6/1/2007
Catholic News Service (www.catholicnews.com)
N.J. (CNS) – For the men and women in the military enduring the
uncertainty and danger of an ongoing war, a little encouragement can go
a long way.
That's
what motivates Pat Covalesky, a parishioner at Our Lady of Victories in
Baptistown, who sends scapulars, religious medals and rosaries to
soldiers stationed at military bases both in the United States and
abroad.
"When the war broke out, I thought about these kids in the military and I wanted to do something for them," Covalesky told The Catholic Spirit, newspaper of the Metuchen Diocese.
Covalesky, whose brother served as a Marine in the
Vietnam War, recalled the tough times her family went through while her
brother was overseas and said she felt compelled to do something for
the soldiers serving in the current war in Iraq. To fund her project
she started making early withdrawals from her retirement fund.
She thought the scapulars would convey the message
to the troops that the prayers of those at home were with them and that
people wanted them to return safely. Covalesky contacted a local
Catholic gift store for help with the project. Charlie Gordon, the
owner of St. Michael Shop in Flemington, agreed to supply her with
scapulars at a discounted price.
Gordon said the scapular is "a very important
sacramental, particularly for people who are in harm's way." The brown
scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the most popular type of
scapular, was selected by Covalesky for its promise of safety.
"You don't have to be Catholic to wear a
scapular," she added. "These guys might not say it, but they're really
afraid. They're looking for anything that might help, and they're
really grateful when you give them something."
The soldiers and military chaplains who have
received the scapulars have shown their appreciation by sending letters
to Covalesky thanking her for her support. "The response has been
incredible," she said. "Every one of them has been so grateful."
Since the war began, Covalesky has distributed
more than 15,000 scapulars and has exhausted her retirement fund. "I
did it until financially I couldn't do it anymore," Covalesky said. "I
would like to see that they could continue to go out, but I used my
savings on it and now I'm not in a position to do it anymore."
Covalesky hopes that others will be inspired to
help her continue with the project. She encourages local parishes and
schools to become involved by purchasing scapulars to send themselves
or by sending donations to the St. Michael Shop, which will provide
Covalesky with a scapular for every $3 it receives for this cause.
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