Denver Catholic

INDEX Archbishop's Column ......................2 The Catholic Difference ..................4 Nun of the Above quiz ....................4 Guest Column: Fr. Hearty ...............5 World/Nation.....................................6 Puzzle Page......................................13 Bulletin Board ................................. 14 Service Directory ........................... 15 www.DenverCatholicRegister.org I Follow us on INSIDE CATHOLIC LIFE 113 Years of Service to the Gospel Volume LXXXIX - No. 36 OCTOBER 30, 2013 He strings them, others pray them Prayer at heart of rosary-maker's mission BY JULIE FILBY PHOTO BY TIM RASMUSSEN/THE DENVER POST CATHOLIC LIFE Migrants look to Church for flood relief PAGE 3 YEAR OF FAITH TESTIMONY Suffering grew faith, brings gratitude to priest PAGE 3 Go on pilgrimage to Rome for the canonization of BLESSEDS JOHN PAUL II AND JOHN XXIII. 11,583. That's the number of rosaries Ed Steidl, 93, has made for missions. Since he started making rosaries in 1998, he has strung nearly 700,000 beads together in hopes of encouraging more people to pray. "That's what we need," he told the Denver Catholic Register Oct. 23 at his Lakewood home, where he lives with his daughter. "And that doesn't even include all of them," explained his caregiver Renee Cabrera, who helps him with the rosaries sometimes. "That's just the ones that have been sent to missions." Steidl's handmade rosaries have been delivered to mission locations ranging from as far away as Africa and India, to local sites such as Father Woody's Haven of Hope day shelter and Gabriel House outreach for pregnant women. He also fills personal and parish requests, beyond the mission rosaries, and recently started donating rosaries to Mount Olivet Cemetery to be shared at services. "It's amazing what he does," said his daughter Penne Steidl. "It's something he can still do at his age. And he's always got a few in his pocket." Steidl first started making rosaries when Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Lakewood called for volunteers for the PHOTO BY JULIE FILBY/DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER OUR LADY of Fatima Church in Lakewood parishioner Ed Steidl, 93, who's made 11,583 rosaries in the last 15 years, said this about his apostolate, "That's the deal: if I make it, I've got to give it away." Queen of Peace Rosary Circle, glasses over the years. He was part of the parish's Altar and also a "body man," he said, and ROSARY MAKER Rosary Society. enjoyed working on cars. ED STEIDL "They asked for volunteers Since moving to Denver from and I volunteered," he said Fargo, N.D., in 1970 for the ColAge: 93 matter-of-factly. orado climate, he has been a Years making rosaries: 15 Fifteen years later, though parishioner at Our Lady of Fatihe has slowed down—he walks ma. He grew up in a family of Mission rosaries made: 11,853 with a walker and his eyesight is 13 siblings on a farm in Fingal, Average made annually: 790 deteriorating—he continues to N.D. He was married to his wife, Total beads used: 699,327 dedicate time nearly each day Yvonne, for 63 years before she to the project. He usually works died in 2009. "It gives me something to right after breakfast when he is Steidl continues to meet "fresh" and his eyesight is best. do," he said. "It keeps my mind with friends in the rosary circle "Just about every day," he re- occupied and my hands busy." at Our Lady of Fatima nearly Steidel also used to repair every month where they pray flected quietly. It takes on average a half-hour rosaries. An optician by trade the rosary together before to make one rosary, and some before retiring, he fostered a See Steidl, Page 6 keen attention to detail making months he makes up to 150. EDUCATION Find out how in the ad on Page 14. YEAR OF FAITH: COMMUNION OF SAINTS Seminarians, Machebeuf teens hoop it up PAGE 10 PHOTO BY ROBERT LINN FOR THE DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER The communion of saints expresses belief in the unity in Christ of all the redeemed, those on earth and those who have died. The communion of saints is professed in the Apostles' Creed. The Church is a "communion of saints." This expression refers first to the "holy things," above all the Eucharist, by which "the unity of believers, who form one body in Christ, is both represented and brought about" ("Lumen Gentium," 3). It also refers to the communion of "holy persons" in Christ who "died for all," so that what each one does or suffers in and for Christ bears fruit for all. – Catholic Biblical and Catechetical schools

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