Peru where these articles were distributed by local religious communities. In May 2008, fourteen boxes of warm clothing, mittens, socks, knitted slippers were sent to Peru.
In “Grandmother’s Boutique” which occupies two rooms on the ground floor at Virgo-Fidelis, someone can buy any number of items: children’s clothing, quilts, knitting (socks, mittens, tuques, shawls), crocheted items (tablecloths and place mats), aprons and kitchen accessories, cushions, etc. The Boutique also takes orders from our members in other countries (United States, France, Italy, Switzerland).
Father Roland is one of the first workers at the handicraft workshop at Lac-Etchemin. |
The individuals who make all these items work either at the Boutique (often in silence or reciting the rosary with an audio cassette), either in their homes in different dioceses. We should mention the contribution made by Father Roland Marcoux (82 years old) who began to stitch quilts when he was the chaplain at Virgo-Fidelis almost twenty years ago. He has just finished quilting his 350th quilt. Father Roland has also made more than 17,000 rosaries.
For Father Roland, these humble manual tasks are in addition to his priestly ministry at Spiri-Maria. For many years now, he has rarely been absent from morning Mass (6:25 a.m.), which he very often presides. And what of the long hours spent in the confessional, receiving penitents with his customary kindness!
Congratulations to these hard-working men and women whose handicrafts are interwoven with prayer. How wonderful is the collaboration of souls, manifested in so many ways, and which gives us a foretaste of the universal Terrestrial Kingdom.
Sylvie Payeur Raynauld