Sewing ministry an act of faith, gift of love

Father Rolo Castillo opens his surprise from the sewing ministry — a quilt made in honor of his 30th anniversary as a priest and as a goodbye gift, as he will transfer from St. John the Evangelist, Waynesboro, to Christ the King, Abingdon, and St. John the Evangelist, Marion, effective Aug. 1. (Photo/Judy Charles)

The women who make up the sewing ministry at St. John the Evangelist, Waynesboro, stitch their faith into dozens of exquisitely sewn items for their church: vestments, altar cloths, banners, baptismal gowns and even a quilt for their pastor, Father Rolo Castillo. Their labors of love are truly woven into the fabric of daily life for the parish.

“I always point out that we are a sewing ministry, not a sewing circle,” said organizer Judy Charles. “This is our faith; we work for the Church. All the ladies feel it’s a gift of love.”

About 13 years ago, Charles helped to make a dozen robes for some older children who were baptized during the Easter Vigil. Later, one child asked her, “Did you have fun making our robes?”

“That really struck me and made me think about it,” she said. “It was fun, but it was more than that. I was part of their baptism, part of that sacrament.”

Four years later, she officially began the sewing ministry. Since then, the group has grown to 10 or so women; the number varies depending upon projects and schedules. And while they do have fun together, working usually once a week either at church or at Charles’ house, they also take their work seriously, making sure every detail is perfect and meaningful.

“They definitely put themselves and their personal spirituality into their work,” said Father Castillo.

Unique contributions

Whenever he wears his vestments, made by the group and embroidered with his name, or walks into the church and sees their handiwork on display – altar cloths spread, banners fluttering, white gowns worn by the newly baptized, “It reminds me that they have taken ownership of the parish,” he said.

“Church is not just a place they go on Sunday, and it’s not just a showcase for their talent,” he explained. “It’s home for them, and their fellowship is home among each other, which is a wonderful invitation to others to participate with them for the benefit of others.”

Although the core group members have been sewing for many years, most of their lives for some, they welcome others with less experience. There are other ways to help, too, such as making financial contributions, buying supplies, providing sewing machines and other equipment, or donating fabric.

“The reason we can do this is the support of the congregation,” Charles said.

The sewing ministry makes each item unique to their parish. For the Christmas altar cloth in their new church, dedicated last year, Father Castillo said, “I want something joyful!”

After studying the star imagery behind the crucifix, member Mary Fannin designed a similar star near the center of the altar cloth, with colorful rays of light emanating from it along all sides so that everyone can see it.

From left, sewing ministry members Diane Crone, Leah Lucas, Teri Petrie, Fran Neuwirth, Ann Masse and Seta Unich work on a vestment for Father Rolo Castillo’s 25th anniversary in 2017. The fabric squares were made from silk ties donated by men in the congregation of St. John the Evangelist, Waynesboro. (Photo/Judy Charles)

Later she received a thank-you note from a parishioner who wrote, “It filled me with joy and awe.”

“It really meant something to her,” Fannin said.

“You feel close to that spiritual experience when you create things like this,” she added, close to tears. “I do this for my church. It deepens the meaning of my religion.”

Serving larger community

The sewing ministry also has made goods for those outside the parish, such as quilts for the homeless and professional masks of surgical drape fabric for health care workers during the pandemic.

“This work is also a good witness of our Catholic faith; we are not just serving ourselves but the larger community as well,” Father Castillo said.

“Father loves how we catechize people and how we draw people in with faith,” Charles noted. “We make sure they know we are serving in the name of St. John the Evangelist Parish.”

In early June, Father Castillo marked his 30th anniversary in the priesthood, celebrated at a party on the stone piazza of the church. He received a surprise gift: a quilt made by the sewing ministry. The gift was bittersweet, as the parish had just learned that he was being transferred to Christ the King, Abingdon, and St. John the Evangelist, Marion, effective Aug. 1.

Featuring blue ocean-print fabric, the quilt’s centerpiece is a mariner’s compass, similar to one on Father Castillo’s Jeep and a nod to his love of travel.

Parishioner Candy Krop, also part of the sewing ministry, kept a notebook in church to listen closely to his homilies and write some of his favorite quotations to use for the project. She embroidered them along the edges of the matching pillow shams, including some of his travel- and faith-based sayings, both his own (“God is your compass”) and others’ (J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Not all who wander are lost”).

Lesson in faith

Professional quilter and parishioner Cindy King is fairly new to the sewing ministry. She and her husband, Gordon, moved to Waynesboro from Roanoke in 2019, and she joined the ministry in 2020, helping to make masks during the pandemic. When the quilt project began, she was sought for her expertise.

“I was amazed at how it turned out, especially since they had no pattern; they just had a vision in their minds,” said King, who created the compass and also did the top quilting in a variety of stitches. The finished product was a good lesson in faith, she said.

The sewing ministry has not only allowed her to share her skills; it has also helped her meet people.

“We sit together and laugh while we work, but this ministry is so important,” King said. “When I first saw that they made those vestments, I was flabbergasted. They use such beautiful fabric, and the embroidery is wonderful. It has been really fortuitous for me.”

One woman told Charles that when she came to Mass, she looked for three banners – one each for faith, hope and love – and would find the one that matched how she felt that day and sit by it.

“I did not know it impacted people that much,” she said.

“It’s been wonderful,” Charles said. “Every time I see a baby baptized, I know we were part of that. You’re very much a real part of the Church.”

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