By Jason Lesley
jlesley@gtowntimes.com
Customers at Ryan's on South Fraser Street are usually curious when they first see the Knitwhits from St. Mary's Catholic Women's Club sitting around a dining table making shawls and lap blankets.
Members of the group meet every Tuesday at 7 p.m. to knit and crochet items for their prayer shawl ministry. Some members of the group eat dinner at Ryan's, while others have tea or coffee.
The women are in no hurry to leave -- they often stay until the restaurant closes -- and curious looks from other diners often lead to questions and an opportunity to touch someone's life with Christian charity.
"People see us and ask what we are doing," says group member Ruthann Howard. "It's not long before they say, 'I know somebody who needs one' and they give us a name."
The Knitwhits began making shawls and lap blankets for St. Mary's Catholic Church members, to let them know someone was thinking about them, even if they couldn't make it to Mass. Now, the ministry has expanded to include anyone needing comfort.
Recipients often touch the women's hearts. One who has lost a child and a grandchild and uses her red shawl during readings of "Little Red Riding Hood" to other children. An employee at Ryan's was given a shawl when group members learned that her 4-year-old daughter had cancer. It has proven a comfort to her during chemotherapy.
"We have gotten more back from the community than we have given," says Cherrin Moore, St. Mary's Catholic Women's Club president. 'In just one year, we have come a long way."
Cherrin says the Knitwhits have made about 45 shawls and lap blankets, adding that's pretty good for a group of a half dozen women with just one experienced knitter, Lillian Moore, at the beginning.
Lillian can make a shawl in about a week and a half, she says. Pat Langston, on the other hand, says it takes her six months.
Cherrin buys the materials out of her own pocket -- it takes about $10 in yarn to make a shawl.
She says Ellen McClinton at Joyfilled Gardens and Gifts on Front Street has been a great help in teaching her how to knit and giving her discounts on materials and patterns.
The group won the annual President's Award from the South Carolina Council of Catholic Women for their prayer shawl ministry on April 13.
St. Mary's Catholic Women's Club won six other awards, including:
* Family Concerns commission - Medium Composite Award for "Thinking of You Ministry" and the nursing home and hospital visitation program.
* Community Concerns Commission - Medium Composite Award for volunteer work with Birthright of Georgetown County, Prayer Shawl Ministry and the annual IP Classic spaghetti dinner.
* Organization commission - Medium Composite Award for revision of the group's bylaws, promoting a membership drive, continued involvement on the deanery, state and national levels of council.
* Church Commission - Medium Composite Award for seminarian sponsorship, promoting and attending the Diocesan Rosary celebration and dedication at Shrine in Kingstree, promoting and attending the Tidelands Hospice Day of Reflection at Mepkin Abbey, Moncks Corner.
* Multicultural Committee Award - Medium Composite Award for work and involvement with Birthright of Georgetown, Palmetto Project and The Village Group.
* Overall winner of the Father William F. Pentis, C.O. Multicultural Award.
The St. Mary's Catholic Women's Club was established in 1947, organized as a spiritual and civic organization for the Catholic Women of St. Mary's as well as a volunteer support group for St. Mary's Parochial School.
The group has tried to mirror the mission of the South Carolina Council of Catholic Women, volunteering time and talents within the community and church family to create and promote interest in the furtherance of their faith.
Three women from St. Mary's have been elected state president of the S.C. Council of Catholic Women: Marie Beagle (1958), Pat Langston (1996-98) and Cherrin Moore (2004-06). Pat and Cherrin continue to be involved on the Diocesan Board of Directors for the group. Recently they were both appointed by newly elected SCCCW President Lindamarie Richardson to serve as Atlanta Province representatives in Salt Lake City, Utah, Sept. 23-28, representing St. Mary's Women's Club, the Pee Dee Deanery Council of Catholic Women and the SCCCW.
Ruthann Howard, who has served in various capacities over the years, has been appointed to serve on the S.C. Council of Catholic Women's Board of Directors as Organization Commission chairman.