This is a great story that comes to us courtesy of one of Lansing’s local television stations, WILX 10. God bless them. This week, the channel featured the city’s Immaculate Heart of Mary parish, where the pious volunteers of the Hands of Mary Rosary Makers apostolate have made more than 1.3 million rosaries over six decades, with one volunteer alone crafting more than 300,000. Ave Maria. And the purpose of the group?
“To bring people closer to Jesus, but definitely to pray for peace,” said Laurene Moore to WILX 10. Laurene started the group 61 years ago along with her sister-in-law, “I think our world is so messed up that we really need that prayer power.”
More than 300,000 of the rosaries were made by one woman, the late Jane McNeely, who handcrafted rosaries for 55 years.
“My mom made at least 313,000 rosaries,” said Jane’s daughter, Jill Ostrander.
Jane died last year. May she rest in peace. Jill, however, decided to keep her mother’s rosary-making legacy alive.
“And when Laurene calls and says, ‘Do you have rosaries? We have an order for 2,000 or we have an order for 10,000,’ we think the need is there,” Jill said.
Arthritis has ended Laurene’s rosary-making career, but she is happy to be the group’s spiritual cheerleader.
“I try to hype them up and get them excited about making rosaries,” said Laurene to WILX 10.
* You can find out how to help with the group by calling 517-393-3030 or by visiting the Immaculate Heart of Mary website at https://www.ihmlansing.org/