Photos

Sewing ministry aims to restore the sacred

Volunteers with the St. Martha's Guild at St. John Cantius Parish, 825 N. Carpenter St., gather in the sewing room on the parish campus on March 5, 2021 where they work on creating garments that will be worn by adults receiving the sacrament of Baptism during this year's Easter Vigil Mass. The guild works to restore the art of liturgical needle crafts. In addition to taking care of mending needs of the parish, members are learning vestment restoration, lace making and repair, several types of embroidery, gold work, fine linen stitching and many other sewing techniques. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Julie Streeter, founder of St. Martha’s Guild, shows off a a frontal that 27 women of all ages worked to create. It will cover the front a Marian altar in the church. All the fine embroidery was done by hand. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Rosemary Geter works in the sewing room. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Julie Streeter shows the embroidery on a cope in the group’s sewing room on the parish campus on March 5, 2021. The guild works to restore the art of liturgical needle crafts. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Streeter displays a vintage pix burse item used to carry the Eucharist and linens the priests would use when visiting the sick. The group hopes to recreate these items. Teenage boys from the parish are making the leather cases for the burses and hand-tooling them. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
From left, Eva Salamon and Karen Heller work on an altar cloth. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Beth Lee works on a mantelletta, a garment for those who entered the church at the Easter Vigil. Being part of St. Martha’s Guild has also enhanced her appreciation for the Mass. “When they put these vestments on it makes your heart just soar because you know you did it all for Christ,” she said. “I just feel so blessed to be here.” (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Streeter holds up an intricate embroidered hood from a cope used during Benediction. Guild members are teaching themselves how to create similar types of fine needlework for liturgical vestments and linens. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Julie Streeter shows a hand-sewn strap with laced edges used to cover the neck portion of a stole priests use during Confession. The strap protects the stole from sweat and makes the stole last longer. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

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