AFTER THE TUESDAY 8:15 a.m. Mass, they gather in an activity room in the Holy Family Catholic School in Orange. Although they are always looking for new members, they leave scant tracks across the digital space. And yet, the Young in Spirit Club plays a vital role in the spiritual life of the Diocese of Orange and the world beyond. If you or your child has received a Rosary from your home parish in the Diocese of Orange at a baptism, First Holy Communion or in religious education classes such as Order of Christian Initiation or Confirmation, there’s a good chance it came from this volunteer group.
SANDRA SOULE (RIGHT) HANDS OUT BINGO CARDS TO GIE LUNDY AND OTHER MEMBERS. PHOTOS BY ALAN WENDELL/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
Throughout the year, from this small room, thousands of Rosaries are handcrafted and donated to parishes and schools throughout the Diocese. Traveling missionary priests also request Rosaries to deliver to their home parishes in countries such as Mexico, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and elsewhere across the globe.
DEEPLY CATHOLIC RITUAL
Although not unique to Catholicism, the Rosary is an important part of prayer to many Catholics and an enduring measure of Marian devotion.
LEANA RICHMOND SHOWCASES SOME OF THE ROSARIES SHE RECENTLY MADE.
“It’s uplifting when we do the Rosaries,” said volunteer Leana Richmond.
She told of Young in Spirit recently supplying 5,000 Rosary strings to a visiting priest. As the story goes, when the father attempted to check his bag, it was overweight. When agents opened the bag and saw the contents, they let the bag through without charge.
“We make about 250 Rosaries a week,” said Patricia Erdkamp.
Every Tuesday the group of about 20 women and the occasional male volunteer assembles in the school room. From a closet they remove the strings, plastic crosses, medallions and beads that appear like a profusion of bright flowers — green and red, blue and purple, black and white.
Together the volunteers recite the “Rosary Maker’s Prayer.”
Which says in part, “Bless the Rosaries we make today. With loving hands we add each bead.”
It is no simple process.
Each Rosary string contains 59 beads with 14 intricate knots, requiring a special tool, to separate the sets of beads,
“The knots are very hard,” said Gie Lundy, who passes along the technique to newcomers as it was taught to her.
Although forms of the Rosary date back to the ninth century, the current format dates back to the early 1200s and a Marian apparition eventually called Our Lady of the Rosary. With some variations, in a traditional Rosary there is a crucifix, a medallion with an image of the Blessed Mother, six large beads and 53 smaller beads. Prayers are recited with each bead, while worshippers contemplate the Mysteries of the Rosary.
Richmond said she and other members in the group often silently recite the Rosary as they assemble the strings.
St. Pope John Paul II said the repeated prayers in the Rosary “help us get more in touch with the deepest desires in our souls for God.”
MAKING COMMUNITY
Most of the members of the club share similar stories of joining.
“I thought it would be nice for the companionship,” said Erdkamp, who joined after she retired from work. “It’s a good outlet for energy.”
“Most of us are used to being volunteers,” Richmond said.
In addition to crafting the Rosaries, a number of the women in the club also knit and crochet hats, scarves and warm clothing that are donated to shelters. Other items are sold to raise funds at the church’s annual Holiday Boutique, which grew out of the Young in Spirit’s work. The group uses its funds to purchase materials from Our Lady of Rosary Makers, a non-profit lay ministry within the Archdiocese of Louisville. Each Rosary costs about 35 to 40 cents in materials.
At its height, according to the volunteers, Young in Spirit boasted upwards of 200 members, crafting old-fashioned Rosaries, including some made from metal and wood. The number has dropped in recent years and the group was particularly hard hit during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The members range in age from 42 to 102. The group’s centenarian, Shirley Cretney, is an original member, who recently celebrated her birthday with the group. She is recovering from a recent fall, but members are confident about the recovery of the woman who kept the group’s books until she was 100.
“She’s a treasure,” Lundy said, “She’s our star.”
Mimi Tomale, a sprite 70-year-old, often volunteers to drive several women to Mass and other events.
“I’m their Uber,” she said. “I charge the gas to Jesus.”
The work doesn’t just stop at the doors of the school or church.
Marisa Sanchez, the youngster in the club, takes materials home and recruits her husband, Julio, and her two sons to gather around the dining room table each week to volunteer time assembling Rosaries.
Of course, it isn’t all hard work either.
At the end of each month the volunteers share a bountiful potluck luncheon and play bingo and other games.
“We really like each other’s company,” Erdkamp said.
Young in Spirit is eager to welcome anyone who would like to volunteer. For information call the Holy Family Church at 714-639-2900, or online at https://www.hforange.org/