Cursillo (Spanish for “short course”) is a lay Catholic movement focused on spiritual renewal through a short, intensive course in Christianity. It aims to help individuals deepen their relationship with God, strengthen their faith and become more active in their Christian community and environment.

There had to be a way to live her faith in a more meaningful way, Pat thought.

At first, she decided to change her sewing room into a prayer room.

At the time, Pat had belonged to six different quilting clubs, getting patterns each month, and she had more material than she knew what to do with.

“I had a surplus of material. Every time a pattern would come out, I’d have to buy it. I’d go to different stores all over, and up north … I couldn't move anymore in that room,” she added, laughing. “Every corner of the room was filled.”

It began to all pile up.

Quilting has been her favorite hobby for years, she admits, but oftentimes working in her room left her feeling lonely and isolated. Also, “the sewing stores started closing, and it seemed like the hobby was being phased out,” she said.

After the Cursillo in Christianity weekend, Pat and her friend Amanda Elizalde decided they would try to sell the bunches of material online to clean up the room she wanted to turn into her prayer room.

With slow-going progress selling, Amanda suggested to Pat and other friends that they start making lap quilts for the homeless.

“It was a great idea. We all loved that we would be doing something for our community,” Pat said.

Pat donated all of her material and the group started meeting at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Saginaw to start making the lap quilts. “Quilting for Comfort” was born. Each quilt has a patchwork top and single piece of material on bottom, with lightweight batting in between. At specific intervals, a small piece of yarn is threaded through the three layers and knotted to connect them. The result is a 42-by-58 inch lap quilt.

Quilting for Comfort later moved to St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Saginaw Township, which allows the group to use the hall to gather, along with storage for the material so they do not need to haul it back and forth from various locations.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the group could not meet in the hall, so the patchwork tops of the quilts were made separately at the quilters’ homes. Those pieces were then “sandwiched” or pinned together. Ladies in the group would then sew them and tie them together to make the quilts.

“It’s so much more enjoyable to sew with others,” Pat said. “We talk and laugh and communicate together. It feels good to use our talents for others.”

Quilter Sandra Burch agrees.

“The group has really grown into a family. We’re a small family that looks out for one another,” she said.

“You don't have to be Catholic to help or even have the ability to sew. Anyone can join,” Sandra added. “It’s a way to use your talents, give back to your community and help people in need.”

The quilting group of 12 to 15 meets twice a month, and everyone pitches in to make the colorful lap quilts.

“It’s really like an assembly line. Everyone has a job. Some people sew, others tie. It feels amazing to work together for others. I love the camaraderie," Pat said.

As of mid-August, the quilters have donated 809 quilts to the community. Recipients have included the Emmaus House, The Rescue Mission, The Nest, Community Village, Serenity Springs Nursing Home, The Mission, Underground Railroad, the Thomas Township Police and Fire Departments and the Cathedral Neighborhood Breakfast.

Material used for the quilts is 100 percent cotton with a lightweight batting. All of the material has been donated and St. Thomas Aquinas Church helps with the cost of batting, which can be costly. While material is not needed at this time, Sandra said, help with the cost of batting is welcome.

“People are always welcome to join us to make the quilts or to make a donation for our efforts,” she said.

A touch of faith and hope is added to each lap quilt. As they’re tied, a short prayer is said.

“We love being able to give these away,” Sandra said, remembering a time when a quilt was given to a person who was living out of a car in the neighborhood near Saginaw’s Cathedral of Mary of the Assumption.

“They were cold, and they could not believe we were giving them something so warm and beautiful. We gave them two quilts to stay warm.”