Sisters Sheila McAleese and Rita MacDonald take part in the
Peterborough Red Cross ‘Winter Warmth Program’, which provides
knitted mittens for vulnerable children and youth. Rita has
been knitting for the Red Cross for the last seven years and
Sheila began in Vancouver and later in Edmonton supplying mitts
and toques for immigrant children not used to our cold winters.
They go and pick up yarn that has been donated to the Red
Cross, choosing the colours and quality they want to work with.
They have also received yarn from other sources including our own
MSJ staff. They knit mostly scarves, mitts, toques and headbands
for adults and children, which are used for Christmas hampers
among other needs. Rita has made caps for newborns in
Afghanistan
as part of another project. They also knit in response to other
requests. Last year their work was on display at the Festival of
Trees, as one tree was decorated with samples of the beautiful
work of Red Cross volunteer knitters.
Their names were listed on their contributions. Each fall
they are invited to a dinner put on by Red Cross volunteers for
all who are involved with this association.
Both of these Sisters have knitted since they were children, and
their workmanship speaks of a skill mastered by knowledge,
practice and innovation. Sheila sees this as something she can do
to bring happiness to others, whether a street person, a child or
a victim of misfortune. Rita has welcomed this task as a means of
slowing her down. Both Sisters agree that after a busy life of
teaching and nursing, this task of knitting has helped them to
become more reflective and is conducive to a spirit of peace.
In such relaxing and
creative work for Sheila and Rita, we can all take pride, and in
their achievements, motivated by unconditional love, our charism
is truly alive and well.
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