Indiana parishioners learn tradition of palm weaving

Published: 2005-03-21

HAMMOND, Ind. (CNS) -- When people at St. John Bosco Parish in Hammond received their palms on Palm Sunday, they knew what to do with them, thanks to a sister in the parish who has been weaving palms for nearly half a century. Parishioners gathered in the school cafeteria after the 10 a.m. Mass March 20 to learn from and work with Sister Joan Romaniak, a Sister of St. Joseph-Third Order of St. Francis. For more than 40 years she has been weaving palms -- something she learned at home and in her early days in the convent. "My mother taught me as a child," Sister Joan recalled. "We remember Jesus walking with the palms on Palm Sunday, and, growing up, the palm was a symbol of protection of the home, especially during a storm." The weather was clear in Hammond this Palm Sunday, and between religious education students and curious adults Sister Joan had a captive audience -- some of whom had an easier time weaving palms than others.

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