Le Mars St. James parishioner takes her devotion to the rosary to next level

By JAMIE MCCLURE, Globe reporter
Oct. 18, 2007

"Say the rosary every day... Pray, pray a lot and offer sacrifices for sinners... I'm Our Lady of the Rosary. Only I will be able to help you. ...In the end My Immaculate Heart will triumph." -Our Lady at Fatima

In the Catholic faith, the rosary is apart of many people's every day life, but a Le Mars resident and parishioner of St. James Parish took her devotion to the rosary a little farther.

"I learned about Fatima and the rosary when I was younger," said Penne. "My mom was also a strong believer in the rosary. We would take car rides to close down one of our restaurants at night and we would always say the rosary on the way and on the way back. It was in my upbringing."

Penne said she wanted to pass down praying the rosary to her children and their cousins. She said she feels the rosary is an important part of every one's life.

"I think the rosary is the most powerful prayer anyone can pray because Mother Mary is always there for us, and if you need something you can always pray the rosary," said Penne.

She said she also likes to make the rosaries because they are pretty and she has a sense of pride in her work. Once she starts the rosary, she can't put it down until it's finished.

Penne said the rosaries and rosary bracelets are not expensive to make unless you want to put a lot of money into them. She said she would often times go to rummage sales and find old jewelry to make the rosaries. She also said she made close to 50 rosaries in the beginning when she was making the cheaper ones. She has kept three bracelets and two rosaries over the past two years.

"I used to make several rosaries in one day, but I haven't made them recently because I have been busy with full-time work," said Penne. "I have made quite a few rosaries and bracelets, but I gave a lot of them away to encourage people to pray it. That is one of the ways I have tried to help encourage people."

Penne also said that her grandchildren would sit with her sometimes to help make the rosaries.

"My grandchildren are quite young and they would have a hard time with them, but they try," said Penne.

Penne has also made earrings in the past besides the bracelets and rosaries.

"One of the reasons why I made the bracelets is because people would be carrying them everywhere instead of putting them away after reciting the rosary," said Penne. "The bracelet would be with me always."

Oftentimes she had Father Jim Tigges, pastor at St. James Parish bless the rosaries and the bracelets once they were finished.

Penne also said she visited the website www.catholicity.com and received a free rosary and free Divine Chaplet. The only charge for the rosary and Divine Chaplet is a one-dollar charge for shipping. If you would like a free rosary, please visit the site.