Life is a mystery, so much of it hidden from our understanding. Throughout my own life, I have encountered painful and difficult experiences. Out of the darkness of sorrow and questioning slowly emerged light and new life. With God threading his loving grace through every step of the way, He helped me to develop my gifts to move forward in new evolving directions. I often have to look back on my life to see how the hand of God has worked within me. This has increased my own faith and trust in an ever present loving God.

Pat Policastro

As the quote from John Paul II indicates, I believe my faith has been formed by family, early experiences with religious, priests and nuns, as well as friends and relatives, all who are close to my heart. Only the Holy Spirit knows what the future will bring.

Chet Smolenski

As the daughter of Irish Immigrants, my Catholic faith is rooted in Celtic tradition. The Celtic Cross represents my deep faith in God and in His Church. The green background and the butterflies represent hope in eternal life. The heart and rosary represent God’s love for His people.

Sarah Stack Romito

Music is the universal language, the large circle on the right represents the universe, the smaller circle is the earth.

Below is the Dove of Peace, the three spikes represent the Trinity.

The tall rectangles are people of all colors and shapes.Below are the oceans and land of the earth.

Patricia Geiser

THE SKY, THE NIGHT, THE OCEAN, THEY ARE GOD.

FLOWERS, BIRDS, MUSIC ARE GOD.

AND ALL THAT, GOD HAS FOR ALL OF US.

DollyHoucq

LIFE IS LIKE A CHANGING STREAM, TAKING ME FROM CAPILLA DE LOS DOLORES (MOTHER OF SORROWS CHAPEL 1628) IN SOUTH AMERICA TO MOTHER OF SORROWSCHURCH IN MURRYSVILLE, PA.

CONQUERING THE WHITEWATERS WITH THE LORD HAS LED TO A RICHER SPIRITUAL LIFE, AND KEPT ME JOYFUL THROUGH TROUBLE.

Isabel Porterfield

My piece represents four generations of women in our family. (Fabric from three of the wedding dresses is included.) We have a special bond. Some of our history is blue. Some of our history is vibrant and red. I receive comfort from the sacraments of the Catholic church, represented by the buttons.

Mary Therese Seiler

Traveling Mercies and Friendships

Each day we journey forth praying for God’s protection and traveling mercies, whether we travel by foot, car, bus, train, or plane. We find that we meet different people each day, many of whom we bond with and develop friendships. Other times, we adopt dogs and other pets as our “best friends”. We find that all peoples are God’s people and we share the richness of this truth. God teaches us to care about ourselves and our neighbors. We must love God first. Then we can better appreciate the wealth realized through friendships.

Sue White

I have felt God’s protection in the beauty of His gardens. Faith as well as green things flourish there.

Anita D. Smolenski

The upper part of the quilt depicts my early life in England where I was born and shows some memories of

World War II (1939 to 1945). We lived near the steel city of Sheffield which was heavily bombed. A loving family and our faith in God gave us strength. I met my American husband in England and in 1960 sailed for my new home in Pittsburgh via New York. The white blobs in the ocean represent the icebergs we encountered after the ship’s radar failed. God Bless America.

Mary Harrison

My fabric work reflects the rural environment in which I grew up. It shows the fields in which we played as children, and the lakes in which we swam and fished. I found God there in nature, in the sun shining through the trees, in the grains and wild flowers growing in the fields, and in the waters of the lakes.

Dan Romito

As the mother of 7 children, it is my fervent hope that they can find their way to the love of God. In my quilt piece, cocoons and small butterflies represent each of my offspring. One of my daughters is deceased and I have faith that she is in the arms of God now.

Eleanor Proctor

As a convert to Catholicism, a new realm of experience opened to me. All things are possible. I long for that perfect love, perfect justice, perfect peace, perfect beauty embodied in God.

Adrienne Heinrich

Let us rejoice and be glad!

Christianity and family are gifts from God. The Mysteries of the Bible, Feast Days, and the Catholic Faith must be studied to be learned and understood, even though they appear to be veiled. No matter how dark or boxed in you may feel from troubles or sadness, there is always Joy in the Morning. The ultimate joy is external life in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Imogene A. Hines

Stars of Enlightenment

Our parents are the greatest teachers of our spiritual lessons, our legacy of Christianity. The stars in my piece represent knowledge, trust, caring, love, and Christianity. Like the blessed Trinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, our family faith is planted in strong traditions of belief in the miracles of Christ. My grandparents hold a special place in all our hearts. Our family is united because of the love and teachings of our parents and grandparents. A family that prays together is a family that stays together.

Veronica M. Martin (Roni)

Growing in God’s Love

The church’s teachings are steeped in the blessing of the Eucharist, the blood and body of Jesus Christ. We must commit ourselves to living a good life, free from sin. We must worship in ways that move us closer to living out God’s will. We seek to be pure in heart and spirit.

Ethel Parham

The letters below the picture of Christ, who is the center of our lives, stand for:

D – diversity in Christ

R – respect for Christ and all

L – love for Christ and others

U – united we stand in Christ

K – kindness to others

H – holiness in Christ

P – prayer and praise to Christ and for all

Teresa Maynor

Salvation History’s Golden Thread

This design comes from my work in Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and our work with timelines for God’s plan of saving humanity from itself. I’ve also included symbols in the lower right corner for God using music to bring my husband and me together and drawing us and our family from darkness into the light of Christ. Rising from the lower left corner are symbols of Creation which are reflected throughout the square. The movement along the timeline is from God’s gift of Creation to the Cross, which symbolizes our Redemption in Christ, and finally to the Cross superimposed on Creation, symbolizing Parousia (when God will be all in all). Here God’s plan will reach it’s fulfillment in everything. Stitched over the entire piece is a faint pink net that I take to mean God’s all encompassing blanket of love over all that exists.

Pat Segner