Cheryl Scallon, Psy.D
And the Shawl
On Wednesday evening after work, I delivered the beautiful pink silk shawl to Debbie. She is 52 years old and was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer, which has very quickly spread to her back and esophagus. I really didn't want to go, but the spirit of this beautiful ministry found me taking a deep breath and ringing her doorbell.
Debbie has never worn pink and I knew that, but I wanted her to have a shawl that I had made due to our relationship. As her family watched, I wrapped her in the shawl and told her quietly that she was surrounded in prayer by all of the shawl ministers and the entire St Julie Billiart Community. She shared that she could see all of her favorite colors in the shawl and it was just perfect. She felt the comfort of all the prayers and of all of us and thanked me.
I stayed for just about 10 minutes, got into my car, cried my eyes out and drove through that terrible storm to get home. Forever changed by the experience; once again....forever changed by this powerful ministry.
Her daughter reported Debbie wore her shawl the entire evening and all day Thursday. She had a peaceful glow about her, yet appeared stronger than she had ever seen her Mom.
This past Friday morning, Debbie courageously began the first of 6, seven and a half hour chemos, of course, wearing her shawl. An elderly lady next to her was so cold and the nurse was having trouble getting the lady's vein. Debbie said, here, put my shawl on and you will be fine. The elderly lady said, thank you and immediately began to feel the comfort of our prayers. The nurse was able to get the vein on the next attempt with no difficulty. The woman then returned the shawl to Debbie and smiled. During her chemo, Debbie began to tell others about the work of our ministry and how comforted she has felt since receiving her shawl. ***
Members of St Mary's in Mokena hope to be in attendance at our next gathering on September 18th to begin their journey in establishing Shawl Ministry in their Parish. If anyone would like to join me, I will be their guest speaker at their Catholic Women's' Council on Thursday, November 19th at 7 pm. We'll speak about it at our gathering.
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Yesterday, I met with a woman from New York who had contacted us a few years back. She said their ministry is very small, as it is a small parish, but doing well.
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So many beautiful stories thanks to all of you. Please remember Debbie and all whose lives we touch in our prayers.
Cheryl
Mon 8/24/2009 9:01 AM
Cheryl Scallon is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and, at St Julie Billiart parish, is currently chair of Parish Pastoral Council, a lector and 4:30 Mass sacristan, as well as Shawl Ministry coordinator serving on the Human Concerns Board. She is a busy lady.
The above was taken from an email to the fellow ministers of the Shawl Ministry. I refer you to: http://www.stjulie.org/00HumanConcerns19.htm
Shawls are made by these dedicated people in an atmosphere of prayer and love and given in the same attitude. The parish motto is "Ordinary people doing extraordinary things with faith in the good God and in the goodness of others". This beautiful ministry is one example of the motto in action. I was privileged to get better acquainted with Cheryl on a pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi several years ago. It was indeed a privilege. It is people like Cheryl who inspire the rest of us to do just a little more for others as we journey on our way.
Thank you Cheryl. ... Thank you God.
Aug 26, 2009
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Ordinary People - Many people, ordinary in every way, do extraordinary things. Very often, they themselves do not feel that their actions are anything but what is expected of them by God. They are an example to all of us, a witness to a way of life that is reachable to the rest of us ordinary people. These pages are their stories. |
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08/26/2009 |
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