Florida Catholic | Twine Rosaries for Troops

Marabeth DeVille displays one of the twine rosaries that she made.

TOM MIDDLEMISS | FC
Marbeth DeVille displays one of the twine rosaries that she makes.

Volunteers send rosaries overseas to U.S. troops

This year alone, Marabeth DeVille and her volunteers have made and sent over 3,300 special knotted twine rosaries to soldiers serving in Iraq.

TOM MIDDLEMISS | FLORIDA CATHOLIC CORRESPONDENT

Published: 12.21.07

NAPLES | Marabeth DeVille began making rosaries in 2005 in memory of her 9-year-old nephew, Zane Collins, who was killed in an all-terrain-vehicle accident. Little did the St. Agnes parishioner know that in two years, she and volunteers at St. William Parish in Naples would be creating and sending 400 knotted-twine rosaries each month to U.S. troops stationed overseas.

The need for rosaries for soldiers is great, said the mother of three as she and other volunteers busily tied knots in colored twine. A Marine chaplain recently requested 5,000 rosaries a month from the group, DeVille said, winding a thin cord around her index finger.

The rosaries are made completely of twine, with knots serving as the “beads.” They lack plastic or metal parts because rattling sounds could reveal soldiers’ locations to enemies.

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The idea of the knotted-twine rosary came from DeVille’s mother- and father-in-law, Bev and Bob De Ville, who brought home about 10 rosaries after a visit to St. Pius X Parish in Kingston, Jamaica. The church is the sister parish of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Naples.

“The prisoners (in Jamaica) make them while in jail,” DeVille said. “As soon as I saw them, the idea hit me and the rest is history.”

It takes about 11 feet of twine to make one rosary. DeVille orders 24 spools of twine at a time, which cost $200 altogether. Each spool generates about 25 to 30 rosaries. The ministry is funded entirely by donations.

When the rosaries are completed, they are blessed by Father Robert Kantor, administrator of St. Agnes Parish in Naples. Father Kantor is a lieutenant commander and chaplain in the U.S. Navy Reserve who completed an eight-month tour of duty in Afghanistan during 2004 and 2005.

Every envelope sent to the troops contains a rosary, a pamphlet on how to pray the rosary, the name of the person who made the rosary, and a separate medal of St. Michael the Archangel, the patron saint of those in the armed forces.

TOM MIDDLEMISS | FC
Marabeth DeVille ties a Hail Mary knot for a rosary made completely of twine.

DeVille makes the rosaries whenever she has spare time.

“When I first started, it took me two hours to complete a rosary. Now I do it in 20 minutes,” she said. “During season, traffic is so heavy I can make a couple of Hail Mary (knots) while waiting for a traffic light.”

DeVille and other volunteers have made and sent 3,333 rosaries to troops this year, and have received thank-you letters from some of the soldiers.

“Thank you for taking the time to make the rosary which I carry with me always,” wrote soldier Billy F. Schultze. “I hope it continues to provide me protection throughout my yearlong deployment here in Iraq. Your rosary serves as a symbol of my restored faith in our church, our saints and our God. People like you and the unselfish deeds you do make fighting this war worth it.”

Jason Baier, a soldier stationed in Kirkuk, Iraq, also wrote to the volunteers.

“I went to one of the churches here on base and received one of your rosaries and wanted to thank you on behalf of myself and a few of the buddies of mine who got one with me,” he wrote.

The rosary makers also heard from an Army chaplain, Father Leo Moras, who asked the faithful to pray for all the brave men and women in uniform, especially during the holy season of Christmas.

“Thank you for all your support to me and my soldiers during this deployment,” Father Moras wrote. “(May) the Prince of Peace, Jesus himself, bring stability, security and peace to this region and to the whole world. Pray for me.”

DeVille and her co-workers love making the rosaries. Volunteers Mary Foy and Beverly Iglai responded to a church bulletin ad about the ministry and wanted to help.

“I support the troops,” Iglai said.

DeVille said she is willing to teach anyone who is interested in making the rosary ministry grow.

WILLING TO HELP?
The St. William Parish Rosary Makers Ministry, which sends thousands of hand-knotted twine rosaries to U.S. troops overseas, is funded entirely by donations. Contributions may be sent to the St. William Parish Rosary Makers, 750 Seagate Drive, Naples, FL 34103. Those interested in joining the group in making rosaries can e-mail Marabeth DeVille at MKDrosaries@aol.com.

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