Love and blessings wrap critically ill

By Caitlin V. Reidy | CFP Correspondent

Critically ill patients at St. Vincent Hospital are being wrapped in comfort, care, and love with prayer shawls made by St. Matthias Parish Prayer Shawl Ministry in Marlborough. Blessed by Father Francis O’Brien, pastor of St. Matthias, and Msgr. Peter R. Beaulieu, chaplain at St. Vincent, these shawls are meant to offer solace in a person’s last days of life.
Debra Natoli, family advocate for the intensive care unit at St. Vincent, has been coordinating this program  since 2017. Ms. Natoli was able to launch the program with the help of Lisa Holmgren of the hospital’s human resource department. She said that St. Vincent not only approved the prayer shawl program for critically ill patients, but the whole hospital became involved.
“I wanted to know what we could do to further help with the end of life,” Ms. Natoli said.
Ms. Natoli said that her mother, Patricia Chiasson, is part of the prayer shawl ministry and every Wednesday evening the group meets to knit shawls. While knitting, the women are constantly praying – putting love and blessings into each stitch.  
Joanne Litster, coordinator for the ministry, said that she has been knitting for years and she never thought that they would influence so many people.
“At first, this was a way to make new friends and do something that we love,” Ms. Litster said. “Eventually, we realized that this could benefit people who weren’t doing so well.”
Ms. Litster said that Joyce Belliveau originally started the prayer shawl ministry in 2004. She said Ms. Belliveau came up with the idea when she found a book on prayer shawl ministry and the impact it had on those suffering from critical illnesses. Ms. Litster took over the project about a year ago.
Ms. Litster trained to be a nurse and was taught by the Sisters of Providence at St. Vincent Hospital many years ago. When she had children, she retired from nursing and became a teaching assistant for children with special needs. Being drawn to a life of service, Ms. Litster said that the prayer shawl ministry is her way of “doing something” to help those in need.
Though the shawls are coming from St. Matthias, Ms. Natoli said that patients don’t need to be Catholic in order to receive one. In fact, recently, the Rev. John Grenfell, a Methodist minister, received a shawl while he was a hospice patient at St. Vincent.
“The whole idea of placing these blankets on those who are at the end of life is exactly what the Prophet Isaiah and the Blessed Mother Mary are known for – wrapping people in protection and solace,” Msgr. Beaulieu said. “These shawls act as a consolation in a ritualistic way at the end of life, with a reminder of God’s presence.”
As a family advocate, Ms. Natoli handles cases that involve both young and elderly critically ill patients. She helps to coordinate the ministry’s blessings for families to help “give them closure.” Patients and their families are able to request what kind and color of shawl they want, which helps make each shawl more personal and significant.  
Thinking about her work with a critically ill Irish man brings her to tears, Ms. Natoli said. The day he was receiving his shawl, he took out his respirator and began to sing with his Irish brogue. Later, he received his bright green prayer shawl, the color he had requested to represent his Irish culture. Ms. Natoli said that she was with a nurse, Msgr. Beaulieu, and the patient, when the shawl was blessed and placed upon him. Within 10 minutes of receiving his shawl, the patient passed away.
“It’s a story that brings tears to my eyes,” Ms. Natoli said. “He knew it was his time and was ready.”  
The knitters make the shawls for critically ill patients free of charge. The women use their own materials and money for costs involved with the creation of these shawls.
Ms. Litster said that anyone can join the group and that “the doors are always open.”
The St. Matthias Prayer Shawl Ministry meets every Wednesday from 6:45-8:30 p.m. in the downstairs conference room at St. Matthias’ Parish, 409 Hemenway St., Marlborough. Donations of yarn and money for materials can be made to St. Matthias’ Prayer Shawl Ministry, 409 Hemenway St., Marlborough, MA 01752.