Parishioner continues rosary-making ministry

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The rosary is a set of prayers based on Scripture.

LAYTON — For almost a decade Kelly Lindgren, a Saint Rose of Lima parishioner, has put her time, talents and treasures into action by making sure that rosaries are always available in her parish. She also teaches others to make rosaries.

Lindgren started this ministry “because I wanted to do something as a volunteer for my church, and I got told that I could do rosaries,” she said.

She also has volunteered in the parish kitchen and with the funeral ministry.

“Volunteering comes from the heart,” she said. “It changes you because you are together making something for the food of others, and it helps the church, since every church should have rosaries for the kids, for all the parishioners and for people to learn how to pray the rosary.”

When she was a child she used to love praying the rosary, “but I wasn’t allowed to create one,” said Lindgren, who is originally from the Philippines.

Now that she is retired, having the opportunity to lead people in the right way of making rosaries is a blessing, she said.

There is a proper way to make a rosary, she said. “It is very important that in the middle always should be a medal of the Virgin Mary.”

The rosary “is a Scripture-based prayer” that begins with the Apostles’ Creed, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The rosary most familiar to people in the United States has a crucifix followed by five beads, then a medal and five sets of 10 beads each, separated by one bead that typically is larger than the others. Each set of 10 beads is used while praying a Mystery of the Rosary.

“The Mysteries of the Rosary center on the events of Christ’s life. There are four sets of Mysteries: Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious and – added by Saint John Paul II in 2002 – the Luminous,” states the USCCB.

Lindgren has continued making rosaries even though for several weeks her hands have been very painful due to arthritis.

“This rosary-making kind of ruined my hands, but I am very happy that I was able to do them,” she said.

Every week at least 10 to 15 rosaries are available at the parish, “but when the bishop comes we have to make sure than there are more than four dozen at least,” she said. Having rosaries available “is one thing to be proud of in our church.”

Lindgren had trained three other women to continue the rosary-making ministry. Diana Ortiz, Maria Solaris and Laura Bravo, along with other volunteers  meet every Monday for two hours to create rosaries, guided by Lindgren.

“I bring all the supplies,” Lindgren said, inviting all who are interested in making rosaries to join them every Monday after the 9 a.m. Mass at Saint Rose of Lima Catholic Church, 210 S. Chapel St., Layton.