Helping Those in Need, One Rosary at a Time — New Hope’s Rosary Makers

Barb Hemberger • July 21, 2023

If you ask someone what object is most emblematic of Catholics, many people will say, “the Rosary.” They may be thinking of Rosary prayer beads – the string of knots or beads – but the Rosary is actually a set of prayers, and the beaded string is an aid for saying the prayers in their proper sequence.


The Rosary is a devotion in honor of the Virgin Mary. In simple terms, it consists of a set number of specific prayers – one Apostles’ Creed, one Our Father, three Hail Mary’s, and one Glory Be.


The physical makeup of the rosary is surprisingly complex and making them can be almost meditative, and rewarding. Just ask the small group of residents at Saint Therese of New Hope that make rosaries every week.



The group is led by Marguerite Winker, who has been making rosaries for eight years; the other rosary makers include Carole Iverson and Irene Boos.

The three women work quietly while they make the rosaries, concentrating on the elements that go into the string of beads, which consists of 53 six- to eight-millimeter beads for the “decades”; six larger separator beads, 14 short pieces of chain to connect the decade beads, the separator beads, and the rosary components; wire or headpins; a rosary connector medal, a cross or crucifix; and four open jump rings. Winker said it takes about 25 minutes to create one rosary.

The group makes rosaries in bunches of ten and when they get to a quantity of 100, they hand them off to Adam Dvorak, Volunteer Services Coordinator at New Hope, who sends them to the Missionary Sisters of St. Peter Claver in St. Paul. These folks then send the rosaries to Ghana and India. (The Sisters of St. Peter Claver are a Catholic religious congregation of women dedicated to serving the spiritual and social needs of the poor around the world, particularly in Africa.)

Boos said she began making rosaries to do something worthwhile and said it’s interesting to think about people in other countries who don’t have them.



And Winker added, “I make them because I like the idea of people in other lands praying my rosary.”

Stay Connected


Search All Posts


About

At Saint Therese, our heartfelt purpose since 1968 has been a people first approach to living well by providing senior care and services where every life we touch feels welcomed, respected, and heard. We achieve this by doing ordinary things with extraordinary love every single day. Contact us to learn more. 

By Barb Hemberger July 29, 2025
At Saint Therese of Woodbury , a unique group of residents gathers twice a year not just to sing—but to connect, inspire, and celebrate the joy of music. The Saint Therese of Woodbury Choir, the only choir across all Saint Therese communities, offers two one-hour concerts each year—one in December with a Christmas theme, and a second during the summer. This year's summer performance, held in June, was called “ Music from the Movies ” and featured beloved classics including Que Sera Sera, The Bare Necessities, Tuxedo Junction and Singin’ in the Rain. Residents and guests filled the chapel for a heartwarming program filled with nostalgia, harmony, and connection. Founded in 2018 by Therese Stecher , a lifelong pianist and retired critical care nurse, the Woodbury choir started with just 10 members and has now grown to 24 dedicated singers. “The biggest fear people have is they haven’t sung in so long, they think they can’t do it,” Stecher says. “But the muscles that control the vocal cords—you just need to work them.” Stecher arranges each songbook specifically for aging voices and emphasizes that this is not simply a singalong group. “We’re here to learn a show,” she says. “The expectations are high, but the reward is even greater.” The choir practices for months before each performance.
By Barb Hemberger July 21, 2025
Discover how the Saint Therese Auxiliary’s six-decade legacy of volunteerism and community support will live on through two lasting endowment funds.
By Barb Hemberger June 16, 2025
Generational Connections Changing Lives